Southern Baptists: "Sinner's Prayer not a magical incantation"

  • Thread starter Thread starter ltwin
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
ltwin said:
Choice 2. However, these analogies are very limited. We’re not John and Jim being offered tickets to a concert. We’re you and I being offered eternal life through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. There is no way I can “afford” that. Jesus paid the price for the “ticket” on the cross. Jesus stands with arms wide open saying whosoever will let him come. When I come to him, I have to be willing not only to recite a confession of faith or a sinner’s prayer. I must give him my entire being, everything that I am. That doesn’t happen in a moment, though moments are important milestones in our walk with Christ. That can only happen over a lifetime for most of us and only by the grace of God for any of us.
Click to expand...
Yes. Choice 2 is essentially what Roman Catholics believe. We are saved by God’s grace, and there is a on going process of sanctification.

Cooperation between God’s grace and man’s freedom, known as synergism. We can use our freedom because the Original sin we inherit from Adam makes us corrupted but not totally. Our will is free and this means it is possible to either cooperate or resist His Grace. However we can exercise our freedom only after first being moved by God’s Grace, i.e. we cannot use our free-will to initiate our Justification as declared in Scripture (John 6:44).
 
Georgia said:
I have never seen nor have I ever heard of anyone claiming the Sinner’s Prayer worked apart from having faith. Did someone accuse others of using that prayer as a kind of incantation? If so, how widely did the story spread? If it spread widely, did many people find it credible?
Click to expand...
I’ve personally heard some pastors say after the altar call/sinners prayer that “Now your saved forever and nothing you ever do can take away that salvation”.
 
Tyuiop411 said:
I’ve personally heard some pastors say after the altar call/sinners prayer that “Now your saved forever and nothing you ever do can take away that salvation”.
Click to expand...
That’s exactly the kind of thing I used to hear too.
 
Originally Posted by Georgia>
I have never seen nor have I ever heard of anyone claiming the Sinner’s Prayer worked apart from having faith. Did someone accuse others of using that prayer as a kind of incantation? If so, how widely did the story spread? If it spread widely, did many people find it credible?
Click to expand...
Tyuiop411 said:
I’ve personally heard some pastors say after the altar call/sinners prayer that “Now your saved forever and nothing you ever do can take away that salvation”.
Click to expand...
JustaServant said:
That’s exactly the kind of thing I used to hear too.
Click to expand...
We probably need to be careful here since even this would not be separated from faith by those who hold to OSAS…The most common response regarding those who fall away is that "They were never truly saved (did not have faith) in the first place…🤷

The reason that I mention this is that it sort of parallels the assertion from some protestant quarters that the Catholic Church teaches a “Works based” salvation…Which of course is false because, regardless of the church’s views regarding works, the basis of our salvation is faith and nothing else.

I believe that the same is probably true in the Evangelistic/OSAS/sinners prayer community. True faith must be embraced for the sinners prayer to be effective…

Or maybe not…

I guess if what I just said were universally true, the Baptist conference would not have felt the need to pass the resolution…
So amend the above to …“is probably true in most Evangelical…communities”…😉

Peace
James
 
JRKH said:
We probably need to be careful here since even this would not be separated from faith by those who hold to OSAS…The most common response regarding those who fall away is that "They were never truly saved (did not have faith) in the first place…🤷

The reason that I mention this is that it sort of parallels the assertion from some protestant quarters that the Catholic Church teaches a “Works based” salvation…Which of course is false because, regardless of the church’s views regarding works, the basis of our salvation is faith and nothing else.

I believe that the same is probably true in the Evangelistic/OSAS/sinners prayer community. True faith must be embraced for the sinners prayer to be effective…
Click to expand...
Faith in who? What? That question can’t be dodged.
Many of the people I used to see who went forward in the “invitation” were looking to reform thier life because they screwed up in some some way. They were told by the preacher this would be an instant fix. Your life is now changed you have the ‘born again zap’, you said SHAZAM and you are now Captian (Christian) Marvel.
If simple repentence was all it involved I would vote we start the practice in the Catholic Church and maybe a few Catholic politicians would change their ways.
But they are going foward for a “holy zap”, an instant, once for all, “never have to worry about it again in the future” salvation. That is diametrically the opposite of what the Church has historically taught.
 
JustaServant said:
**Faith in who? What? That question can’t be dodged. **
Many of the people I used to see who went forward in the “invitation” were looking to reform their life because they screwed up in some some way. They were told by the preacher this would be an instant fix. Your life is now changed you have the ‘born again zap’, you said SHAZAM and you are now Captain (Christian) Marvel.
If simple repentance was all it involved I would vote we start the practice in the Catholic Church and maybe a few Catholic politicians would change their ways.
But they are going forward for a “holy zap”, an instant, once for all, “never have to worry about it again in the future” salvation. That is diametrically the opposite of what the Church has historically taught.
Click to expand...
Bingo - You nailed it there.
The question of what faith is and what it entails is more often the thing that is erred on…

Peace
James
 
I wonder how many realy buy into that osas. Maybe they do for a while, but for very long?
Sounds good. But isn’t what sounds too good to be true, just that. And wouldn’t most people buy out of it at some point.

Of course it would be wrong to present that idea, osas, to people because it could very well jepordize their eternal welfare by not being prepared. But on the other hand, those that accept it initially have something to grab onto, some kind of hope. And it might just be the thing that will start them headed in a new direction.

