Do any non-Catholics actually believe in the Sinner's prayer?

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Righteousone

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The “Sinner’s Prayer” is not in the Bible and won’t save you. It is a false Doctrine that developed from Calvinism and was first practiced less than 50 years ago. What say you?
 
Of course the sinner prayer itself won’t save anyone. It’s not magic salvation words. They are words that reflect the hearts of those who want to follow God. It is the making of a commitment, the asking for forgiveness for sins, and a request that God help the person to live for Him. Often people new to prayer and churches etc don’t know where to begin. Don’t know what to say. generally when the sinner’s prayer is introduced to people it is explained to them to do it if they believe it and want to say that, it gives words when words are hard to express.

It certainly is Biblical to repent and make conscious choices to turn from ones evil ways. The Bible also says to confess with your mouth.

Mark 6:12 (TEB)** So they went out and preached that people should turn away from their sins.**

Luke 13:3b (NIV) “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Matthew 4:17 (NIV) From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
Matthew 3:2 (Phi) “You must change your hearts and minds, for the Kingdom of Heaven has arrived!"
Acts 2:38 (NIV) Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Rom 12:1-2 (NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Isaiah 55:6-7 (NIV) Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and** to our God, for he will freely pardon.
**Ps 119:36-37 (NIV)Turn my heart toward your statutes and not towards selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. (notice this is in most versions of the sinners prayer though often reworded to be modern speech)

2 Tim 2:19 (NIV) “The Lord knows those who are his,” and "everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."
Acts 3:19 (NIV) "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
Hebrews 12:2a (NIV) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

And let’s not forget the vise usually used to back up the sinners prayer:
Romans 10:9 (NIV)**“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
**
So what, I ask you, is your reason for desiring to STOP people from repenting, turning to God, committing to follow Him and confessing it with their mouths?
 
I have a counter question for you… when you recite " I confess to Almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters that I have sinned through my own fault in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and I ask the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, all the angels and saints, and you here present, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
May Almighty God have Mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life. Amen." at mass, does that magically make you repentant and really do want to follow God and do want prayers that you will do so? Isn’t it possible that people are saying it by rote and don’t mean it? It’s the same prayer people. I noticed different parishes have different wording to it, same as different protestant churches words their differently.

People don’t actually think that the prayer causes the state of the heart. Yet both Catholics and Protestants pray it.
 
Syele said:
I have a counter question for you… when you recite " I confess to Almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters that I have sinned through my own fault in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and I ask the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, all the angels and saints, and you here present, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
May Almighty God have Mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life. Amen." at mass, does that magically make you repentant and really do want to follow God and do want prayers that you will do so? Isn’t it possible that people are saying it by rote and don’t mean it? It’s the same prayer people. I noticed different parishes have different wording to it, same as different protestant churches words their differently.

People don’t actually think that the prayer causes the state of the heart. Yet both Catholics and Protestants pray it.
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This in no way can be compared to the “Sinners Prayer”. That is a FALSE DOCTRINE MADE UP. This Catholic prayer “the Confessor” is NOT a false doctrine, and you said it wrong anyway.
 
Syele said:
I have a counter question for you… when you recite " I confess to Almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters that I have sinned through my own fault in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and I ask the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, all the angels and saints, and you here present, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
May Almighty God have Mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life. Amen." at mass, does that magically make you repentant and really do want to follow God and do want prayers that you will do so? Isn’t it possible that people are saying it by rote and don’t mean it? It’s the same prayer people. I noticed different parishes have different wording to it, same as different protestant churches words their differently.

People don’t actually think that the prayer causes the state of the heart. Yet both Catholics and Protestants pray it.
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No, neither the confeitor (sp?) that is said during Mass nor the sinner’s prayer have “magic” powers that make you repent. Repentance is only in the heart. The prayers (both of them) are simply a prayer to say that you do out loud.
 
I’m sorry to interrupt, but what is the sinner’s prayer? I’ve never heard of this.
 
I think it’s a great Prayer for personal use, it doesn’t go against church teaching.
Even if it isn’t Catholic.

Ref: Sinner’s prayer - Wikipedia
 
mommyof4 said:
I’m sorry to interrupt, but what is the sinner’s prayer? I’ve never heard of this.
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As a protestant, the Sinners Prayer is a prayer we help people say when they want to repent and follow God.

