Sinner's Prayer
 

Here is a clip from the pastor of the church where I am a member saying why he is horrified at what the church has made salvation.

This is strong and from a message from a long time ago but he attacks the idea of a sinner's prayer and then telling people they are saved.

I am convinced that it is because of this epidemic that he talks about that is the reason why my parents left the baptist and Methodist church. Because there were so many people around who were not born again and they knew it and yet people were told they were saved.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXA6y...eature=related

Re: Sinner's Prayer
 

Re: Sinner's Prayer
 

:laffatu I don't think you think that repentance is repeating a prayer. Repentance is a change of heart.

Three-steppers have the same problems in their churches. There are many people who are not saved who have said a prayer of repentance, been baptized in Jesus name, and received the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.

Re: Sinner's Prayer
 

I guess the crux of the matter is that we cannot see a person's heart.
All we can do is tell them what the bible says.

Re: Sinner's Prayer
 

Years ago I was told at a Pastors Gathering for the City I pastored in that I could not be a part of the Gathering because I preached Regenerational Baptism or that Baptism saves you. My reply was - I know plenty of people that have been baptized but are not saved!

Re: Sinner's Prayer
 

Right, the churchworld is big on the checklist method.

I was at a church of God youth revival a few years ago and the minister said that salvation was "easy" in such a way that you could tell he didn't really believe it. I could tell he was upset that so many people could have salvation by just repeating a prayer. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "all you have to do is believe and repent" but he didn't seem to understand that salvational belief and just believing that God exist are two totally different things.

He was trying to convince the kids that what they really needed was the baptism of the Holy Ghost so that they would have the "real" power of God. It was during my interaction with pentecostals outside of the UPC that I started to see how similar the groups are.

An altar call followed and kids were trying to get the Holy Ghost, very similar to what happens in the UPC churches. A little baptist boy who knew I was a leader walked up to me standing at the altar and tapped me on the back and with a horrified look on his face he said, "what are they doing to those kids?" For the first time in my life I realized I didn't really know what they were doing and I had no explanation for the kid. I told him, that I didn't' really know why they were doing all that but that in their own way they were trying to help him receive God's spirit. My answer was insincere and he knew it and I felt like everybody in that church knew I didn't agree with what was going on. I just couldn't go along with that stuff anymore.

That night I had several people come to pray for me and lay hands on me and a few prophesied over me and I determined that I would not be offensive to my fellow Christians who were sincere. I received their prayers and thanked them and encouraged them but I knew in my heart I was through with all of that.

I tried my best to be sincere but I started to realize that I didn't' have to go through that kind of stuff anymore and over time I have found peace with people who aren't into all that.

Re: Sinner's Prayer
 

I think almost every denomination or church can fall into the trap of teaching that certain acts can save.

Re: Sinner's Prayer
 

I tell people that repentance is an acknowledgement of our sin, confessing such to God and being truly remorseful for sins and the penalty Jesus had to pay for them. I tell them that repentanc emans a change of mind and direction and that their sins are forgiven immediately and that they are cleanswd from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9 is quoted.

Re: Sinner's Prayer
 

I agree, but what if one repeats the prayer from the heart ? Its all they know or have heard, they are new to church and God ?

Is it less effective because it is not original ?

Re: Sinner's Prayer
 

The missing doctrine of repentance. What is it? How does one repent?

What did Jesus tell people to do?

9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. Luke 9:23-24

Anything less than this is not yet true repentance.