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| Volume 26 Number 4 April 2024 |
Page 5 |
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| Volume 26 Number 4 April 2024 |
Page 5 |
Hiram Kemp
The birthday of the Lord’s church occurred on the first Pentecost following Jesus’ resurrection. About 3,000 people responded to the first Gospel sermon, preached by Peter and the other apostles, and were baptized (Acts 2:1, 36-38, 41). I’m sure this was both an exciting and a challenging time for the church. Imagine 3,000 people in the new converts’ class! Shortly after Pentecost, the Gospel continued to spread, and the number of disciples was more than 5,000 (Acts 4:4). It should always be our desire for the Gospel to spread freely and that more individuals and families come to know Jesus (2 Thessalonians 3:1). Along with our desire for the Gospel to go further and for God to give the increase should come a sobering reminder of our responsibility as the church to new converts.
The Bible speaks of some of the things that new converts must desire for themselves. New Christians should desire to grow in the Word of God (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18). New Christians should be sure to attend every possible assembly to grow and to be encouraged (Hebrews 10:24-25). However, those of us who have been Christians for some time must consider carefully what our responsibilities are to those who are new to the faith. The way we respond or fail to respond to new converts could be the difference between whether they flourish in their faith or fall away. While it is right to rejoice as baptisms are taking place, it is also necessary to evaluate our congregation and to be sure we are all that we should be for new converts. In this article, I want to offer for your consideration a few things every congregation owes to new converts.
A Loving Family
The church is the household of God (1 Timothy 3:15). We are family together in Christ, and we should operate like the most loving family in the world (1 Corinthians 16:14). When someone rises from the waters of the baptistry, God does not send them out on their own. God adds those who are being saved to the body of Christ (Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 12:18). Those of us who are already members of the body must warmly receive them. The world will know that we are disciples of Jesus by the love that we have for each other (John 13:34-35). New converts will also pick up on our sincerity and commitment to the New Testament if they encounter people who have been radically shaped by the love of Christ. When the new Christians in Acts 2 obeyed the Gospel in Jerusalem, they immediately encountered Christ-like love from the apostles. Many in Jerusalem sold their property and shared their goods for others to have what they needed (Acts 2:44-45). This was not a one-time occurrence but took place whenever it was necessary (Acts 4:34-37). This had to have a positive impact on the new converts.
It is not enough to teach people the right doctrine, but we must not, then, fail to live the right way. New converts should never have to enter a congregation where fighting and bickering is the norm (Galatians 5:15). We will not be perfect, but we should be growing in Christian maturity so that we are not setting a bad example to those who are babes in Christ. New converts should enter a congregation that welcomes them, loves them and assists them in any way possible as they grow closer to Jesus. It should be normal for Christians to show love to one another (2 John 5). Some people who become Christians did not grow up with loving family members among their physical family. They may have never been hugged or told they were appreciated or that they did a good job. In Christ we are to show them something different. We are to show them the family as God always intended for it to be (John 15:12).
Patience
Sensible parents do not become angry with a newborn who spits up on them. Parents recognize that newborn babies will make mistakes and do things wrong on occasion. In fact, it will probably be a long time before a child can make good decisions and overcome clumsy mistakes. When congregations encounter new converts, we should keep in mind that they are “babes in Christ.” This does not mean we do not challenge them to grow or to deepen their faith, but we should be patient with them (1 Thessalonians 5:14). The fruit of the spirit involves patience, and new Christians need us to exercise patience toward them (Galatians 5:22). Even those of us who have been Christians for a few years recognize that we still sin and stumble. How much more will a recent convert experience the same (1 John 1:8, 10)?
When new Christians says something incorrectly or do something wrong, remember to show patience. Be slow to pounce on them and rebuke them for their use of denominational terminology or their inability to grasp New Testament Christianity in its fullness. Remember to give them time to grow, and do not rush them; spiritual growth takes time (2 Peter 1:5-11). Again, we neither approve error nor fail to correct it. We just need to do so gently and with patience (1 Thessalonians 2:7). Jesus spent three years training the apostles, but He still recognized some things would take a while to grasp (John 16:12). We need to be patient with those who are learning the truth and crucifying old habits for the first time. If we want God to be patient with us, we need to be sure to be patient with others (Matthew 7:2).
Do Not Be a Stumbling Block
Jesus had harsh words to say for those who would cause “little ones” (i.e. new converts) to stumble (Matthew 18:6). We must give careful attention to not put a stumbling block in the way of any Christian but especially those who have just begun their walk with Christ (Romans 14:13). Our behavior should not encourage new Christians to sin or to live unrighteous lives. Instead, we ought lead them to grow more into the image of Christ. They will listen to us even when we are not paying attention, and they watch how we interact with each other. May they never overhear us gossiping about another Christian or tearing someone down with our words (James 4:11). We should not endorse false teaching or refer them to materials that will confuse them and lead them in the wrong direction. As new converts come to the church, we should make it easier for them to know the truth and do the right thing, rather than making it more difficult for them. Jesus said we were better off destroying ourselves than if we caused a new convert to stumble. We should all ask ourselves, “If new Christians followed me around and walked in my steps, would they become more like Jesus or less like him?”
A Chance to Grow and to Participate
The adage is, “If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” Jesus never said anything like this. There is room in the body of Christ for everyone to use his or her talents and gifts to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 12:12-24). The church owes new Christians an opportunity to grow in their faith. There should be classes for them to attend and things taught so they can grow and flourish. If we do not want new Christians to remain babes in the faith, they must be fed a steady and healthy diet of the Word of God to mature and to develop (Hebrews 5:11-14). However, we must not simply stick them in the classroom and lecture them. New Christians should be allowed to volunteer, get involved and use their talents to God’s glory. The sooner a new Christian is involved, the more likely he or she will stick around. People will remain committed to the things in which they are invested.
For obvious reasons, wise elders will not turn over a Bible class to new converts to teach or to allow them to lead prayer immediately after their conversion. Still, if we are wise, we will find things for them to do and ways for them to serve so they know they are not second-class citizens in the kingdom. We should let them fix communion, fold bulletins, go visiting with us, go door knocking, help serve meals, etc. New converts, like seasoned Christians, must have works that accompany their faith, and we can help with this (James 2:14-26). It is great to see people obey the Gospel and become Christians. Yet, it is always sad to see new Christians fall away and leave the church. New converts have some personal responsibility concerning their faithfulness to God (Romans 14:12), but likewise, the local church has responsibilities to new converts. May we all do our part to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31)!
