My Faith Story by Jim McBee

My name is Jim McBee and I am a sinner saved only by the grace of a loving God. I cannot tell you my entire faith story in the 2-3 minutes that I have this morning! So you’re only going to get the Introduction and the First Chapter today. You’ll have to buy the book for the rest of the story!

My faith story started about 63 years ago when Carl and Betty McBee presented their infant twin sons James Henry and Michael Herbert for baptism at the Grace Lutheran Church in the Portland neighborhood of Louisville. My brother and I had no choice in the matter. Mom was a devout Lutheran from a German Lutheran family. We were going to be raised as Lutherans!

At the age of eleven, I started Catechetical Classes as good Lutheran children do. I totally immersed myself in the study of Luther’s Small Catechism (the children’s textbook of the Lutheran faith). I memorized large portions of it that included Luther’s explanation of the Ten Commandments; the Apostles and Nicene Creeds, the Lord’s Prayer and the Sacraments of Baptism and Communion.

After passing an extensive written exam, I was “Confirmed” in the Saint Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Shively. Thus I affirmed the faith that my mother and father professed in my stead as an infant. My Confirmation verse was John 3:16….”For God so loved the world……”

As a sixteen year old, I started dating a cute little Baptist girl. She invited me to some youth activities and Sunday night church services. In the summer we would go to Youth for Christ meetings after service. Those Youth for Christ meetings (some led by a young Chip Miller) had a profound influence in forming the foundation of my faith.  At those meetings I would hear the testimony of other teenagers and we would sing:

                I have decided to follow Jesus.

                No turning back, no turning back. 

                The cross before me, the world behind me.

                No turning back, no turning back. 

                Though none go with me, still I will follow.

                No turning back, no turning back. 

The contrast between my Sunday morning worship experience and the Sunday evening service at her church was immense. Sunday morning a formal liturgy with a significant portion sung to the tune of Gregorian chants, Bach organ preludes and postludes, the choir possessing in singing “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty. Early in the morning our songs shall rise to Thee”.  

On Sunday evening, it was a very informal service. The congregation singing “There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emanuel’s veins and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.”

On Sunday morning we sang “A Mighty Fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing”.

On Sunday evening we sang “Just as I am without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me”.

As a seventeen year old, thoroughly convicted by the Holy Spirit that I was a sinner needing salvation through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I came down the aisle of the Lee’s Lane Baptist Church, accepting Jesus as my Savior. I was baptized as one accountable for his sin and I became a Baptist.

As an adult, I have seen this faith scenario played-out in the lives of other people. Perhaps it is your faith story as well. First there is the phase of faith that rides the coat-tails of others…. a mother or father, or a wife or husband, perhaps a grandparent. The second phase of faith is based on intellectual assent…..creeds, canon, traditions, liturgy. This kind of faith often believes in a God that may or may not get involved with my life. The third phase is a faith that is based on a relationship….more specifically, the personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This faith believes that God wants to be actively involved with my life.

The second phase is a “head faith”. The third is a “heart faith”. For me, this transition gave my Confirmation verse a new meaning. It changed from “For God so loved the world….” to “For God so loved ME……” I am and will be eternally thankful to God that my faith moved to that third phase of faith.

Oh, by the way, I married that cute little Baptist girl!

I thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Deacon. It is a high honor to be nominated and elected to serve.