From the 1975 classic “WHAT’S GONE WRONG WITH THE HARVEST” by James Engel
CONVERSION
George and Sally had built their entire lives on one unwarranted assumption — that tensions and frustrations were the result of circumstances. Rarely, if ever, had they looked within themselves, because both, unintentionally, were really playing God. They felt they could ultimately arrive at the level of true happiness if they could just achieve and create enough of the “good things.” But it had never happened. Happiness was always around the corner.
As long as they had lived with this philosophy, the Christian message was largely meaningless. “What do you mean that man is a sinner? Nonsense! Give your life to Christ? Why? That’s just reaching for a crutch.” Their filters were tightly closed to the gospel, and no amount of persuasion would change that!
God had begun to work in George and Sally’s life, however, challenging this premise. Achievement did not bring satisfaction. There was always the nagging doubt and anxiety — an expression of the “God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man” that Pascal talked about. They failed to recognize the source of their dissatisfaction and it continued ~O grow until they were grabbed by a strongly felt need for change. Gradually their perceptual filters opened and their spiritual decision processes began in earnest.
For most of their lives until that time they had probably lived somewhere between stages -5 and -4 on the model in Figure 3. They knew something of the fundamentals of the gospel from their church background, but there certainly was not a grasp of the implications and a positive attitude. Previously they had felt no need for change because the operating premises of their life had not yet received the necessary challenge.
Sooner or later, everyone who becomes a Christian recognizes the fallacy of the “self-sufficiency assumption.” This assumption lies at the heart of sin. Man does not see that the real problem resides internally. It seems to be a pervasive worldview that man in his very nature is complete, having the capacity to live a full and meaningful life. Consequently, it is assumed that present problems can be remedied through education, self-effort, and material gain, along with its counterpart — revolution a la the counterculture.
This premise about man reigns supreme in contemporary education in the fields of psychology, sociology, philosophy, and education. In fact, the staunch individualism of the Western world resides on this base. Strive, achieve, get ahead, find happiness! This must stand as the supreme Satanic deception.
Inherent within the gospel message, however, is an assumption about man that is diametrically opposed to this premise. Throughout the Old and New Testaments natural man is revealed as being incomplete. Although created in the image of God with full rational, emotional, and volitional capacities, he cannot by his own efforts attain any real measure of goodness. He is bound to his insatiable ego-centered desires. He needs to be set free.
Acceptance of the biblical view of man leads to the meaning the gospel alone provides. That the self-centered life cannot be fulfilling is the negative message of the gospel. “He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it” (Matt. 10:39). When this truth is accepted, the individual is at that stage of personal problem recognition (stage + 3).
There are Christians who use the word “sin” as a sledgehammer. George heard the preacher on WILT but was turned off by him. Sin had no meaning for him as the preacher whipped him with his warnings. When he later began to grasp the full dimensions of sin and salvation, the light began to dawn.
Unfortunately, the inability of many well-meaning Christians to explain the concept of sin in meaningful terms inhibits the response to Christian witness. Al Cranston’s insights at this point helped George understand his personal predicament, and the door of spiritual meaning opened.
Now, why did the callers from First Church have so little positive impact on the Calderones? Certainly their motivation was right. It is commendable that the members of First Church moved throughout the community in an attempt to share the Good News of Christ. Probably their greatest error was in failing to understand George and Sally’s present spiritual status. While these two nonbelievers had many questions, there was some interest because of their growing problem recognition. They were by no means, however, ready to accept Christ at that point. It would have been better had the little “steps to God” booklet been put away and not used. Unfortunately, it appears that the church callers were trained only in its use.
The callers also erred in a depersonalized attitude that viewed George and Sally only as “candidates for the kingdom.” When the latter showed no personal interest during the visit, the church visitors never returned. Undoubtedly, these visitors reported in the “sharing session” at First Church that they failed in their witness at the Calderone home. Church visitation success could be defined only in terms of the numbers who “prayed” and “decided for Christ.”
How much better it would have been had the callers skillfully evaluated the position of George and Sally in the decision process. What these people needed more than anything else was a “model” of the Christian life. The callers might have built that bridge through friendship had they been taught more effectively and had they been more perceptive. The Cranstons and the Richards did provide that model.
Radio played a significant role in George’s experience. Granted, WILT was more of a hindrance than a help, but the Christian spot on his favorite FM station grabbed him hard. The sponsors knew a great deal about the lifestyles of those listeners weaving their way home from work on the freeways. The signal was clear, and George heard it! There was no preaching, not even an attempt at persuasion. The sponsors knew that most potential listeners were in the earlier stages of their decision processes. Consequently, the objective was to stimulate interest and to arouse the listener to investigate God’s Good News.
Success could be expected because some would be moved in their decision processes closer to understanding Christ. Few, however, would accept Christ immediately as a result of the spot message. The objective was to develop interest and movement in the decision process. Actual conversion usually comes through the personal witness of concerned Christians. The radio message and personal witness, therefore, work together in a multimedia strategy.
Finally, when the time came for George and Sally to accept the fact and reality of Christ, they saw how His message answered their problems and met their needs. The major problem had been lack of meaning and this was reflected in many ways — in their marriage, in the rearing of their children, in George’s tensions at work. In addition, they were desperately lonely people living in an impersonal world. Their limited friendships were only superficial and never even began to fill the void in their lives. Through the friendship of the Cranstons and the others in their circle, the Bible began to provide living meaning for their day-to-day existence. Christ’s promise of the abundant life moved from the abstract to the concrete in their experience.
George and Sally came to Christ in their way. The distinctiveness of the gospel is that there is no one normative experience. Nevertheless, there are some common elements. First is acceptance of what the Bible says about man, leading to an acknowledgment and confession of personal responsibility for sin. Next is an understanding of the biblical provisions for fundamental life issues. Finally, an awareness of the practical means of relating God’s provision to one’s personal needs. Conversion may occur suddenly or gradually but it always comes when the individual agrees with God about his own nature and is open and receptive to Christ’s claims. A new life of freedom then begins, following simple acceptance of what God says.
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