This is a bit of an understatement, but being converted to Christianity by stealth seems a bit wrong. You may be surprised this happens, but it does. Or you may have been converted by stealth yourself and so know exactly what this can involve.
In some churches it takes a period of study before deciding to become a Christian. For example, this can take place when preparing for a formal confirmation. The decision is a careful one, with some awareness of the system you are joining and is made over time. This seems like a good approach.
In contrast, there is the “stealth approach” and even the “ambush approach”. The “stealth approach” is when the wider nature of the religion has not been made known to you – mainly due to time constraints. You may be at a service when an opportunity is provided for Jesus to come into your heart. You don’t know the full details yet, but this sounds like a good idea and you repeat the prayer you are provided in real time – without knowing what is coming next. By praying the prayer and believing it to be true you can be considered to have become a “Christian” by some definitions. Not much thought has gone into this.
The “ambush approach” is when you haven’t been provided with the full background of the faith, but you also aren’t even aware you are about to pray a conversion prayer when it happens. This sounds extreme but also happens. “Pray after me if you want to…”
None of this is to suggest that Jesus is or is not a real and significant spiritual figure and that connection to Jesus can have significant benefits. Nor is it to suggest that profound changes can occur when make a switch to Christianity. Further profound changes can also happen when you move on from Christianity. But are the stealth and ambush approaches the best way?
By doing so it implies the end (“conversion”) justifies the means (stealth or ambush) – which is always a dangerous approach. When you act in a way where you feel the end justifies the means you are often in murky territory. This approach tends to override personal sovereignty and is the easiest way for any totalitarian system to operate. “Okay, this doesn’t seem great/is morally questionable, but it is for your own good!” This is not so say that Christianity is a totalitarian system, but it is not a great idea to copy the same tactics.
It also delineates a very narrow view of Christianity as a faith. If all it takes is repeating a set of words – then Christianity becomes a form of magic rather than a system of genuine spiritual transformation. If the stealth approach is the best way to bring someone into the faith what does it say about the nature of the faith itself?
