The White Badger Inn

Moment of Conversion
What Is Up With Modern Evangelicals?

The early to mid 1900's have seen an escalation of theological nuances which are either ridiculous, or truly heretical. Among these, we find the "importance" of issues such as Numerology, End-times "date" calculation, an unbelievable amount of codes and hidden cryptograms pointing to secret gospels or doctrines, and the one issue which has been bugging me the most: Point of Conversion Experiences.
I'd give you the Scriptural text for the basis of this "Conversion Experience," except that it doesn't exist.
Never (until the mid 1900's) do you find Orthodox Theologians advocating this sort of experiential situation. Even many more recent Theologians cannot point to their exact moment of conversion. For instance: C. S. Lewis tells us that he only knows that he left his home not believing that Christ was the Son of God, and arrived at his destination believing.
Point of conversion? Not sure, but Lewis affirms that he was definitely converted.
What about John Gill? At the age of twelve, Gill heard a sermon on the text, "And the Lord called unto Adam, and said unto him, where art thou?" (Genesis 3:9). It was not until seven years later that young John made a public profession when he was almost nineteen years of age.
Point of conversion? Not sure, but Gill affirms that he was definitely converted.
What about Augustine of Hippo?
Hilary of Poitiers?
Basil the Great?
Clement of Alexandria?
Ignatius of Antioch?
Irenaeus of Lyons?
Justin Martyr?
For every one of them who has a story of conversion, there are one or two who have no story or experience which they can share.
And why? Because a conversion experience is not needful to truly be saved.
For instance: Sir Walter Scott writes to us that he can never recall a time in which he did not believe as he finally came to in his later years. We know this to be true of much of Scotland, since the Kirks were - at one time - bound together internally very tightly. The infrastructure of the Scottish Kirks has continued to astound economists to this day. (See: proftellsall.blogspot.com for an article on the subject.)
Thus, it stands to reason that Scott may not be able to recall a time at which he doubted the validity of the gospels, since he was taught them from his youth up.
What of the account of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch? Was the eunuch saved while he read Isaiah? When he desired some man to explain it to him? When Philip explained it? When he verbally affirmed his belief?
My own story is similar. As the son of a Minister, I was always (as far as I can recall) familiar with the gospels, and never doubted their validity.
I am not suggesting that I was always a Christian, not at all. Simply that I cannot point to a specific date and say, "here, I was converted."
In this sense, I think the Presbyterians like me, under the misconception that I endorse Covenant Salvation.
But the idea is actually this:
Can I testify of the exact moment of my salvation? No.
Can I testify that I am indeed saved, and affirm all that is true according to the Scriptures? Yes.
Is it required by Scripture that I provide this exact date or moment? Not at all.
Ultimately, the requirement is not a Roman's Road outline, nor is it an evangelical outburst of emotion. It is not a "moment" of salvation, nor is it a whispered prayer at an altar.
It is an inworking of redemptive grace from the Father. It is a work which He alone can do.