It usually is something like:
“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

Both Protestants who believe in OSAS AND ones who don’t use this prayer. The point of it is to help people put into words their desire to repent and commitment to God.
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righteousone:
This in no way can be compared to the “Sinners Prayer”. That is a FALSE DOCTRINE MADE UP. This Catholic prayer “the Confessor” is NOT a false doctrine, and you said it wrong anyway.
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What about it is a false doctrine made up? There is nothing false about people choosing to follow God. And the prayer of confession I have heard several ways in different places/Churches. I copied that one from an “explanation of the Mass” online.
 
Righteousone said:
The “Sinner’s Prayer” is not in the Bible and won’t save you. It is a false Doctrine that developed from Calvinism and was first practiced less than 50 years ago. What say you?
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The Sinner’s Prayer is a form of the Act of Contrition. Catholics pray various Acts of Contrition all the time, especially as part of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. What’s the problem?
 
Leopard said:
The Sinner’s Prayer is a form of the Act of Contrition. Catholics pray various Acts of Contrition all the time, especially as part of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. What’s the problem?
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Problem being it is a FALSE doctrine. Simple.
 
First of all it was spoken around the time of Billy Graham. NO ONE IN THE BIBLE EVER PRAYED FOR THEIR INITIAL SALVATION. They did however believe, repent, confess Jesus and be immersed in water for the forgiveness of their sins.
The “Sinners Prayer” is an innovation that thwart’s God’s plan of salvation. First they replaced believers Baptism by immersion with infant Baptism by sprinkling. Second they later replaced Baptism altogether with the “Sinners Prayer” so that Baptism is no longer even part of the plan of salvation.
If you prayed the “Sinners Prayer” for your salvation,
YOU ARE STILL LOST IN YOUR SINS BECAUSE IT IS NOT WHAT GOD SAID TO DO.
 
Righteousone said:
First of all it was spoken around the time of Billy Graham. NO ONE IN THE BIBLE EVER PRAYED FOR THEIR INITIAL SALVATION. They did however believe, repent, confess Jesus and be immersed in water for the forgiveness of their sins.
The “Sinners Prayer” is an innovation that thwart’s God’s plan of salvation. First they replaced believers Baptism by immersion with infant Baptism by sprinkling. Second they later replaced Baptism altogether with the “Sinners Prayer” so that Baptism is no longer even part of the plan of salvation.
If you prayed the “Sinners Prayer” for your salvation,
YOU ARE STILL LOST IN YOUR SINS BECAUSE IT IS NOT WHAT GOD SAID TO DO.
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Wow. You don’t know me from anyone. What an amazing heap of assumptions! Who is “they”? you aren’t making much sense.:confused:
 
My protestant brothers and sisters, you might as well give up, the Catholics think they have the answers to everything and will only believe what is taught to them in a very structured manner that also includes many man made prayers that are not in the Bible either.

The Catholic Church believes they have the “truths” of Christianity and I say to that, Jesus says He is the Truth so doesnt that mean we all have the Truth? We all love Jesus and strive to do his will. The Catholics are still upset that we left them centuries ago. They will never get over it and will always bash protestant beliefs saying they arent from God.
 
DrewC said:
My protestant brothers and sisters, you might as well give up, the Catholics think they have the answers to everything and will only believe what is taught to them in a very structured manner that also includes many man made prayers that are not in the Bible either.

The Catholic Church believes they have the “truths” of Christianity and I say to that, Jesus says He is the Truth so doesnt that mean we all have the Truth? We all love Jesus and strive to do his will. The Catholics are still upset that we left them centuries ago. They will never get over it and will always bash protestant beliefs saying they arent from God.
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It’s much deeper than that…

The Protestants during the reformation wanted more worldly power so they backed kings and other secular leaders to outlaw the Catholic Church… They took the land that the Church was using to help the poor and the needy of society to be sold or given to rich people. England even offered to give land away for free to anyone who became protestant. Protestants raped and pillaged Catholic churches and monasteries killed the monks and clergy that refused to go into exile.

Very few Protestants ride the narrow path most usually go too far to the Left or too Far to the Right. Protestantism has fractured Christianity and allowed an increase in Atheism and other false beliefs to prosper.

To say that the church will never understand or believe that Protestants don’t love Christ or believe in the God is behind the Times. For the past 50 or so years the Church has been trying to reunite the Christian Faith, but people would rather believe what they want and keep sinning rather than actually give their lives to Christ and stop sinning all together.

So let’s put the past behind us and look forward to a future where Christian unity exists and were we fight each other with Love instead of hate and bigotry. This goes for Catholics too.
 
