Rewriting The Sinners Prayer, Amen, & The Church Camp Curse
“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 sinful past 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, that He was raised from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become my Savior and the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen”
The sinners prayer.
It’s prayed at the end of thousands of sermons a week.
But I can’t find it in the Bible.
I find the idea. Yup.
But when people ask me when I became a Christian, I normally tell them…
“I’m still becoming one”.
This is normally followed by a stutter and a quick escape from the conversation.
But then I look at my kids and freak out that they have not uttered those words yet.
Like those words have some ability to save them.
I honestly just want them to embark on a life fully devoted to the love of God, the love of neighbor, the search for God’s will, and radical, costly discipleship.
I’m freaking cursed I tell you.
I’ve been to one too many church camps.
If you bank all my “rededications” I’d have enough stock in heaven to sneak Lady Gaga in on her worst day
2 questions…
What do you think of this usefulness of this prayer and do you think salvation happens the moment one says AMEN?
If you could rewrite it to be a “better” prayer, what would it say?
Saved, yet still being Saved…
Los
RAIN IT DOWN
I don’t think it matters what the words are, but rather the sincerity and intention of our hearts. We could say words as simple as “God, help,” and if in those words we are acknowledging our depravity and need I believe the angels start to party.
We could also say a long, pretty, eloquent prayer that has neither sincerity nor intent and nothing happen except that we’ve uttered words in vain.
I like the way you put that by the way… “I’m still becoming one.” Yeah, me too.
What if no prayer is ever uttered…Just thought?
Romans 10:9 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.
Seems there had to be some kind of connection between mouth and heart. Prayer, confession, shout… whatever.
Do you think someone can place their faith in Christ without confessing it to another person?
Specifically, I’m thinking of someone in a circumstance (literally/geographically or physical-disability-wise) that would preclude them from taking that action.
In other words: if someone finds a Bible, reads it and places their faith in Christ – do they have to say something to make it official?
What if they are alone on an island?
Will a Volleyball work?
As long as it is named Rev. Wilson!
The confession in this passage is that Jesus “is Lord!” When we confess with our mouth, especially during the days of Jesus, who was Lord it was uttering a life or death sentence. If the wrong person heard you say that Jesus was your Lord (you were killed on the spot). The emphasis was on the conviction of ones heart. If what your believed in your heart was/ is strong enough than you would not mind dieing for it… and not to worry because you would be SAVED!
The confession in this passage is that Jesus “is Lord!” When we confess with our mouth, especially during the days of Jesus, who was Lord it was uttering a life or death sentence. If the wrong person heard you say that Jesus was your Lord (you were killed on the spot). The emphasis was on the conviction of ones heart. If what your believed in your heart was/ is strong enough than you would not mind dieing for it… and not to worry because you would be SAVED!
(I must add for clarity), the confession was not TO BE saved, it was that you decided to LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE because of WHO Jesus IS! The assurance we get from this passage was that no matter what happened, Jesus had you covered!
When we truly believe that… it radically changes the whole game and how we should live as followers of Christ.
thinking about what the apostle Paul thought when going through his “Shock and Awe” experience on the road to Damascus. Did he pray the perfect prayer…or just fall flat, blind. He certainly did confess Christ after that day….if you are His, you can not help it. However, I don’t think the confessing itself is the cause of the divine zap.
So glad you posted this. I can’t wait to hear the answers. I’ve also went to many a bible camp and did the saved thing.
My biggest fear is that I never felt that bolt of lightening..I never felt the beyond a shadow of a doubt that everything was okay.This is one of those subjects I’m always scared to bring up. I feel embarassed even now. I’ve said many variations of this prayer.
So, is my faith weak? Does that make sense? Anyone else have these fears?
No. DO NOT BE EMBARRASSED. It makes total sense. Here is the deal. Anyone that does not doubt does not need faith.
Those of us who doubt, we need faith.
Get it?
