Beginning Well

by Smith, Gordon T.

• ISBN13: 9780830822973
• ISBN10: 0830822976
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-08-01
• Publisher: Ivp Books

Summary

"Saints are made by good conversions."In this challenging and provocative book, Gordon T. Smith contends that a chief cause of spiritual immaturity in the evangelical church is an inadequate theology of conversion. Conversion, he says, involves more than a release from the consequences of sin--the goal is spiritual transformation. But there is little transformation without a complete and authentic conversion. The key is beginning well.In this age of false starts and stunted growth, maturing Christians need help reflecting on and interpreting their own religious experience. Christian leaders need to rethink the way that conversions happen.Beginning Wellis a catalyst toward this end. Surveying Scripture, spiritual autobiographies and a broad range of theologies of conversion (Protestant and Catholic, Reformed and Wesleyan), the author seeks to foster in the Christian community a dynamic language of conversion that leads to spiritual transformation and mature Christian living. In the process he moves us from a short-sighted "minimalist" view to one that recognizes seven elements necessary for good conversions.This book--a stirring call to rethink the relationship between conversion and transformation--is a must read for pastors, evangelists, spiritual directors, seminary professors and others who are concerned about the nurture and development of Christian converts, and the nature of authentic religious experience.

Author Biography

Gordon T. Smith is the dean at Regent College in Vancouver, Canada, where he also teaches spiritual theology

Table of Contents

Preface	9	(4)
Thinking About Conversion	13	(20)
The Community of Faith & the Language of Conversion	33	(18)
Autobiography: The Church's Experience of Conversion	51	(28)
The Evangelical Experience: A Historical Perspective	79	(28)
Models of Conversion in the New Testament	107	(28)
Elements of a Christian Conversion	135	(22)
Four Internal Actions of the Christian Convert: Intellectual, Penitential, Affective & Volitional	157	(22)
Three Elements That Support & Enable: The Sacramental, the Charismatic & the Communal	179	(28)
Growing Up Christian: Conversion & Second-Generation Christians	207	(12)
The Rhythms of Grace	219	(16)
Indexes	235