Reconverting to Christ this Christmas

Another Christmas is soon approaching. Remembering the birth of Jesus fills our hearts with hope and excitement. In the midst of the Christmas frenzy we might fail to take stock of the true condition of our hearts. We are often distracted by cards that need to be mailed, stockings that need to be filled, cookies that need to be baked, and countless other activities. However, this is an excellent time of the year to remind ourselves that our own hearts might be crying out for attention. It might be time to reconvert to Christ this Christmas.

What is missing in all our churches, in spite of tradition, that makes the topic of our article so necessary? How do we build our spiritual life regardless of our circumstances, however adverse they might be? As new believers are added to the community of faith, the journey through hardships may be difficult for them, and some indeed fall back.

Inward and Outward Life

Our spiritual life consists of our inward life: the behaviour hidden in our heart and in our private chamber, and our outward life: our overt behaviour towards people, whether that is one's own household, the community of faith or the outside world which may not believe in Christ. It is well known that our inner life feeds and controls our outward behaviour. If our inward life is strengthened and active, then our outward life will be fruitful, helpful, and not a stumbling for others. However, if our outward life or conduct among people is offensive, unbecoming, worthy of blame, censure, and criticism, then it is proof that our inward life is malfunctioning and in dire need of re-examination, control and renewal.

The relationship between the inward life and outward life remains firmly connected through our life. The outward life always uncovers the nakedness of inward life. This brings to our attention what needs to be transformed in our nature and behaviour through prayer. Every failing or defect which appears in our behaviour among people, points to a fundamental deviation in our spiritual standards. Hence, to ignore our failings is to ignore our spiritual growth because a small slip, whatever it may be, can never remain small. Due to negligence, a small slip will grow and become a greater and more dangerous fall.

Filled With the Spirit and the Word

In order to be transformed into the likeness of Christ we must be filled with the Spirit (Eph: 5:18) and filled with the Word of Christ (Col: 3:16). To be filled with the Spirit involved our life being under complete control of the Holy Spirit. In the Pentecost story the earliest believers' experience of being filled with the Spirit is mistaken for drunkenness. Philo provides an illuminating reflection on drunkenness. He identifies drunkenness with spiritual folly and goes a step further to draw a comparison between being drunk and being possessed by God: "Now when grace fills the soul, that soul thereby rejoices and smiles and dances, for it is possessed and inspired, so that to many of the unenlightened it may seem to be drunken, crazy, and beside itself.... For with the God-possessed not only is the soul want to be stirred and goaded as it were into ecstasy but the body also is flushed and fiery.... and thus many of the foolish are deceived and suppose that the sober and drunk... and it is true that these sober ones are drunk in a sense." A believer's experience of the Spirit's fullness is meant to be ongoing. For the believer, the Spirit mediates the fullness of God and of Christ (Ephesians 3:19 and 1:23). The spirit provides the power for Christian living.

Paul emphasized the importance of being filled with the Word. Paul exhorted the Colossian Church to let the peace of Christ rule in their lives, and later admonished the people to let the Word of Christ dwell richly among them.

Christ's rule is exercised in the lives of people when they listen to the Word of Christ and bow to its authority. Just as the Spirit of God indwells believers so must the "Word of Christ" reside among them in rich abundance, producing great blessing. The Word of Christ, in our lives, sheds light upon every failing or defect which persistently appears in our behaviour. Being obedient to the guidance of the Spirit, when meditating on the Word, awakens and alerts our conscience, and transforms our inner being. The Holy Spirit convicts and rebukes us and through the grace of God we are lead to repentance and a renewal of our relationship with the triune God.

The importance of the Spirit and the Word remains supreme. However, as we are members of the body of Christ, the role of a spiritual mentor cannot be undermined. There is a need for a soul friend, with whom you can share your inner life challenges. Such a friend can help you to adjust your relationship with others and to mend your ways, as you turn to God. No matter where we stand spiritually we are still susceptible to failure and require help. Transformation is our inward and outward life occurs when we expose our sin, feel remorseful, and repent of our sin. A mentor can offer appropriate guidance for rectifying the inner causes of our failure. Accepting such guidance will lead to further growth and fruitfulness in our lives.

As we celebrate Christmas this year let us take stock of our life. Is there a need to reconvert to Christ and if there is are you ready to do it?


Rev. Dr. Richard Howell is the general secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India