Conviction v.s Conversion

We are living in a day now where very shortly, there will be no middle ground in regards to where you stand in your faith. Either you will be sold out for Christ or not. The days of "lukewarm Christianity" are very swiftly coming to an end (Revelation 3). This may be hard for many to fathom considering we still have thousands of churches throughout America that are packed with hundreds and thousands of confessing believers. But the Hand of God can change situations Quickly and Suddenly. With that in mind, we would do well to consider whether or not our "brand" of Christianity is one that is rooted in Conviction or Conversion.

It always astounds me that we can have as many professing Christians in this country, and still see the culture going in a downward spiral. How does same-sex marriage and the question of gender identity gain traction in a country that was founded as a Christian nation? (that's not historical speculation, that is a sociological fact) I believe it is in large part because a lot of Christians in America have been Convicted, but were never Converted. When you are a Convicted Christian as opposed to a Converted Christian, you have no problem acknowledging Jesus as your Personal Lord and Savior. You have no problem repeating the tenets of the faith, that Jesus was Crucified on the Cross, Died, was Buried, and was Raised from the dead on the Third Day. You have no problem declaring these Statements of Faith, when you are a Convicted Christian. But if all you are is a Convicted Christian, then in essence, that's all you will do. You "might" go to church every Sunday. You "might" pay your tithes. You "might" get involved in a ministry or two; but as a Convicted Christian, that's just about all you're going to do.

But as a Converted Christian, you're not going to settle for the "spiritual status quo". As a Converted Christian your whole goal is to be Sold Out to Christ. As a Converted Christian you're looking to develop a strong Prayer Life (check out how many people in the mainstream church don't attend Prayer Meeting, including many pastors). As a Converted Christian you're looking to read the Word on a Daily Basis (check out how many Christians in the mainstream church don't attend Bible study or even Sunday School). As a Converted Christian you're looking to give God Praise and to Worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (John 4) (check out how many Christians when they go to church refuse to lift up holy hands and "demonstrably" worship the Lord). These are just a few differences between a Christian who is Convicted v.s Converted.

In Acts chapter 3, the Apostle Peter said, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted". This let's us know that there is a distinction between Repentance and Conversion. That's why the Lord recently released a prophetic word, telling His people to not only "turn" to Him but to seek Him. One speaks of Repentance, the other speaks of Conversion. In Daniel chapter 3, when you read the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace, initially King Nebuchadnezzar wanted them executed because he was not "convicted" that their God, Jehovah, was the true God. But when the 3 Hebrew boys came out of the furnace without a burn mark or even smoke in their clothes, King Nebuchadnezzar was Converted saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who hath sent His Angel and delivered His servants that trusted in Him, and have changed the king's word". I'm telling you saints there's a major difference between the Witness of a believer who is operating under Conviction v.s Conversion. Which persuasion are you?