A Call To All Protestants

[adstrinity]

The example of prayer described by Publisher about the “personal” prayer by the humble publican is a good one.

The thief on the cross showing his “personal” faith in Jesus as Lord by his request to Jesus would be another.

We know that the Bible is clear about the fact that God is made up of Three PERSONS in ONE GOD.
We also know that we are each a created “person” by that God.
Any dealings we have with the Person of Jesus, as our Lord and Saviour, are going to therefore have to be “personal”, so I reject the “wisdom” of persons that seem to think our having a “personal Lord and Saviour” is not in the Bible.
The invention of the need for additional faith in a non-personal organization, such as any church or any church-prescribed works of our own merit, as a necessary part of our salvation is what is not truly found in the Bible.

The Bible is very clear about our required faith in Jesus to become born from above. Read Romans to see that our true faith is the only thing that saves us.
There are many professors of true faith, who might have used that prayer you make fun of to become eternally saved, if the Holy Spirit was in it. There are also many professors that are only saying “Lord,Lord”, if the Holy Spirit is not in it.
You can see by the examples of the publican and the thief on the cross, that there does not need to be any particular form of prayer that might be what the Holy Spirit uses.

Some think that being repetitious with prayer according to a formula is the correct method. Jesus said that pagans use that method and commanded that we must not do it that way. Think about it.

I was not making fun of the prayer.

 

[Steadfast]

Dumb quesiton: if it isn’t there, why is there some call for it by some sola scriptura folks? Same with alter call?

As Edwin points out, it has more to do with pietism and revivalism than with Protestantism per se.

Its a situation where movements within Protestantism had an effect out of all proportion to their initial size with their effect lingering long after their rise and fall.

I think there are corollaries in Catholicism, Mysticism jumps to mind, also that variety of political Catholicism so prominent in the US over the last 20 years or so, though the latter is not a matter of doctrine or religious practice.

 

[ralphinal]

As Edwin points out, it has more to do with pietism and revivalism than with Protestantism per se.

Its a situation where movements within Protestantism had an effect out of all proportion to their initial size with their effect lingering long after their rise and fall.

I think there are corollaries in Catholicism, Mysticism jumps to mind, also that variety of political Catholicism so prominent in the US over the last 20 years or so, though the latter is not a matter of doctrine or religious practice.

Ok. I can see that.

Now, just to be difficult, if someone who has strong feelings about the requirement of such a prayer gets on my back about how my Church has stuff that is not in the Bible, is it acceptable to bring this up? Or will it even matter?

 

[Steadfast]

Ok. I can see that.

Now, just to be difficult, if someone who has strong feelings about the requirement of such a prayer gets on my back about how my Church has stuff that is not in the Bible, is it acceptable to bring this up? Or will it even matter?

I think it might be appropriate, there is certainly some analogy. There is nothing in the Bible about people observing such a form before admittance to the church, quite the opposite in fact.

 

[ralphinal]

I think it might be appropriate, there is certainly some analogy. There is nothing in the Bible about people observing such a form before admittance to the church, quite the opposite in fact.

Not to change the subject, but it amazes me how both sides of this “in the Bible” thing pick and choose what is accepted. It also amazes me how fast some people either get angry or launch off onto a tangent.

 

[Steadfast]

Not to change the subject, but it amazes me how both sides of this “in the Bible” thing pick and choose what is accepted. It also amazes me how fast some people either get angry or launch off onto a tangent.

Well, its easy to fall into the trap of “duelling analogies” or “duelling prooftexts”.

I sometimes despair.

 

[ralphinal]

Well, its easy to fall into the trap of “duelling analogies” or “duelling prooftexts”.

I sometimes despair.

I do, too. Sometimes, we all need to stop and see what we agree upon: fried chicken after Sunday services