In your thought exercise, John-Mark chose a career in ministry, but was he a Christian?Was he led to ministry by the holy spirit or just selecting a respectable occupation? He lived a decent life, but did he walk with Christ? The scenario paints a picture of an individual who did good works but only he knew his heart. I would like to believe that even after the accident if he truly believed in Christ as his Lord and Savior he would be guided once again by the Holy Spirit, but the absence of a profession of real faith conversion leaves me with doubts of salvation.
Thank you for engaging with it! To answer your question, in the thought experiment, his initial faith was genuine. He walked with Christ until the accident, but after losing his memory, he never “re-converted.”
Nice article , i really enjoyed the balanced approach to the diciest of all theological topics — speculation on eternal destinations!
As to your fun thought experiment, i’ll offer my best of a guess. the man will be allowed to experience the fires of God’s love, and this purgative restoration will lead him back to the one he first loved, and he will be caught up in the eternal act of God- restoring all to the Son.
there is more that could be said, but i think it is best answered as abstractly as the question allows!
Thanks! I usually spend a good bit of time on the theological articles but I figured this topic was easy enough for a shoot-from-hip-written-on-my-lunch break approach (/s 😂).
No but I really did find it so interesting to see people’s reactions to Adams’ statement. His “I dont believe but I’m converting” literally on his deathbed feels like a theological thought experiment and its so telling how many non-Christians I saw weighing in saying something to the affect of “wait, is that really all it’s about?”
For Mark's conversion to be genuine, there would have had to be some sort of work of the Holy Spirit in his life; and (as Susan points out below) the Holy Spirit won't abandon anyone who is truly saved. Therefore I would expect John's life to show evidence of the Spirit's influence and guidance; absent this, Mark / John was not a Christian.
In your thought exercise, John-Mark chose a career in ministry, but was he a Christian?Was he led to ministry by the holy spirit or just selecting a respectable occupation? He lived a decent life, but did he walk with Christ? The scenario paints a picture of an individual who did good works but only he knew his heart. I would like to believe that even after the accident if he truly believed in Christ as his Lord and Savior he would be guided once again by the Holy Spirit, but the absence of a profession of real faith conversion leaves me with doubts of salvation.
Thank you for engaging with it! To answer your question, in the thought experiment, his initial faith was genuine. He walked with Christ until the accident, but after losing his memory, he never “re-converted.”
In that case, I do not believe genuine faith conversion / salvation is lost following a TBI. I do not believe a faith covenant with God can be broken.
Nice article , i really enjoyed the balanced approach to the diciest of all theological topics — speculation on eternal destinations!
As to your fun thought experiment, i’ll offer my best of a guess. the man will be allowed to experience the fires of God’s love, and this purgative restoration will lead him back to the one he first loved, and he will be caught up in the eternal act of God- restoring all to the Son.
there is more that could be said, but i think it is best answered as abstractly as the question allows!
Thanks! I usually spend a good bit of time on the theological articles but I figured this topic was easy enough for a shoot-from-hip-written-on-my-lunch break approach (/s 😂).
No but I really did find it so interesting to see people’s reactions to Adams’ statement. His “I dont believe but I’m converting” literally on his deathbed feels like a theological thought experiment and its so telling how many non-Christians I saw weighing in saying something to the affect of “wait, is that really all it’s about?”
And great answer to the thought experiment!
For Mark's conversion to be genuine, there would have had to be some sort of work of the Holy Spirit in his life; and (as Susan points out below) the Holy Spirit won't abandon anyone who is truly saved. Therefore I would expect John's life to show evidence of the Spirit's influence and guidance; absent this, Mark / John was not a Christian.
Thanks for answering!