J -
You aren’t alone for sure. I spent some of my best years totally depressed over the same issue, going forward every time there was an altar call even though I know I made a clear decision to trust Christ when I was 11. I totally understand your feeling of embarrassment but I promise you that they people around you that you view as most secure are likely wrestling with same issues…You’re just more transparent about it. And that’s a great thing. The question is not whether you did something once upon a time, but whether you trust Jesus with your life and love God right now. The “What if’s” will kill you. Faith is not a “what if I never…” but a “right now I do”. Hope that encourages…
A fellow Thomas…
Aaron
“If you bank all my “rededications” I’d have enough stock in heaven to sneak Lady Gaga in on her worst day”
that made me laugh so hard. as a youth minister i struggle with this constantly… yes i want my kids to realize they’re not as committed as they should be… but if they recommit at every event i do when does it stop meaning anything? What if we all just realize we suck and instead of making an emotional appeal to get kids to change help them come up with an actual plan to grow?
LOVE this.
Its not the prayer that saves us..its the regeneration of the heart by the power of the Holy Spirit. If it were merely a prayer or something said…it would be more like a mystical spell or something. Many that have said “the prayer” will hear the words “I never knew you”…terrifying. Even those who “truly believe in their heart” that their words were sincere need to remember the bible says that the heart is deceitful above all things and who can know it? This “prayer” I believe has done much damage and has given false assurance to “Christians” everywhere.
Amen c. Amen.
And I think that to many who are doubting their salvation, the gates will be wide open
I like how Matt Chandler says that the sinner’s prayer has become almost like a chant in witchcraft – say some abracadabra words and you’re safe. But the entirety of Scripture (i.e. the metanarrative) talks about folks ‘still becoming Christians,’ aka progressive sanctification.
I think you’ve got the right idea, Los! We’re all in process, but we’re saved if we’ve recognized that we’re a mess without our heavenly Father and the Son He sent to atone for our mess.
Yes HE did
You don’t need to say progressive sanctification… the word sanctification is by definition a process. What Los seems to be referring to is Justification. That is the difference in this whole debate.
Justification is a moment in time. Sanctification is a process. Now I just happen to believe the Justification is predetermined…
Funny you post this. Considering recent circumstances this has been on my mind as of late.
I used to think that if you didn’t pray the sinners prayer verbatim and ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into you heart, you weren’t saved. For real, I did.
I worry too, that Sophia’s not going to get it either. However, children learn by example.
This past Sunday while sitting in worship at church, the tears would not stop coming. I prayed, “Jesus heal me. Be the God of all of me. I’m so sorry I have tried to do this all on my own for years now, but from here on out I am yours”. Honestly, I think that’s all He wants. Repentance and reliance on Him. Or like R. Warren says, “to realize that our purpose is in Him”.
I was the same way. Then I kept seeing “Christians” who have prayed the prayer and looked far worse as disciples than most non Christians I knew. I thought, something is up…
So because you saw people who obey Romans 10:9 not appear to be so “Christianly” after the fact, you think Romans 10:9 is null and void?
We are supposed to walk by faith, not by sight though…
Two thoughts:
1) Just because the “confessing” part is “performed” (for lack of a better word), doesn’t mean that a person actually believes, which is the second part of the verse.
2) I think it interesting that it says confess “Jesus is Lord” NOT “Jesus is Savior.” In my mind, confessing Lord=Master, and confessing Savior (and nothing else)=an attempt at a get-out-of-hell-free-card… in other words, not what Rom 10:9 is requiring. Along these lines, remember that “no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 12:3b).
