Christianity

Kirsten Powers’ powerful conversion testimony

This has been making the rounds, and no doubt many of you have read it by now. But I wanted to share it in case some of you haven’t. Kirsten Powers is a contributor to USA Today and a columnist for Newsweek/The Daily Beast. She formerly served in the administration of Bill Clinton, and now she is a Democratic commentator at Fox News. In the November issue of Christianity Today, she shares how God invaded her life and converted her to faith in Christ. Here’s just a little bit of what she shared:

I remember walking into the Bible study. I had a knot in my stomach. In my mind, only weirdoes and zealots went to Bible studies. I don’t remember what was said that day. All I know is that when I left, everything had changed. I’ll never forget standing outside that apartment on the Upper East Side and saying to myself, “It’s true. It’s completely true.” The world looked entirely different, like a veil had been lifted off it. I had not an iota of doubt. I was filled with indescribable joy.

The horror of the prospect of being a devout Christian crept back in almost immediately. I spent the next few months doing my best to wrestle away from God. It was pointless. Everywhere I turned, there he was. Slowly there was less fear and more joy. The Hound of Heaven had pursued me and caught me—whether I liked it or not.

This one is well worth your time. Read the rest here.

12 Comments

  • RDavid

    I think this portion was very interesting:
    “I had never heard a pastor talk about the things he did. Tim Keller’s sermon was intellectually rigorous, weaving in art and history and philosophy. I decided to come back to hear him again.”

    Lesson here: Let’s not dumb down sermons.

  • Michael Kimberly

    Great story, I only hope her stance on abortion and gay marriage experience the same kind of conversion. It will take tons of courage for her to publicly renounce those positions, but what a wonderful witness it would be. Let’s all be praying for her because she will need it.

  • Esther O'Reilly

    I’ve criticized Keller but can’t deny his good work. Great testimony, except it was all too short! I would have liked to hear more about how God worked on the political side of her beliefs after her conversion.

  • Rick Mang

    I always like to hear of conversions whether they be celebrities or “common” folk. What I seem to hear Kirsten saying is that she was converted to theism. I’m not concerned with her politics, but I would like to know more of her repentance unto life.

    Rick

    • Lynn Burgess

      Rick: Like you, I tend toward wanting a testimony that includes a crisis of the will and the praying of “the prayer,” but that latter point is entirely cultural and not biblical. This is the second time I’ve heard Kirsten’s testimony and I’m mindful of a few things:

      — it’s abbreviated and in this case we don’t even know what may have been edited.

      — she’s a fairly new believer and she was redeemed in a Reformed church where they believe God chooses His sheep and not that the sheep do the choosing.

      — her testimony is like few I have heard in that the emphasis is on God pursuing her and she takes absolutely no glory to herself for choosing Him. I find that refreshingly biblical and uncommonly humble. That may explain why she does not speak of repentance, she thinks of her salvation experience as being about God and not about her.

      — hopefully, in time, Kirsten will have opportunity to share with us in more detail. But I will tell you this, long before I heard that Kirsten had been redeemed I had seen/heard a difference in her demeanor on Fox News. She has by no means become a conservative, but I believe that she spearheaded the reporting the truth on the Dr. Gosnell case, and in general she is just more measured/reasoned/thoughtful/respectful than we often get from the left.

      — I pray that God uses her greatly to share the gospel in her liberal political world as He has Cal Thomas.

    • buddyglass

      For one, she claims Jesus confronted her in a supernatural way. That’s pretty specific for someone who’s merely a theist. She attends an (orthodox) Christian church and is part of an (orthodox) Christian bible study. She makes no claims as to Jesus being merely “one way of many”. She may still hold some heterodox views, but, then, so do lots of Christians. I’d say the bulk of the evidence, so far, points to a legitimate salvation experience.

  • Don Johnson

    Before “jumping the fence” religion (any religion) can seem like so much hogwash, why would ANYONE go there. After “jumping the fence” and accepting Christ it is truly (former) paradigm shattering.

  • Rick Mang

    Lynn:

    I greatly appreciate your thoughtful comments. Please be assured that I am not in the thralldom of the “sinners prayer” syndrome. I do sincerely hope for the authenticity of Kirsten’s testimony. I was also hoping for all the best from Jane Fonda’s powerful conversion testimony. I truly was.

    I have also noticed a change in Kirsten over time. Charles Krauthammer also had a change of heart over time, but it was not because of a spiritual conversion. I have also noticed a change in Bob Beckel’s demeanor (who Cal Thomas says experienced conversion). I haven’t heard much about his spiritual pilgrimage, but then, why would I? I really love these people (even Krauthammer for whose conversion I pray) and will wait and see what fruit their lives produce.

    Again, thank you for your kind consideration.

    Rick

    • Lynn Burgess

      Rick: How incredible that you pray for Charles Krauthammer’s conversion. I saw only the online clips of the recent Fox News special on him and I know his politics changed over time, but are you referring to something more than that when you say he’s had a change of heart? When I heard him speak about spiritual things my overwhelming thought was that he is open; he would listen to someone like Cal, Kirsten, or maybe Shannon Bream share the gospel.

      I recently heard Lauren Green say she attends Tim Keller’s church, so I am guessing she is a believer. Do you happen to know about Brit Hume, Jon Scott, and Oliver North, are they believers?

  • Brian Clark

    Michael,

    Not sure about the gay marriage issue but I can tell you that Kirsten is pro-life. Doubt that was the case pre-conversion but it certainly is now.

  • Rick Mang

    Hi Lynn: I have no personal knowledge of Krauthammer’s spiritual inclinations but I’m encouraged that see him as open to the gospel.

    I don’t know about Scott, or North. I’m sure that Lauren Green has a profession of faith and it seems credible to me. I’m pretty sure that Brit Hume loves the Lord. I was really impressed by him when Tiger Woods was in the depths of his scandal. Brit openly encouraged him to turn away from Buddhism and seek Christ. Tiger’s response was that he was not leaving Buddhism. He seemed really hardened to the gospel. But I believe that Brit has a true burden for him.

    Rick

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