Now as a catholic I know better, and of course I don’t advocate it. But for those who are in need of something it might be the straw they need and the only one they can accept in their down and out disposition. That of trust in someone who will help them.

Now it might be better if they went to RICA, but then they would never do that. They just aren’t at that point. But at least if they can manage to acknowledge to say, “I’m a sinner Lord, please help me.” And we know that God always answers a good prayer.

Just a thought.
 
Georgia said:
I have never seen nor have I ever heard of anyone claiming the Sinner’s Prayer worked apart from having faith. Did someone accuse others of using that prayer as a kind of incantation? If so, how widely did the story spread? If it spread widely, did many people find it credible?
Click to expand...
I have been approached on several occasions by well-meaning believers who were attempting to help me “accept Jesus”. They had a nice little tract with “The Romans Road”. It took them about 10 minutes to go through it, at the end of which I was asked to recite the “sinner’s prayer” and accept Jesus. It wasn’t exactly used as an incantation, but there was certainly no depth or actual teaching about Jesus required. Just a trip down the “Romans Road”.
 
babochka said:
I have been approached on several occasions by well-meaning believers who were attempting to help me “accept Jesus”. They had a nice little tract with “The Romans Road”. It took them about 10 minutes to go through it, at the end of which I was asked to recite the “sinner’s prayer” and accept Jesus. It wasn’t exactly used as an incantation, but there was certainly no depth or actual teaching about Jesus required. Just a trip down the “Romans Road”.
Click to expand...
I think there needs to be a definition of terms here. Simply presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to someone in summary form and asking them to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior if they haven’t already does not in my mind equate to OSAS. The evangelizer would actually have to make the claim. However, if they were to say “now you need to find a church that will teach you and disciple you and you need to surround yourself with people that will support and uplift you in your newfound walk with Christ” that is a lot different than saying, “ok you said the sinner’s prayer now thats all you need.”
 
ltwin said:
I think there needs to be a definition of terms here. Simply presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to someone in summary form and asking them to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior if they haven’t already does not in my mind equate to OSAS. The evangelizer would actually have to make the claim. However, if they were to say “now you need to find a church that will teach you and disciple you and you need to surround yourself with people that will support and uplift you in your newfound walk with Christ” that is a lot different than saying, “ok you said the sinner’s prayer now thats all you need.”
Click to expand...
You’re right, of course. It all felt so superficial to me. I mean, a 10 minute introduction to the Gospel might be enough to make somebody interested in learning more, but I was just put off with how quickly it progressed from introducing the gospel to committing your life to Christ. To me, accepting the message of the gospel is a serious and lifelong decision, and shouldn’t be undertaken lightly or quickly. Certainly, it does sometimes happen in extraordinary ways, but I saw no real depth in the presentation.
 
babochka said:
You’re right, of course. It all felt so superficial to me. I mean, a 10 minute introduction to the Gospel might be enough to make somebody interested in learning more, but I was just put off with how quickly it progressed from introducing the gospel to committing your life to Christ. To me, accepting the message of the gospel is a serious and lifelong decision, and shouldn’t be undertaken lightly or quickly. Certainly, it does sometimes happen in extraordinary ways, but I saw no real depth in the presentation.
Click to expand...
Well, we don’t see RCIA in the New Testament. We see the disciples proclaiming the gospel and people with “what shall we do to be saved” and the disciples responding “repent and be baptized.” The initial committment is simple because it is that simple. Hear the gospel then obey. The hard part comes after that when you have to live a life ever more yielded to the Holy Spirit.
 
ltwin said:
The Southern Baptist Convention met in New Orleans from 19-20 of June for its 155th meeting. Historically, the messengers (congregational delegates) elected Fred Luter as the Convention’s first African-American president. Other business considered included,

I think the passage of such a resolution is interesting considering the many times this issue has been brought up in various forum topics.
Click to expand...
As a former Southern Baptist, I’m really glad to see the election of a African-American SBC President.

The Resolution on the Sinner’s Prayer is a huge accomplishment. In the past, the SBC has used the Sinner’s Prayer as the gateway to and the assurance of salvation.

Anna
 
See quote from David Platt on March 1 (leading up to the Convention) calling the Sinner’s Prayer “unbiblical and damning.”

Pratt points out the fact that the Bible never uses the phrase, “accept Jesus into your heart” or “invite Christ into your life.”

It’s a very interesting article. I can’t quote sections of it due to copyright restrictions.

Click here to read: Resolutions address sinner’s prayer, gay marriage

Anna
 
Anna_Scott said:
Thanks, Stew.

What are your thoughts on this change? I was hoping you would join the discussion. 🙂

Anna
Click to expand...
Hi Anna, I recall a while back I posted a comment about the local baptist preacher (CFBC) telling his congregation “you are not saved simply because you have said the sinner’s prayer!” I was shocked. Obviously there were discussions and some dialogue taking place within the southern baptist communities long before this resolution…!
 
stewstew03 said:
Hi Anna, I recall a while back I posted a comment about the local baptist preacher (CFBC) telling his congregation “you are not saved simply because you have said the sinner’s prayer!” I was shocked. Obviously there were discussions and some dialogue taking place within the southern baptist communities long before this resolution…!
Click to expand...
Stew,
I remember that. In fact, it took a lot to convince me that the pastor actually said that. lol. I just couldn’t believe it.

You are right. There must have been discussions going on leading up to the Resolution. I’m really happy to see this step for Southern Baptists.

Anna
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top