“But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; if somehow I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:7-11; all Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible).

Many traditional churches commemorate the Conversion of St. Paul on January 25. Among other things, this day gives us an extra opportunity to reflect on the life and teachings of the Apostle to the Gentiles, including how he would answer the question, “What is conversion?”

Christians use this term in different ways. For some, it means a change of religious affiliation, as when a Protestant becomes a Roman Catholic or vice versa. For others, it means saying a sinner’s prayer, followed by attending church regularly, joining a Bible study group, and making a few lifestyle changes.

Paul would tell us that “conversion” means something more. Those things were good in themselves, but they were secondary. Conversion means change. The conversion of St. Paul was more than a change from Pharisee to Christian. It was even more than the change from the Hebrew name “Saul” to the Gentile name “Paul” (many Jews, then and now, would have both a Hebrew and Gentile name from childhood if they lived in a mostly-Gentile region).

For Paul, conversion to Christ involved a radical change of identity. He was now in Christ, and Christ was in him. His goal was to completely connect himself with Jesus, even knowing “the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.” Most Christians are eager for the power of Christ’s resurrection; are we willing to know the fellowship of His sufferings?

The relationship of being “in Christ” and having Christ in us is intimate. He lives through us. Whatever Jesus does, He does through us. About 20 years ago, many Christians wore shirts or accessories that said “WWJD”—What Would Jesus Do? While this is a helpful question to ask ourselves when confronting a dilemma, we should be able to ask and answer an even more pertinent question: What is Jesus doing now? How is He living, moving, and speaking through us? Can we discuss our lives and activities and describe them as “Jesus is doing this or that” without slandering Him?

Conversion also meant a radical change of perspective for Paul. At one time, his spiritual pedigree as a “Hebrew of Hebrews” and a Pharisee was a source of pride for him. After coming to Christ, though, the things that he once considered important no longer mattered. He counted them as rubbish—disgusting trash. His identity in Christ was all that mattered. He was more concerned about the things that are unseen and eternal than the things of this world, which are seen but temporary.

May we all share Paul’s view of conversion. Answering the call to follow Christ leads to a real change in who we are and what matters to us that radically changes every area of our lives. May that change be visible and undeniable in our lives.

What does “conversion” mean to you? Has Christ converted you? Share your thoughts in the comments area below.

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