John M. Mulder

The process of conversion to the Christian faith, where someone truly confesses their belief in the redemptive power of Jesus, has always been shrouded in mystery. Even the first disciples of Jesus who accepted his invitation to "Follow me" gave little indication about what happened within them causing them to leave their previous ways of life and to devote the rest of their lives to Jesus.

Through the centuries, Christians have tried to explain how the process of conversion works. For generations, many congregations have offered some form of class to prepare people for baptism or confirmation (if they were baptized as infants), though the content and expectations of these classes have varied widely. The Puritans in colonial New England had well-documented tests of conversion, requiring people to present stories of their conversions before groups of elders who determined if the experiences met their standard of Christian conversion.

No amount of formality, though, can really clarify this deeply personal process that occurs in the depths of the soul. Moreover, those people of faith who have left accounts of their conversion experiences have shared stories with differing, and sometimes conflicting, details. For some, conversion to Christianity was an instantaneous event, like the flipping of a switch; for others, conversion happened over time. For some, conversion was the result of a repeated presence of God -- or the search for God -- in their lives; for others it was completely unexpected. Some describe a sense of assurance of their salvation as part of their conversion experience; others have doubted their salvation, even after their conversion.

John Mulder, expanding on a collection of conversion stories that he edited with the late Hugh Kerr some 30 years ago, offers a wide variety of these accounts in "Finding God: A Treasury of Conversion Stories." This rich collection offers 60 well-chosen conversion stories, frequently of famous Christians throughout history, such as Martin Luther, C. S. Lewis, Leo Tolstoy, Albert Schweitzer, Mother Teresa, and Billy Graham. The stories are taken mostly from memoirs, but also come from sermons, letters, and occasionally from third-person accounts. Each is preceded by a short introduction, offering biographical details and setting the context for the conversion.

Some readers, if they have particular ideas about what constitutes a conversion experience, may find the book disorienting -- to be sure, those 17th Century Puritan elders would not know what to make of many of these stories (except to deny that they were Christian conversions). However, I think the variety of these accounts is the great strength of this collection. These 60 stories offer perspectives from throughout the 2000 year history of Christianity, from different theological traditions, from different places and cultures, from both men and women; this variety seeks to honor the mystery of Christian conversion as much as it seeks to enlighten.

In fact, my only quibble with the well-edited and well-presented book is that perhaps some effort should have been made to include stories from the not-so-famous alongside these iconic Christian leaders and writers in order to offer more variety of notoriety and fame. (I certainly recognize that any anthology is going to tend towards famous names -- partially because their stories are more likely to have been preserved. But, at the very least, there are many Puritan conversion stories extant; one could have been chosen to coincide with Jonathan Edwards' story.) Still, this is a minor quibble.

"Finding God" offers an anthology of meaningful and sometimes poignant tales of personal encounters with God that changed people's lives completely. Given the number of stories, it might serve as an alternative type of personal devotional material for a couple of months. Overall, the collection certainly suggests a vastness in the ways God touches lives and the many ways that people respond to the age-old invitation of Jesus to "Follow me."

This review is also published at http://alongthispilgrimsjourney.blogspot.com/2013/09/book-review-finding-god-tre...… (mais)

American religion is, in many ways, defined by American Revivalism. According to Charles Finney, "There can be no revival when Mr. Amen and Mr. Wet-Eyes are not found in the audience." If anything, American Revialism is defined by a salvation experience.

Uniquely American Christendom walks on a Roman Road. Evangelical teenage short-term missionaries practice their testimonies.

The whole of faith gets packaged into a three-part testimonial form ever the bit as formulaic as the infomercial teaser--problem, purchase, benefits. Or angst, decision, joy. Or I was lost; but now am found; free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty I'm free at last.

From the frontier tent's revival to the Gospel choir's swaying, we have a uniquely American theology centered in distinctively American soteriology.

But...

That's not how it's always been. And that's now how it is everywhere. And the stories of finding to God through Christ even in our homeland do not always fit this Americanized road to Emmaus experience.

If you are an Evangelical Christian whose faith has been forged in the fires of American Revivalism, but you feel like your drawing to God hasn't necessarily processed by way of the cookie-cutter pattern of those around you that profess, you'll enjoy reading these stories. You're not alone. You'll enjoy meeting new found friends. (And hopefully explore some of their ideas and writings in the broader Christian tradition. This book seems more intentionally primer than refresher.)

If you are an Orthodox or Roman Catholic or even Protestant of mainline or pietistic heritage, you'll enjoy the continuing conversation with saints of the communion.

If you are of a different religion, you may wish for stories of conversion to your religion. You may find painfully inadequate the reasons for which these individuals converted.

If you are anti-theistic, you'll shake your head in disillusionment at these individuals' decisions.

And...

If you're empathetic, you'll appreciate the struggle of everyman's journey.

And enjoy these stories of Mulder's telling, one thoughtfully written nugget at a time. Paul to Plantinga. Bono and Tolstoy.

Wannabe missiologists, evangelists--read, contemplate. And be patient and be generous to the other.… (mais)

Finding God: A Treasury of Conversion Stories recounts the conversion experiences of 60 well known Christians. For evangelicals, for whom the idea of conversion is key, the individuals selected my not conform to the prevailing evangelical notion of conversion. John M. Mulder is careful to define what he means by conversion. Conversion “suggests the act of turning around… The turning process can be physical, spiritual, emotional, theological, or moral” (p.xiii). With this definition of conversion in mind, the book launches into chronological vignettes of a number of well known people.
He begins with the most well known conversion account, the conversion of the Apostle Paul. What follows includes a “who’s who” of giants in Christianity: John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, Fannie Crosby, C.S. Lewis, and Billy Graham to name a few. Some of the individuals whose conversions are recounted are some who would be viewed with suspicion in some circles: Dorothy Day who was aligned with the leftist wing of the Catholic Church, and who separated from the church for a time; Albert Schweitzer, the great humanitarian who wrote The Quest for the Historical Jesus, and Mother Teresa, a suffering servant of God, but whose devotion to the virgin Mary would sit uncomfortably with most non-Catholics.
Read Finding God with the editor’s definition of conversion in mind. It will yield many encouraging stories.… (mais)

I received this book as a LibraryThing Early Reviewer. The book is a collection of conversion stories of sixty important and influential Christians, from the Apostle Paul and Constantine to Alvin Plantinga and Bono (a member of the band, U2). In general, each story opens with a short introduction of the person (who he/she is/was, a short background, and his/her key accomplishments, etc.). The interesting thing is that the main "stories" are reprints of excerpts of autobiographies or books and articles about the featured person. This feature makes the book a resource of primary or secondary sources. Good scholarly attempt for the original author and the current editor indeed.

To be honest, it would be dry reading if you attempt to read the book in one or two sittings. To use the book more effectively, you would either read it for research, or as daily devotion. Many of the stories are about 4 to 7 pages in length -- makes the articles quite readable for daily reading.

I should also point out an interesting chapter. There is a chapter on "a Chinese Christian" -- an anonymous person in the house church movement in China. A no-name, "ordinary" Christian who practices his faith but remain anonymous because of the fear of persecution, the story reminds me of millions of other Christians in the worldwide Church who are persecuted. Good inclusion!… (mais)