Can one be persuaded to be Christian?

dbrennan writes:God left small clues about his existence for those who searched for them. I once was an atheist. I knew about the bible and God and church. I felt that the God of the bible was way too cruel to people to be a loving God. I wanted to be an informed atheist and I started reading books by both sides. And now I'm a born again christian who debates on forums like this.

Chiroptera writes:That's interesting. I was once a born again, evangelical, fundamentalist Christian. But I wanted to be able to debate with non-believers so I, too, started reading books. Now I am an atheist. Funny how it worked out different for the two of us, no?

dbrennan writes: Some people will come into these forums and become an atheist because of the well-placed arguments in here by atheist. Others will be turned to christianity because of a christians argument.

Why would he load the game like that?

Phatboy writes: Religion never became personal for me until the day that I experienced what I believe to honestly be salvation. Although it was true that I had prayed occasionally and talked to God for many years before this occasion, I had never really felt as if He had answered me in any significant way. He may well have done so, but I was nave as to detecting it.The change happened one day in late Fall of the year 1992. A particular girl whom I knew as a friend, (she had married one of my friends and had likewise separated) called me one day and invited me to her new church which she was attending. I went with her out of courtesy and a mild degree of curiosity. The church was modeled after the charismatic non-denominational variety which I have since come to avoid--not because I do not agree with their worship style and theology so much as because I desire teaching rather than entertainment!The first few times that I attended this church, I found myself drawn by a curiosity as to the formula that made these people tick. I was certainly not starved for group attention, and I felt as if much of what they did and how they acted was somewhat silly, but within my own heart and soul there was an inner yearning and a feeling of fear mixed with anticipation. I found myself dealing with a type of a split personality.There was a certain part of me that was drawing or being drawn closer to the mystery and the worship, while there was another part of me that scoffed and declared that in no way was I ever going to pretend to be a religious devotee! I could not deny the simple scriptures that were being thrown out at us amidst the entertainment/worship ritualistic atmosphere, however. Little did I know or expect the change that was coming.Whenever the Altar Call was announced, I had a swirling upset stomach feeling within me. I felt as if I needed to surrender to something--to someone--to lay my life down and declare, in effect that I was unable to achieve inner peace through any effort that I might make. My pride kept me back, as well as my common sense. Surely I was no zealot, and whatever inner correspondence that I needed to have between God and myself was a private matter rather than a public spectacle, after all! I was still drawn towards this surrender, despite my concerns.One Sunday, I did go up, prompted by my friend yet solely of my own accord. I shall never forget that day, because the experience that occurred was unlike anything that I have experienced before or since! This includes all manner of drug or alcohol induced epiphanies that I had often experienced!As we prayed on the stage that day, I felt a minute yet clearly identifiable spark of energy that went through my entire being. It was so unidentifiable by my senses that I sat, stupefied for a matter of minutes while everyone else was singing. I knew that something was different, but I did not know what until I awoke the next morning so full of love, optimism, energy, and euphoria that one would conclude that I was on good drugs had they seen me!Conversion experiences need to stand the test of time, and mine was no different. I was totally innocent and reborn, yet I was a sheep among sheep who knew nothing of religion and very little about each other! In the ensuing twelve year period since my conversion, I have seen the deceptions within organized religion, the clash of philosophies and ideologies which make up our modern geopolitical and religious world, and the dark inner recesses of human nature within those close to me as well as society at large.I left that church long ago, and am now with a small group of Dispensationalist teachers. I am not as conservative as they are, and I am definitely not a sheep of any human shepherd as so many Christians become. I am not a word for word Biblical literalist...in that I don't believe in literal certainties so much as literal possibilities within scripture. I am more of a thought for thought literalist.

Porcelain writes:John Calvin hated verses such as:
God repented for choosing Saul as king over Israel- 1samuel 14:35

Doesn't Divine Impartation interfer with Free will?

Surely the christian godhead would give everyone an equal ability to believe from the start?

AdminPhat writes:This proposed Topic starter arose from observing a conversation in Jonah and The Whale Thread between DBrennan and Chiroptera. It fits in with Faith and Belief. The question? Can one...anyone...become a Christian merely by persuasion? I would argue against this.If a Christian becomes a Christian by persuasion, it is to me much the same as teaching a 2 year old Physics. In other words, nay impossible. C.S. Lewis claimed to have become a Christian by persuasion, but I believe that a Christian becomes a Christian due to Divine Impartation. An inner awareness, if you will.

Catholic Scientist writes:No, why?...God imparts knowledge to you and you have the choice to do whatever you want, to believe whatever you want.

Charles Knight writes:Doesn't Divine Impartation interfer with Free will?

What do you mean by 'impart knowledge'?

As for beliefs, they don't seem to be able to be chosen.

"Whatever I want," doesn't seem to be an option.