It is often assumed that people hold to one belief system over another simply because of their upbringing.  The argument usually goes something like this: "Suzy Dee is a Christian because her parents were Christians who took her to church her whole life.  Furthermore, she was raised in a Christian environment in a predominately Christian nation.  Therefore, she is a Christian simply because Christianity is all she has known."  The argument usually follows, "If Suzy Dee was raised in an Islamic country by Muslim parents, she would have just as easily been a Muslim."

Is this argument valid?  To be honest, it is a subjective argument that begs the question.  The argument presupposes a number of things that are simply not true in relation to the nature of conversion and the growing geographical number of converts all throughout the world.

First of all, one is not converted to Christianity through a repetitive method of Christian principles nor is it merely the result of an emotional response.  In fact, mere knowledge and human emotion would drive the non-converted man further away from Christianity. As it is stated in the Bible, our natural ways are not God’s ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).  Moreover, the Bible is full of passages that go into depth teaching the inability of man and his inherent sinful condition that is in bondage to sin (Gen. 6:5; Job 14:4; Ps. 51:5; Eph. 2:1-3; Col. 2:13; Rom. 3:9-18*, 8:7-8; John 6:44).  Take a close look at 1 Cor. 2:12-14:

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

Therefore, conversion is solely based upon the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.  If God's Spirit is not active in washing away a man's sins by the washing of regeneration, the desperately sick and wicked heart of man (Jer. 17:9) will continue to lust after the pleasures of the flesh.

Hypothetically, if a man were given an accurate knowledge of God, he would further reject God’s ways in his hostility toward Him.  After all, man loves darkness rather than light (John 3:19). In addition, he cannot understand spiritual things because he is spiritually appraised or discerned (1 Cor. 2:14).  As the result of man’s inherent rebellion against God and his inability to understand spiritual things, there first needs to be an inward change that can only take place through the initiation and power of God.

Likewise, if conversion were based upon the emotions of men, Christians would not exist in this fallen world because our hearts are desperately sick and wicked above all else (Jer. 17:9). Sick and wicked hearts will be inclined to evil, not holiness.

In third world countries where Islam, Buddhism or Humanism are the predominate religions, there are growing numbers of Christian converts who were obviously raised anything but Christian. So, the argument assuming that Christians believe in Christianity is rooted in upbringing falls short of validity and intellectual honesty.

On a more personal note, I was raised in a liberal household where I was led to believe that the Bible was merely a book written by men who had an agenda to promote; namely, male superiority over females. What I believe now is in catastrophic conflict with the surrounding beliefs in the environment with which I was raised.

Throughout my childhood and most of my adolescent life, I assumed that I was Christian because of my Christian-themed upbringing -- I believed there was a God and I thought I was a good person. Soon before I went to college, where I was planning to accomplish the desires of my wicked heart, God took out my heart of stone and gave me a heart of flesh. That is what enabled me to believe the gospel. He saved me from His eternal wrath that I undoubtedly deserve. See my testimony: Zach Kueker’s Testimony