It is ridiculous to make a general statement that the sinner’s prayer is false doctrine.

There is no such thing as the standard sinner’s prayer. There are hundreds, thousands of different versions of the sinner’s prayer.

Some of them are very much in line with Catholic doctrine, while others are not. You have to examine each sinner’s prayer individually.

Many Protestant Christians make up their own sinner’s prayer, crying out to God in groanings and wails from misery of their lives. Many Protestant evangelists use a different sinner’s prayer for every person they talk to.

Basically, the sinner’s prayer, as its name suggests, is the prayer of a sinner begging God to have mercy. This is very Catholic.

IMO, the sinner’s prayer will be answered by God if it is God’s will, even if the words of the prayer are not “Catholic-correct.” I believe that many sinners pray a sinner’s prayer, including heretical “Calvinistic” versions of it, and God answers that prayer for salvation by leading them to the Catholic Church! This is what happened to me, my husband, and my older daughter.

It may take many years for the one who prayed to be led to Catholicism, but God is faithful.

With all respect, I think that those Catholics who self-righteously accuse Protestants of deliberately teaching and practicing FALSE DOCTRINE (in screaming caps) are putting up roadblocks that actually keep the Protestant away from the Catholic Church. Yes, we must teach Protestants what the Church of Jesus Christ teaches, but we need to do it in love. Putting up an anonymous blast on online forums about “Calivinistic” Protestant heresies is not, IMO, a loving way to help Protestants understand where they are going astray.

Many Protestants have never heard of John Calvin and have no idea of what he taught. And many who do know Calvinism disagree with it.

The Bible says that the one who seeks shall find, the one who asks will receive, and the one who knocks will have the door opened to him. God won’t turn away from one who sincerely seeks Him.
 
Righteousone said:
Problem being it is a FALSE doctrine. Simple.
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As has been elsewhere mentioned, there are many variants of The Sinner’s Prayer, but let’s look at the following as probably being typical:

Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against you and that my sins separate me from you. I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and turn to you for forgiveness. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Now let’s play “Find the False Doctrine”.

Heavenly Father,

Jesus Told us to call God the Father this. This is not false.

I know that I have sinned against you and that my sins separate me from you.

Unless this person is actually sinless, this is not false.

I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and turn to you for forgiveness.

Unless this person is lying about being sorry and wanting to repent, this is not false.

**Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. **

Unless this person is lying about wanting forgiveness and wanting to avoid sin, this is not false.

I believe that your son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.

This is almost verbatim from The Apostles Creed. This is not false.

I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward.

Perhaps this is what you find problematic? Catholics invite Jesus to do the same for them. We do not stop at words, of course, We are baptized, receive the other sacraments, follow the commandments and the precepts of the Church, and practice works of mercy. Through our obedience and our works we show that our Faith is not dead.

Some protestants, on the other hand, reject the necessity of the sacraments, obedience to the Church, and works informed by Faith. This position is indeed a false doctrine, but it is interesting to note that this is not what The Sinner’s Prayer actually says. A protestant who held to this position would indeed be holding to a false doctrine, but he would be doing so regardless as to whether he prayed The Sinner’s Prayer or not. A Catholic or other Christian who rejected this false position, though, could rightly pray “I invite You, Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward”, without espousing any false doctrine whatsoever.

Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life.

Unless this person is lying about wanting the help of the Holy Spirit, this is not false.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Unless this person is really praying in the name of someone other than Jesus, this is not false.

As was noted before, this prayer is essentially an Act of Contrition, and if prayed with a Catholic understanding contains nothing that must be rejected as false from a Catholic perspective. On the other hand, perhaps you are objecting to some other variant of this prayer that does explicitly expound on some false doctrine, such as “I believe the pope is the antichrist”. If so, it would be helpful for you to post exactly what version of The Sinner’s Prayer you object to and why you find it objectionable.
 
I don’t think it is False Doctrine but it is basically saying the Act of Contrition is not good enough for us, we need to come up with our own way. Which to me is why protestants don’t like the Catholic Church, they are stuck on individualism and being there own person.
 
Righteousone said:
They did however believe, repent, confess Jesus and be immersed in water for the forgiveness of their sins.
.
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Christians who pray a prayer similiar to what is being said ususally profess a belief, repent of their sins and confess Christ. Then in almost all cases, they are immersed in water.
But the main point is your rant is not official Catholic doctrine.
As such, you are outside of what I have read in the Catechism and such.
 
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