The Allure of “Nice” and the Need for Radical Change
When it comes to conversion, it’s essential to get both our doctrine and practices right. Churches should believe that God makes people radically new, not just nicer versions of themselves. But what does this look like in practice?
Jesus’ Confrontation with Nicodemus
In John 3, Jesus confronts Nicodemus, a Pharisee, with the need to be born again. Nicodemus is puzzled, thinking that being born again means re-entering his mother’s womb. Jesus explains that being born of water and the Spirit is necessary to enter the kingdom of God. This conversation highlights the difference between “nice” and being radically new.
The Appeal of “Nice”
The appeal of “nice” is strong. It plays to our vanity and pride, allowing us to feel good about ourselves. We can commend ourselves to others and maybe even to God. But “nice” is based on three flawed ideas: an optimistic view of human beings, a domesticated view of God, and a view of religion as a means of moral self-reform.
The Problem with “Nice”
The problem with “nice” is that it doesn’t work. We can’t reform ourselves or make ourselves better by trying harder. Our nature is bent towards loving self, not God. We need a radical change, a complete restart. The Bible uses several theological concepts to describe this change, but it never uses the word “reformation.” We can’t reform a dead heart.
Presenting Christ as a Method of Self-Improvement
We often present Christ as a method of self-improvement, which is not the gospel. We tell people that Jesus will make a difference in their lives, marriages, and parenting. But Jesus didn’t come to make our lives easier or more comfortable. He came to call us to die to ourselves and follow him.
The Need for Radical Change
If we want to be right with God, we don’t need to improve ourselves. We need a complete restart. We need to be made new. This change goes deeper than our behavior; it reaches down to our very nature. We need to be born again, born of water and the Spirit.
Conclusion
The allure of “nice” is strong, but it’s not enough. We need to be radically new, born again through the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to present Christ as the one who calls us to die to ourselves and follow him, not as a method of self-improvement. Only then can we experience the radical change that God offers us through conversion.
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