Lent Exercises: Conversion - Restoring the Awkward Joy of Life with God.

In his book The Rise of Christianity, sociologist Rodney Stark reflects on conversion.  Stark notices that new converts don’t have theological categories to describe their experience.  These, he says, are supplied later by their new community.  According to Stark what happens in conversion is a social and emotional (I’d also argue spiritual) change.  Converts discover, sometimes with feelings of great joy, that something has shifted within them.  

They believe.  

Just what they believe however, isn’t yet clear.  It’s the community of faith that helps new believers translate their experience.  As they do, the convert learns to tell their story in theological terms.  

I remember Derek shaking his head after a bible study.  “That was amazing,” he said.  He kept saying it.  “Wow… that was… amazing…”.  After listening to Derek circle around a few more times I asked, “What was amazing?”  Derek looked confused.  “I don’t know,” he said, “God… I think… Jesus for sure.”  

Derek’s enthusiasm continued in the weeks and months that followed.  He was enthusiastic for other people to know about… how God… how Jesus… how learning about God and Jesus in scripture was, “amazing…”.

I think of Derek as I reflect on the call of Levi in Luke 5:27-31.  Levi is in the middle of doing his despised and despicable tax collection duty when Jesus calls him.  Everything about Levi’s status disqualified him to be a disciple.  He wasn’t morally upstanding.  He had the worst kind of political affiliations.  He made a living by exploiting his own people.  And he’d gotten wealthy.  

Jesus sees him, calls him, and immediately he abandons his post to start a new life.  

It’s way too easy for me to fill in a story, to make the pieces make sense.  Perhaps Levi was really unhappy and heard Jesus’ call as a chance for a new start.  Perhaps Levi hated himself for the ways he’d betrayed his people.  Perhaps Levi was so overwhelmed that Jesus would call someone, “like him.”  

But the more I reflect on it, the more I think this story is stranger and more profound.  Levi hears, sees, and responds to Jesus in joyful abandon.  I don’t think Levi knows what’s happening.  I suspect he’s experienced Jesus and he wants to go with him.  

The religious impulse in the passage, in me, and in our churches can (unintentionally) flatten the joy of a Levi or a Daniel.  As the story unfolds Levi throws a party with all his disreputable friends.  The religious people shake their heads.    

As you reflect on this passage what stirs in you?  Can you connect with the awkward joy of a Levi or Daniel?  Can you imagine, or remember, the joy of simply wanting to be close to God?  Can you imagine God has joy in wanting to be close to you?