Molly Worthen became a Christian after engaging in deep conversations about historical claims, apologetics, and cosmology with JD Greer and Tim Keller.
The power of evangelism combined with genuine friendship played a significant role in Worthen's journey of faith.
Worthen's belief in the historical claims of Christianity was solidified through reading recommended books that challenged her assumptions and engaging in intellectual conversations with Greer and Keller.
Deep dives
The Journey to Faith
Molly Wirthon, an agnostic, shares her journey of becoming a Christian after years of being an unbeliever. It began with her reading C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy and being prompted to consider the claims of Christianity. In her research for an article on JD Greer and the Summit Church, she engaged in deep conversations about historical claims, apologetics, and cosmology with JD and Tim Keller. She found herself drawn to worship at Summit, a megachurch, despite her previous high church snobbery, and appreciated the focus on Jesus in their worship. Her journey was a combination of intellectual pursuits and the development of friendships within the church.
The Power of Evangelism and Friendship
Molly Wirthon experienced a form of evangelism that was new to her during her interactions with JD Greer and Tim Keller. Through extensive email correspondence and conversations, they took her questions seriously and provided well-sourced responses that fueled her intellectual pursuits. The friendship developed alongside the conversations, allowing for open dialogue and laughter about the inherent awkwardness of evangelistic relationships. Molly also found inspiration in Tim Keller's humility and ecumenical approach. The power of evangelism, combined with genuine friendship, played a significant role in her journey of faith.
Engaging with Historical Claims and Apologetics
Molly Wirthon immersed herself in reading books recommended by JD Greer and Tim Keller, which provided foundations for the intellectual aspects of her journey. She delved into books by N.T. Wright, Richard Bauckham, and Craig Bloomberg, among others, to explore historical claims and the evidence for the resurrection. These readings challenged her previous assumptions and confronted her own tendencies towards chronological snobbery as a historian. The in-depth study of historical and cosmological arguments, combined with intellectual conversations, helped solidify her growing belief in the historical claims of Christianity.
From High Church Snobbery to Worship in a Megachurch
Despite her previous affinity for high church liturgy, Molly Wirthon found herself drawn to worship at Summit Church, a megachurch. The simplicity and focus on Jesus in their worship resonated with her, as it allowed her to engage with Jesus directly without distractions. The anonymity of the megachurch setting provided her with the freedom to explore and process her faith at her own pace. She shifted her focus from the external aspects of worship to a more personal encounter with Jesus, guided by her conversations with JD Greer and Tim Keller.
Conversion through the significance of the resurrection
The speaker shares how their conversion to Christianity was driven by a deep recognition of the significance of the resurrection. They struggled with doubts and questions, but came to realize that the resurrection is the central historical claim of Christianity and the determining factor of their faith. Through researching and investigating the evidence, they found the resurrection to be the best explanation, leading them to change their worldview and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Navigating doubts, baptism, and the challenges of sharing the journey
The speaker describes their journey of faith, including wrestling with doubts and the experience of being baptized. Initially hesitant about being rebaptized, they eventually recognized the importance of obedience in taking this step. They also reflect on the challenges of sharing their conversion with family, friends, and colleagues who do not share their faith. They express feelings of loneliness and the difficulty of finding understanding and connection among both secular and Christian individuals. However, they remain hopeful that sharing their story and being honest about their convictions will ultimately lead to fruitful conversations and connections.
For 20 years, I’ve felt like Molly Worthen and I have lived parallel lives. We graduated college the same year. We wrote for some of the same publications, on some of the same subjects. But I chose to head into church ministry, while she settled into the academy and earned her PhD from Yale.
Molly is associate professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. You may have read her work in The New York Times, Slate, or Christianity Today.
She is perhaps best known for her award-winning book, Apostles of Reason: The Crisis of Authority in American Evangelicalism (Oxford University Press, 2014.) In that book, Molly wrote that evangelicals “craved an intellectual authority that would quiet disagreement and dictate and plan for fixing everything that seemed broken with the world. They did not find it, and are still looking.”
In his critical review for The Gospel Coalition, Al Mohler wrote, “This is a book to be reckoned with. In terms of its comprehensive grasp of the evangelical movement, its detailed research, and its serious approach to understanding the evangelical mind, Apostles of Reason stands nearly alone in the larger world of academic publishing. Any serious-minded evangelical should read it.” He also described the book as infuriating and described Molly’s work as sometimes snarky toward evangelicals.
Well, much has changed in a decade. Molly joined me on Gospelbound to discuss her scholarship, as well as her experience in the church and academy.
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