Conversion Within Conversion

A couple of days ago (5/8), Dr. Frank Beckwith's resigned from being the president of the Evangelical Theological Society (www.etsjets.org). Dr. Beckwith resigned because he stated that he had converted to Roman Catholism.

This is one of the most interesting stories that I've read to date. Conversion from sinners to saint is a common occurance, which for those of us who consider ourselves Christians, have experienced it and have turned 180 degrees from our ways and followed Christ. We knew what it was like living without Jesus Christ, and when Jesus came into our hearts, everything changed.

Conversion from being a Catholic to being a "born-again" believer is also common. I have met many people to have claimed this as part of their testimony. Converting from following a set religion with its rich history and traditions to following a much simpler form of belief system makes sense, especially in the day in age in which we are living. People, by nature, want to be more free and experience life without restrictions and/or boundaries. True Christian Teachings offer the freedom to not follow such religious traditions, rules and regulations, that often blind one to see the freedom they have in Jesus Christ. Jesus' number one enemies were the Pharisees--the most religious people in its day, with rules up to their noses. They didn't know what freedom was. Jesus said in John 8: 36, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Having stated the obvious, it's not as common for a Christian (one who is truly free), let alone a well-renown Christian leader like Dr. Beckwith, to convert to Catholism. The distinctives of the Evangelical Churches and the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) are enormously different. Although they share a Christian foundation founded in the Holy Bible, they differ in their interpretation of it.

The RCC belief system teach that for one to enter heaven, he or she must be part of this church (baptized and/or convert into it) and follow its teachings (faith plus work). Orthodox Christian belief teaches, however, that only through faith in Jesus Christ is one saved and can enter heaven (faith only). Works or "doing good deeds" comes in only because of our gratitude that we have been saved/rescued/delivered and because of the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Deeds is only a conditional means to eternal life in heaven if one has never heard of the Good News of Jesus Christ (God sees the hearts of men and his justice is sure).

Ephesians 2: 8-10 says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

I really don't know his motives, but perhaps Dr. Beckwith just wants to experience rich Church history, church traditions, and what RCC stands for in this society. I sometimes enjoy learning how Christianity through the centuries have evolved into what we have today. Above all, learning and appreciating history and traditions of men is not the same as holding fast to and practicing them so that one can somehow win God's favor.

John 8: 32 "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."