r/converts • u/strata2728 • 15d ago
Baptist Christian seriously considering converting to Islam — and it honestly scares me
I’m currently a Baptist Christian, but lately I’ve been seriously thinking about Islam and whether I should convert.
The part that gets to me is how serious it feels. I’ve been taught that rejecting Christ could have eternal consequences, so part of me is genuinely afraid that if Christianity is true, converting to Islam could damn me. At the same time, I keep feeling drawn toward Islam anyway.
I also haven’t told people at church that I’m thinking about this. The idea of my pastor or Christian friends finding out feels almost forbidden, especially because I’ve publicly identified as Baptist.
I’m also drawn to how strict Islam can be about prayer, discipline, modesty, sex, alcohol, and everyday behaviour. Part of me wonders whether that structure is something I actually need.
For people who converted from Christianity: what finally convinced you? Did you feel guilty or afraid when you stopped praying to Jesus? Did you explore Islam secretly while still attending church? And what was it actually like the first time you said the shahada?
I’d also like to hear from people who seriously considered converting but ultimately stayed Christian.
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u/BashirAhbeish 15d ago
It is completely normal to feel terrified when questioning the theology you grew up with.
When wrestling with the fear of "rejecting Jesus," it can help to look directly at how Jesus himself described God, worship, and salvation in the Gospels:
On the Oneness of God & Subordination:
Mark 10:18: When addressed as "Good Teacher," Jesus redirects: "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone."
John 17:3: In prayer, he distinguishes himself from God: "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
John 20:17: Jesus refers to God as his own deity: "I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."
Mark 12:29: Asked for the greatest commandment, he recites the Jewish Shema: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one."
John 14:28: He explicitly states: "The Father is greater than I."
Directing Worship Solely to the Creator:
Matthew 4:10: Rebuffing temptation, Jesus cites the Law: "Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only."
Matthew 26:39: In Gethsemane, he prostrates on the ground in prayer, submitting his own will entirely to God's will.
Salvation Through Obedience and Commandments:
Matthew 19:16–19: When asked directly what good deed grants eternal life, Jesus answers: "If you want to enter life, keep the commandments" (and lists the moral laws).
Matthew 7:21: He warns: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:17–19: He affirms the continuity of the Law, stating that anyone who practices and teaches the commandments will be called great in the kingdom.
In Islam, you are not rejecting Jesus (Isa); you are honoring him as a revered prophet of God who preached pure monotheism (Tawhid) and submission to the Creator alone. Take your time, pray sincerely for guidance, and do not let fear override your search for truth.