Like the old Steven Curtis Chapman song says “What about the change…” I really feel like that is what it is all about. God doesn’t save you to keep living the same life you have always lived. God saves you, and begins to reveal to you what needs to be cleaned up in your life to move forward in your faith in Him. That prayer is just the beginning for some in their walk. I think that the prayer should say “God, I know now that I am a sinner, and though it is inevitable that I will sin again, I dedicate my life to attempt to follow Your will and purpose, and to grow in the faith and knowledge of You. Going forward each and every day for the rest of my life, let there be more of You and less of me…”
when i “became a christian” i’d never seen nor heard of the sinner’s prayer… i just made something up, i guess. i don’t remember what it was, but i think that the same prescription-like prayer doesn’t work for everyone. yeah, it covers all the bases and the words obviously don’t matter all that much when one’s heart is really in it… but every person and every situation is different, and i think that alone calls for each person praying whatever they feel.
one moment. the word “moment” is all over the bible. it just takes one signature to give away your house or car. once it is given away they you can’t take it back.
my moment was September 15 2007. my life is not mine and i can’t take it back.
i received forgiveness for all of my sins (past / present / future) asked Jesus to come live in my heart and said I will follow Him. … gave it all up 100%
#gameon
That last part, “I will follow Him” is HUGE. How many times did Jesus ask/command, “Follow Me”? Yes, a decision has to be made, to make Him Lord, repentance has to take place and then FOLLOW HIM… which is a process that never ends.
When someone starts up with the “sinners Prayer” I shut them out. I have a lot of resentment/anger for the scorekeeping mentality that many who are advocates of the “prayer” exhibit..such as “we had 6 salvations and 14 rededications last week, praise the Lord”.
Too bad God is keeping score though. ie, He has a big book doesn’t He? One with or without your/my name?
I have a friend with a mentally handicapped child, and they are grief-stricken that their child cannot “confess with their mouth.” But I disagree with that logic.
Abram/Abraham never uttered a sinner’s prayer, but he believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. His heart followed God – not his words.
Question #1: I think it’s useful, but “the prayer” has probably been given a little too much authority in Christianity, to the detriment of actual Christian life.
Question #2: I don’t know that I would re-write it, but be more sparing in its use. To stop having people say it without follow-up and getting messy in relationship with them. I think that’s where more people fall off the became-a-Christian-at-camp-wagon.
Great summary… I’m gonna steal it… while I work on becoming a Christian.
So true after so many years of hearing “So – when did you become a Christian?”
And, as a camp director (I’m going to stop calling it a “christian” camp) we will never again celebrate a “born again” birthday party!
Thanks man!
I’m with you 100%.
And would someone please explain why we still use the phrase “ask Jesus into your heart?” UGH.
Because He lives in the 3rd valve…
lol
ephesians 3:14-19… the phrase is definitely not comprehensive or even ideal, but also not pulled out of thin air… it’s a challenge for me to explain following Christ to my kids without sounding legalistic or formulaic.
it is a shame, though, that grandpa lost his salvation when he had to get that pacemaker…
YES. I hate cliches such as this. Even “saved” has a certain “Christian-ese” flavor to it at times.
Words are words…if it doesn’t come from the heart it doesn’t mean anything. I’ve heard of people dropping the F bomb when coming to Christ. Let’s face it at that point in time that was where that person was at and he didn’t know the ‘right’ thing to say so he said it the best he could…’Lord I ****** up, forgive me please…’
I think I agree with your whole community here, Los… It’s not about words spoken, but about a heart changed. The purpose of the sinner’s prayer, as I see it, is to be a verbal representation of an inward decision. You can say the words all day long if you like, but without the inward decision they’re meaningless.
Same story with baptism, if you ask me. You can have somebody dunk you under water or pour some of it over your head, but without a changed heart that understands its need for Jesus, what’s the point?
I see this topic as a question of the difference between justification and sanctification.
The way I see it is that Justification is the one time, deal. A person decides to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Hence, verses like Eph 2:8-9 and Rom. 10:9. I have confessed my sin and I have declared my (sometimes doubtful) faith in Jesus.
Sanctification is the continued process of Jesus changing my heart and my life. It cool to say “I’m still learning how to be a Christian.” A verse that goes with this may be James 5:16, Rom. 8:13, and Col. 3:1-17.
a bit long-winded answer, but that’s how I see it. So, saying words in a prayer doesn’t save someone. But Jesus saves when one expresses belief through the same words.
