Yet the nature of conversion from a Biblical point of view includes elements that create significant change and resolution in people, even to the point where Christians would rather die than recant their beliefs. Is Biblical, Scriptural Christian conversion the product of a thought-reform process or something else?

On the surface, one may observe some similarities between Lifton's thought reform process and the Christian conversion process. On the basis of such an observation, Christianity might be assailed as the product of a thought reform process.

However, the differences between the thought reform process and the Christian conversion process are far more weighty and significant than the similarities. These differences prove that true, biblical conversion is not a Liftonian thought reform process.

1. The Assault upon Identity: Jesus informed all of mankind that they are separated from the Creator:
 
  He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18).

Christians do not consider this an "assault upon identity." Instead, Christians believe that separation from God profoundly explains the problems with human existence-- problems that exist prior to any knowledge about Jesus or Christianity.

Jesus didn't bring guilt or condemnation; he provided a solution for guilt and condemnation that already exists. Christianity restores man's relationship with his Creator.
 

  And if anyone hears My sayings, and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. (John 12:47)


Jesus did not undermine identity or adult human autonomy, but liberated the individual with opportunities and choices of faith.
 

1. The Establishment of Guilt: Jesus identified the sources of guilt; yet was more focused on forgiveness of the penitent than the guilt of the rest.
 
 But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man (Matthew 15:18-20).

  But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him, and kissed him. (Luke 15:20)


Mankind has a propensity for needing to be shown "the problem" before it will consider "the solution," especially if that solution requires change on its part. Hence, Christian teaching and conversion must involve some awareness of "the problem" of sin and guilt. But the message doesn't stop there.
 

2. The Self-Betrayal: Lifton considers the recognition of guilt a shameful act of self-denial. Christians consider the act of recognizing one's guilt from sin and its effects, including separation from God, are significant points in the conversion process and need not be humiliating:
 
  Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" (e.g. Acts 2:37)


This recognition and decision is not a betrayal of the self; it is the right positioning of self in relationship to God.
 

3. The Breaking Point: Total Conflict and the Basic Fear: Lifton considers the fear of "total annihilation" to be the ultimate fear and the motivation for subsequent "progress" towards the ends of the thought reform process. There is some similarity to Christian conversion here, in that people who believe in God and yet are separated from him and under his wrath (cf. John 3:36) generally have a profound desire not to be separated from God nor and under his wrath forever.
 
  For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10)

  For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9).


While not the only motivation for becoming a Christian, the gravity of the consequences of separation from God are a valid motivation for faith and obedience to Christianity.
 

4. Leniency and Opportunity: Lifton recognizes the manipulative nature of the thought reform process where its subjects are alternately and arbitrarily condemned and then given leniency.


Jesus is not arbitrary or manipulative in the offer of grace, but it always stands.

 
  And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain-- for He says, "AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU"; behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION." (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)

  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).

1. The Compulsion to Confess: The thought-reform process required an all-out confession experience, as its subjects were made to denounce themselves and their innermost thoughts in a humiliating and dehumanizing manner as a matter of survival.


Christians do not confess their sins under compulsion, nor do they do so under the watchful eye of one who might consider it "inadequate." They do not confess to be humiliated, but to be healed. Any confession without healing as its end is not consistent with Scripture or Christian practice.

 
  Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much (James 5:16)

1. The Channeling of Guilt: The guilt of the subjects of thought reform is channeled into submitting to the process and goals of thought reform.


For Christians, guilt is not atoned for by human self-abasement or emotional self-flagellation but by the cross of Christ. Jesus paid the price of atonement for sins and lostness. The motivation for future service is not guilt but love and freedom.

 
  For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another (Galatians 5:13).

  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:8-10).

1. Re-Education: Logical Dishonoring: Logical dishonoring has to do with the ultimate rejection of one's previous identity-- family, previous efforts and good deeds-- were to be seen as either wrong or done with false or selfish motives (and thus even worse).


Christians may grow to recognize emptiness in their pre-Christian lives, yet are also able to appreciate good and right things and areas where God blessed them as well (e.g. Galatians 1:15).

 
  He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:45)

   He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." (Acts 14:17)

  Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19).

  God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9).
 

2. Progress and Harmony: Lifton sees a point where the victims of thought reform are finally said to have made "progress" and thus come into harmony with their reformers.


Christians have no such illusion of self-righeousness or perfection but continually rely upon their trust in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus to maintain harmony in their relationship with their Creator.

 
  And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us (1 John 1:5-10).

1. Final Confession: The Summing Up: Those subject to thought reform, when they have made sufficient progress, have their final "confession" prepared and read for posterity. It is a testimony of their defeat by the process and system, and a self-testimony to their own misery apart from the system.


Christians may make "confessions" of faith and of the work of God in their lives. These are not statements of humiliation and defeat but of liberation, victory and God's grace realized in their lives. Let us consider one such testimony offered in the Bible:

 
  I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, just as you all are today. And I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons, as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished.
  And it came about that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
  And I answered, "Who art Thou, Lord?"
  And He said to me, `I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.' And those who were with me beheld the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.
  And I said, "What shall I do, Lord?"
  And the Lord said to me, "Arise and go on into Damascus; and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do."
  But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. And a certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing near said to me, "Brother Saul, receive your sight!" And at that very time I looked up at him. And he said, "The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear an utterance from His mouth.  For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name." (Acts 22:1-16)

1. Rebirth: Those who complete the thought reform process are now "new," made in the image of their captors-- at least for a time.


Christians are a new creation in the image of Christ, but through their response to the grace of God and not their own works of confession or the pursuit of purity or perfection.

 
  Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

  And have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him (Colossians 3:10).

  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:8-10).
.

2. Release: Transition and Limbo: After completing the thought reform process, its subjects are released. In the case of Lifton's study subjects, they were expelled from the country-- basically thrown away and left to put their lives back together. Those who remained were assigned new tasks in the "new China," knowing that they needed to "toe the line" lest they be subjected to "re-education" again.


By contrast, Jesus values and promises to never put away those who come to him. He uses them in his service.

 
  All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out (John 6:37).

  For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building (1 Corinthians 3:9).

Christian conversion is a relatively short process; in fact the longest conversion account in Acts is three days (Acts 9:9). The Liftonian thought reform process relies upon three years of intimidation and influence to have its effects.

In addition, Christian conversion hardly occurs in a vacuum. Christians still live in a world where other influences work against faith and biblical truth. By constrast, subjects of thought reform were in a completely controlled environment, with no possibility of outside influence, for three years.

More importantly than all of these, Christianity is in fact the pursuit of truth about God, not a mere communist system which itself claims to be nothing more than humanly based.

Conclusion
In conclusion, Christian conversion according to the Scriptures has some cursory similarities to Lifton's thought reform process-- such as the ideas of confession and new birth. But the differences are far more significant and weighty. Scriptural Christian conversion cannot be considered a Liftonian thought reform process.

Copyright © 2000 John Engler. All rights reserved.