Converts Hooked on a Feeling
Terry L. Mitchell
May 15, 2009
Many years ago, B.J. Thomas had a hit song entitled, "Hooked on a Feeling." Unfortunately, that title can be used to describe many new Christian converts. If you´ve been a Christian for as long as I have, you´ve probably witnessed the following scenario play out over and over.
Someone – whether a young, mild-aged, or older adult – who has lived their whole life outside Christ gets saved and joins your church. They are immediately on fire for the Lord, possibly even becoming a deacon or Sunday school teacher in short order. They are willing to share their salvation experience with anyone and everyone who will listen. They begin to put many of your long-term Christian friends to shame. But before many months have transpired, they disappear, never to be heard from again.
What happened? More than likely, Christianity gave them a feeling unlike anything they had tried before and they became hooked on it. But regrettably, because feelings change, they can´t carry a person but so far, no matter how strong they are. Therefore, when the novelty of their newfound Christian experience wore off, there was nothing to keep their interest piqued. Perhaps they moved on to the next experience that sparked some kind of excitement in their soul.
Keep in mind that many of those who have their first encounter with Christianity after the age of 25 have become "experience shoppers," a lifestyle that´s difficult (although far from impossible) to break. That´s why it´s so important to reach people for Christ while they are still very young, preferably as children or teenagers.
Someone – whether a young, mild-aged, or older adult – who has lived their whole life outside Christ gets saved and joins your church. They are immediately on fire for the Lord, possibly even becoming a deacon or Sunday school teacher in short order. They are willing to share their salvation experience with anyone and everyone who will listen. They begin to put many of your long-term Christian friends to shame. But before many months have transpired, they disappear, never to be heard from again.
What happened? More than likely, Christianity gave them a feeling unlike anything they had tried before and they became hooked on it. But regrettably, because feelings change, they can´t carry a person but so far, no matter how strong they are. Therefore, when the novelty of their newfound Christian experience wore off, there was nothing to keep their interest piqued. Perhaps they moved on to the next experience that sparked some kind of excitement in their soul.
Keep in mind that many of those who have their first encounter with Christianity after the age of 25 have become "experience shoppers," a lifestyle that´s difficult (although far from impossible) to break. That´s why it´s so important to reach people for Christ while they are still very young, preferably as children or teenagers.
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