Does Your Life Convert Others?

We’ve all heard about the recent trend of people converting to Orthodox Christianity. Seekers, many of whom are frustrated with their own Christian past, begin to watch videos, and read books and blogs about Orthodoxy. What happens when they show up at your parish?

Will the seekers find a church filled with faithful followers of Christ? Will they enter churches dedicated to a robust worship schedule? Will they recognize the faith of those in the pews with what they read online? What they encounter matters to them and to you.

In those days, Peter said to the people, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

Acts 3.28-43

It wasn’t enough that Saint Peter taught the crowds about Christ. He showed them his life and the life of the other Apostles and believers. If Christianity were just a matter of learning, the Pharisees would never have denied Christ. When Christianity is lived, it attracts others.

Immediately the crowd was baptized and dedicated their life of worship, learning and proper Christian fellowship. They spent their time in prayer and Holy Communion. They didn’t go out onto the street corner and try to convince others to believe. They lived their faith.

Thousands were added to the Church in those days. What matters to those seeking peace in their heart and soul isn’t what they read in a book. What matters is that they find others living it with zeal for Christ, in the same daily struggle and fallen world.

Before you condemn those sitting in the pews near you on Sunday, the conversions of the ancient Church didn’t produce perfect Christians. If the thousands who were baptized in today’s story were perfect, Saint Paul would never have needed to write letters of correction.

I believe the biggest difference between the ancient Church and today isn’t perfect results. It is perfect effort. The Apostles never stopped repenting. They never stopped praying. They never stopped ‘trying’ to get their faith they Christ wanted.

Some people think it is harder to be a Christian today than in the past. Today’s reading from Acts reveals the faith of those living surrounded by pagans. The same converts in today’s reading risked being killed ‘just’ for being Christian. You can’t say that was easier!

Enough of the past. Let’s look at your life today. If a seeker were to encounter your in Church on a Sunday, would your life reflect what they read in Scripture? Would your life inspire them to ‘give it a try’, or would they move on to another church.

We may not be surrounded by pagans, but the world certainly isn’t endorsing our way of life any more today than it did in the ancient world. We can only dedicate our lives “to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Then, maybe the seekers will find the faith they read about in books and blogs. Then, maybe our lives will inspire them to convert to Christ.