The post PHBOI posted on Tim Tebow is what got me to thinking about evangelism and salvation in general. Is the sinner's prayer Biblical? Is salvation about an alter call and a precise formula of words, or is it about repentance and a heart change? What are the origins of the alter calls we use in church today?
I feel like one of the most important principles to us should be salvation. It is something that seems so basic, but yet, I think it is often times misunderstood just as many seemingly basic principles are.
What are your thoughts? I would love to hear them.:)
1-888-888-1906
>> FORUM HOME
|
|
About •
Track Order •
Outreach •
Wholesale •
Employment •
How We Give •
Customer Service
Mobile Site • FAQ • Locations • Corporate • Need Jesus? • Affiliates • Blog
Mobile Site • FAQ • Locations • Corporate • Need Jesus? • Affiliates • Blog
C2:8 Christian T-shirts, Inc ©2013 -
-
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
6 replies on this topic
PutHisBloodOnIt - 12/20/11 @ 6:22 AM
We discussed this in class how there is no such thing ad a sinners prayer, or the Bible never tells us to fold our hands when we pray or to even bow our heads things like this has been picked up over time. Your right Sarah its about truly believing that Jesus died and and God raised him from the dead and making Jesus Lord of your life. But also at that moment when some people realize Jesus is saviour they are like ummm ok what's next lol so when preachers offer to say a prayer with them its kinda helping the new believer out who had no idea what to do. But in my opinion I do believe this American form of Christianity that's spreading through our culture is very dangerous and its a Luke warm going through the motions religious form of Christianity
Needy Servant - 12/21/11 @ 12:09 AM
There is no problem with an alter call or a "sinner'a prayer" the problem with these terms arises when the are described as the way to salvation. "say this prayer if you want to be saved..." absolutely not biblical.
I have heard it described as being the very first thing we do as newly born again baby christians, especially when juxtaposed with how important breathing is and how naturally we do it. We are born and our very first action in our new life is taking a breath. This is how praying should ne gor us, as important and natural as breathing.
Now being naturally prayerful it is not to misunderstood as praying aloud (i believe that comes with growth in most cases), rather that in all circumstances and at all times just engaging in prayer, like breathing.
I have also heard the alter call a representation and continuence of Jesus' ministry of delivering the gospel (though not quite in those terms). For when Jesus witnessed and taught and shared the message of God the Father, he called people publically. I think somewhere in the bible ( & I cant looj it up cuz my phone is dumb) Jesus says something like "if you confess me before man, I will confess you before my Father, if you deny me before man, I will deny you before my Father.
I do agree that too many pastors, even some biblical, trustworthy, God loving, God fearing, truth teaching pators put too much emphasis on these two subjects. these in the power with which they are presented can lead to confusion and false conversion. Though they can be useful as well.
XDeadMan - 12/23/11 @ 6:56 PM
Paul says in Acts, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. You and your household."
Salvation is something we do individually because God holds us individually accountable for our sins. Each "member" of a household must believe in Jesus to be saved.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says it is by grace that we are saved denoting that God does all the work. Appointing us to salvation, calling on on when the time is right, and even giving us the needed faith to believe in him. "And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of of works, so that on one may boast." In other words, so that no one may say, "hey, had some part in my salvation."
The sinner's prayer hopefully is an outward manifestation of what already occurred in the heart. One can be saved without saying a word or taking a step.
XDeadMan - 12/23/11 @ 7:05 PM
And by "heart" i didnt mean the sense of the word that is used today. THe meaning in biblical terms is literally the "gut". The Jewish people knew exactly what this term meant = the seat of all our desires, motives, intentions, dreams, emotions. In other words, our entire being; mind, body, soul.
Jordan*Hester - 12/24/11 @ 12:31 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXYu6x9ywLU
Sarah32 - 1/9/12 @ 2:24 PM
Good post, Jordan Hester.:)
I'm not saying the alter call is completely bad, so don't get me wrong. I am saying, however, that an alter call that is not led by the Holy Spirit can be harmful. The alter call movement is actually a fairly new one, dating to the early 1800s and popularized by a man named Charles Finney. I think it becomes a difficult battle for most pastors- they want to save the entire congregation through a simple, formulated prayer, yet they cannot be the ones to save, and "saving" them through mere words is more like saying a spell that saves you from hell instead of a true repentance and salvation placed in Christ. If the Holy Spirit calls for an alter call, I say the pastor should follow the Spirit's leading, but to have it punctuated every Sunday seems more like a forced man-made tradition.
And PHBOI- I think you're right. I think this is more of an American notion to say a prayer, and then move on with your life, believing you have fire insurance from saying a few words. It breaks my heart that there is so much deception in the Church...on many levels.