Journal of European Baptist Studies, 2017

ourage or engage exploration and debate are regrettably unlikely to tolerate or aid those who are seeking to own truth for themselves through the process of probing commitment . 40 Study, trial and error and support lead to what Parks calls ‘convictional commitment’, with the ability to engage those with differing views and lifestyles, and to embrace paradox . 41 In an increasingly globalised and pluralised world, this strength of conviction becomes necessary long before the mid-adult years are reached. Contentment comes with convictional commitment, but this point cannot be reached with integrity if the period of exploration is foreclosed. Assistance from the community of faith in resolving that choosing is good may be the first conviction needed before a young adult can effectively settle on other convictions that continue to be life-shaping . 42 Before acting in ways that demonstrate contentment with their choices and options, young adults must hold the conviction that choosing as a spiritual discipline announces the sufficiency of God to meet needs and supply purposeful meaning. Mentors in the Christian community are valuable in helping solidify convictions rather than continually dabbling in options. They can affirm capable agency over passive reception of market and media dictates, and steer their mentees away from capriciously changing toward aligning desire with God. 39 Christian Smith, Kari Marie Christoffersen, Hilary Davidson, and Patricia Snell Herzog, Lost in Transition: The Dark Side of Emerging Adulthood (New York: Oxford University Press, 2011), p. 20. 40 James W. Fowler, ‘Religious Congregations: Varieties of Presence in Stages of Faith’, in Christian Perspectives on Faith Development , ed. by Jeff Astley and Leslie Francis (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992), pp. 370-83. 41 Parks, Big Questions, p. 80. 42 On the necessity of integrating action and conviction, see Parush Parushev, ‘Convictions and the Shape of Moral Reasoning’, Ethical Thinking at the Crossroads of European Reasoning, ed. by Parush R. Parushev, Ovidiu Creanga, and Brian Brock (Praha: International Baptist Theological Seminary, 2007), pp. 27-46; and Parush Parushev, ‘Convictional Perspectivism: A Constructive Proposal for a Theological Response to Postmodern Conditions’, in Mission in Context: Explorations Inspired by J. Andrew Kirk , ed. by John Corrie and Cathy Ross (Farnham: Ashgate Publishing, 2012), pp. 111-124. Blomberg, Contentment 53 Content and Ambitious Like any practice, disciplined contentment is not a question of generating a large amount of self-will. It is centred in the reality of Christ’s finished work on the cross and the indwelling power of the Spirit, but is not automatically matured in the believer. Wright is adamant that ‘the power of right habits’ needs to be cultivated; although the promise is sure, it requires time and experience to transform character. Spontaneous attempts to gain the ben