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One of my favorite movies is the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou? Inspired by Homer’s epic Greek poem The Odyssey, it’s a story of a trio of convicts escaping from their imprisonment in the 1930s rural south, only to encounter trials and tribulations on their journey as they seek out fabled hidden treasure, and ultimately a return home.
In one beautiful, and at the same time comedic, scene, the trio encounters a group of Christian worshippers, who are headed to a river to be baptized while singing “Down to the River to Pray.”
One of the escaped prisoners named Delmar, caught up in the spiritually charged experience of all that is taking place, excitedly plunges into the river to join the believers, as he himself is likewise baptized.
Well that’s it, boys. I’ve been redeemed. The preacher’s done warshed away all my sins and transgressions. It’s the straight and narrow from here on out, and heaven everlasting’s my reward.
Neither God nor man’s got nothin’ on me now. C’mon in boys, the water is fine.
Today as we continue our sermon series on the new church, I’d like for us to reflect on this notion of conversion in one’s life, and the life of the church.
Conversion is sometimes hard to articulate for us as life-long Christians. We try to make it look or sound easy, like a dramatic baptism in the movies, but the reality is that conversion is often much more complex and arduous than we would like it to be.
Is conversion something happens all of a sudden? In an instant?
Or can we experience conversion over time? Perhaps a lifetime?
Some of us here today may have no trouble at all remembering a time of conversion. Some of us have unique and powerful stories to share!
But for many of us, we are left pondering if we have ever experienced such a thing as conversion at all. How can we be converted if we were baptized as infants and raised in the comforts of a loving and supportive church?
What are the foundational principles of conversion?
Is there room to allow for reinterpretation of this idea of conversion for those who already identify themselves as Christian?
How are we, as First Presbyterian, invited into conversion today?
We are reading today from Acts, chapter 9. Just last week in chapter 8 we read about Philip’s encounter and ministry with the Samaritans, and then the Ethiopian eunuch, and the wonderful story of conversion that occurred through the works of the Spirit.
Today we read about one of the most dramatic conversions within the story of Acts. The Spirit had to scrounge up some extra “Holy Ghost power” for this one, as the feared Saul, persecutor and murderer of the disciples of Jesus, presents the most powerful works of the Spirit needed yet.
Saul, the brash Pharisee from Tarsus, is first introduced in Acts as one witnessing and perhaps overseeing the execution, the stoning, of the apostle Stephen in chapter 7. Saul’s reputation precedes him, especially his violence and persecution toward men and women of the church, also known as the Way.
And this is where we pick up with chapter 9 today. Saul is on his way to Damascus, a long way away from Jerusalem. It seems that this “good news” of Jesus has begun to spread throughout the region, and Saul feels it is his duty to stomp out these fires wherever they may pop up, and stop this radical group of heretics known as the Way. He seeks to track down and arrest (or worse) anyone who dares to challenge the institution of the Jewish law by proclaiming the news of the resurrected Jesus.
Our author, Luke, describes Saul in such a way as if his persecution of the Christians is personal, as if his very identity is threatened by the mere presence of such an ideology and belief.
And that is exactly what happens.
Saul’s very life and identity is forever changed in encountering Christ.
Saul is blinded by a flash of light and thrown to the ground.
No alternative messenger will do in this moment;
the risen Jesus himself spoke directly to Saul.
God has a plan for this zealous man.
God has something to teach him.
Sometimes we resist God’s plans, and we are sent nudges over time to guide us along the way.
Other times, God needs to knock us to the ground so that we are ready to listen.
This was Saul’s personal experience to go through with God. His companions were there for this event, and yet, they did not experience what Saul experienced.
You know when people talk about having a “come to Jesus” meeting? This was it in a literal sense for Saul.
And while this dramatic event is taking place outside of Damascus, God is also moving within the life of a disciple named Ananias inside the city as well.
Ananias also has a role to play in this story. And while Ananias is understandably fearful at first when God presents the plan to him, he is faithful and obedient in fulfilling his role.
He is to go to this man named Saul, who is known to persecute Christians like Ananias.
Ananias will trust in God’s movement, and will confront Saul.
And Ananias will tell Saul all that God is doing in his life.
Saul, God says, is to be an integral part of the work of the kingdom:
“…for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel...” (Acts 9:15)
And through the power of the Holy Spirit once again, Ananias will lay his hands on Saul,
as Saul’s vision will be restored, he will be baptized, and he will be reborn to no longer persecute the witnesses of the resurrection, but to become one of the prominent leaders of the new church.
“C’mon in boys, the water is fine.”
Saul will be reborn as Paul. He will go on to become one of the most outspoken messengers and witnesses of the resurrected Jesus.
Saul experienced conversion on that day.
Today’s good news: God moves in this world to convert our hearts toward Christ, so that we too may experience rebirth in the Spirit.
Do you believe this? Do you believe that the Holy Spirit can move within us and transform our very identities toward Christ?
And do you also believe that God seeks to use you as a vessel, as an instrument, as well,
to share the good news of resurrection with the world,
and to journey alongside others as they experience their own conversion?
As we profess Christ resurrected, we also profess the Spirit being able to do nothing short of changing entire lives and communities, including you and me.
Conversion is life changing. But it’s not something we can just do on our own. It begins with Christ moving within our very lives.
Sometimes this means us inviting Jesus into our lives.
Other times this means Jesus making his presence known one way or another!
With Baptism as our outward expression of such inward grace, we are called to spiritually die to the old self, and to be reborn in the Spirit—to become new creations.
And within this spiritual rebirth, the faith community is called to support and nurture the converted into such a new identity.
In effect, the church is likewise invited to conversion as we seek to reflect new identity through Jesus Christ for the world. We may call it renewal, or even revival, but we are called nonetheless.
I believe that each of us can experience conversion in our lives.
And I believe that conversion can extend to this congregation here at First Presbyterian as well.
As we are reminded time and time again, the Spirit moves where it pleases.
And if the Spirit is powerful enough to blind a zealous Pharisee, to bring a murderous tyrant to his knees, then I believe the Spirit can work with us as well.
What can it look like, First Presbyterian, to be converted in the presence of the risen Christ here today?
What scales need to be removed from our own eyes, so that we can see the world as Jesus sees it?
What words of new life do we need to share with our neighbors? And what words do we need to hear for ourselves?
Come Holy Spirit, come, and convert our hearts toward your will.
Come Holy Spirit, come, and convert our tired bodies into energized instruments for your works.
Come Holy Spirit, come, and convert this church to be a light in the spiritual blindness of this world, so that Christ’s glory may be revealed, and all may come to experience the love and grace of our Creator.
Rev. Dr. Jeff Binder 
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