Order of Events in Conversion

A sense of ownership produces motivation and commitment. A person who undertakes their own journey to find faith will feel a sense of ownership of the outcome. The community of believers seeks to provide an example of love and compassion such that neighbors feel compelled to inquire how the community maintains its commitment through the challenges that distract most other people. This inquiry is a person's first step on the journey to find faith. Within the community, we can accompany prospective converts on their path, and provide fellowship and encouragement. We trust that each new convert's relationship with Christ will be productive. We don't have to manage their relationship because we know that to understand Christ is to understand the importance of love. Each person who acquires this understanding helps build up the kingdom. Christ reduced the emphasis on specific rules and he delegated more decision-making authority to people. Members of the community of believers have been tasked with making the current kingdom more like the next kingdom; however, there isn't a rule for every situation and we're responsible for much of the thinking. The kingdom is built upon the daily decisions of individual community members. This provides us with a sense of ownership of the outcome. Society functions better when citizens feel a sense of ownership and are generally more motivated. Christians should be motivated people because we have the opportunity to contribute toward the greatest possible objective. The task of building the kingdom is large, and more help is needed. The real lessons of scripture are not on the surface, and a person needs to engage long enough to understand the reasoning behind the religious practices. In order to remain committed to any behavior that requires effort, we need to understand why we're doing it. The way of life described in the New Testament is objectively desirable even if the practices of organized religion don't always seem to be. If we first communicate who Christ is and what he wants for us before proceeding to the rules and procedures, then we'll be more successful in spreading the understanding and the sense of ownership. People who might have disengaged over procedural disagreements will put aside those concerns, focus on the actionable principles, and contribute toward the well-being of neighbors both inside and outside of the community.