moment
This thought strain developed after hearing Sue Thomas speak at the National Youth Workers Convention and a conversation with Denise VanEck and some conversations over the past few weeks.
Sue was an amazing speaker, has a great testimony and you just want to love on her and hug her when she’s done. She did make one statement that I’ve been having trouble with.
More or less her statement was that unless you had a clear, undeniable, unforgettable, moment with Jesus where you recognized your need for salvation then you basically weren’t a Christian.
I have a problem with this…you see I was raised in a Christian home. I am a “lifer” as I like to refer to myself.
I cannot for the life of me remember one definable moment where I realized my need for salvation.
Maybe I can’t see it or maybe I just don’t want to point to one.
But in the definitive understanding of a very clear and unmistakable moment. I do not have that.
Does this mean I am not Christian???
I do have encounters with Jesus on a frequent basis where I become painfully aware of my constant need for salvation and grace. But I do not consistently point to one as “the moment”.
I understand the value in being able to point to that one singular moment. It is seen in many people’s live through the course of history. I just don’t share in that.
I actually had a version of these moments that same night that Sue spoke, it was during worship. I was having them all weekend in fact. Even as I try, hard, to remember that life-changing moment, I cannot.
Is this essential? Does this make me less of a Christian? Or am I just missing some facet of the Christian experience?
What do you think? What are your experiences? (please answer BOTH questions if you are going to comment)