Final Excerpt: Misrepresentations of the Gospel And Bearing Fruits Worthy of Repentance

CONTINUING FROM ROSARIA BUTTERFIELD'S BOOK: THE SECRET THOUGHTS OF AN UNLIKELY CONVERT---AN ENGLISH PROFESSOR'S JOURNEY INTO CHRISTIAN FAITH:

SIN LURKS IN OUR HEART AND GRABS US BY THE THROAT TO DO ITS BIDDING. Remember what God said to Cain about his sin? Sin lies at the door And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it. (Gen. 4:6) In accepting misrepresentations of the Gospel that render sin anything less than this, you will never learn of the fruit of repentance. The Apostle Paul defines his post-conversion life simply: in Christ he now does works befitting repentance. (Acts 26:20) This idea that we repent and we serve is also reflected in the words of the last of the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist, who prepares the way of the Lord by warning the religious people of his day, Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand! (Matt. 3:2) and after repenting to bear fruits worthy of repentance (Matt. 3:2)

And Jesus himself warns us against failing to count the costs of discipleship or of testing us in the faith, when he says, Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to me in the day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, 'I never know you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'(Matt. 7:21-23).

The Christian life is a life imbued with the supernatural power and authority of God. God is the God of salvation. We do not control God by saying magic words or attending church. Conversion is a heart-affair. Before we can come to Christ, we must empty ourselves of the false pride, blame-shifting, excuse making and self-deception that preoccupies our days and our relationships.

Before we can come to Christ, we must come to (fallen) ourselves.

After my conversion, every day and every part of the routine of my life was a faith test. I had formerly been the most popular teacher in gay and lesbian studies. I was already scheduled to teach for the fall semester Introduction fo Women's Studies and Feminist Pedagogy. I would have to follow through and teach these classes, but would have to find a way to teach them as a Christian. Who would take such courses? Who would now sign up for these once popular offerings?

----Rosaria Butterfield Champagne (pp. 36-37)