Call it all “Being Born Again.” A child’s life starts at a particular point and then continues from there. Likewise, a Christian’s life begins at a particular point and growth occurs from there.
I like how Joseph likened the sinners prayer to baptism. I think that, just as baptism is a response to something that has already happened in a persons life, so is ‘the prayer’ of the person who already knows they are a sinner, needs Jesus and has been transformed by the Holy Spirit.
I often only see the Holy Spirit work in hind sight. Baptism and the sinners prayer are that. Hind sight response to God’s work already begun.
Thanks for starting this conversation!
My “salvation experience” went something like this: We were at a conference (on prophecy) at a friend’s church. That night, I knew if Jesus returned, I wouldn’t go to be with Him. I was deep in sin and in desperate need of a Savior. During the ‘invitation’ I kept telling God, that I wanted Him, I wanted THIS, but I never ‘went forward.’ The next night of the conference, I purposed in my heart that I was going to go forward and do whatever it is you need to do to GET JESUS, and I did. However, years later, I realized that I truly became a follower of Christ the 1st night… not the night I went forward. That was the night that I turned from my sin and turned to God. It wasn’t about the prayer, but what He was doing in my heart and how I responded. And I still get all goosebumpy when I think about that time!!
I think the sinners prayer is intended to be an extrapolation of Romans 10:9. I do think it’s somewhat silly to make everyone pray it at the end of church service. Silly because anyone who is saved has already prayed it before.
My thought is that by getting everyone to pray the sinners prayer, it’s a way to make non-believers feel comfortable in praying it outloud, because maybe the feeling of being singled-out is what may make them rethink their decision. So, everyone is instructed t pray is, and non-belivers are given the option to pray along with us. Sure, this method of making everyone comfortable is probably not Biblical, but Romans 10:9? Definitely biblical.
Maybe the structure of the sinners prayer needs to be retooled in some churches. I go to churches where everyone repeats the sinners prayer at the end of service. In others, people bow their heads in agreement to the pastor praying the sinners prayer. In other churches, Christians are told to intercede and pray while the pastor goes over instructions on the alter call, which then leads to the sinners prayer.
At the end of the day I think this is an issue of how your church handles the sinners prayer, not if it’s valid enough to make you saved or not.
1. Awesome conversation.
2. I just wrote this huge long theological type answer. I erased it because it sounded so pompous.
3. I think if you need the Sinner’s Prayer…pray it. If you wanna use your own words…pray it. Jesus is all that matters in the end.
Just a thought that was provoked from this conversation: If God recons our relationship with Him is like that of a marriage, should we pray something more like wedding vows? Or are wedding vows too “ceremonial”? Should a wedding be more informal, or should a “sinner’s prayer” be more formal? They are both the start of a life-long relationship.
Heh. Lady Gaga as the new term for “tax collector”.
I think it’s useful because it outlines the basic theology to salvation, and can bring about great conversations on faith and relationship with God.
I agree that they’re just words, though, and it doesn’t take faith to say words alone. there has to be follow up with anyone who has prayed the prayer — Relationship with belivers along with relationship with God.
Just want to say LOVE THIS. I have been saying this for years and people look at me like I just grew a second head or something.
At the end of just about every Sunday service, our pastor will lead us in prayer. I like how it’s done, because it doesn’t put a spotlight on any people who are new to the faith. It usually goes something along the lines of, “Jesus, we love you, and we ask that you forgive us of our sins. Help us to serve you and follow you. Amen.” He has anyone who wants to repeat it after him (it’s usually most of the congregation), and then afterwards he sometimes says, “And if you really mean that, in your heart tell God, ‘I mean it.’” I like it because it’s a reminder that there are times I need to refocus on God even though I’ve been following him for most of my life, and because there’s an emphasis on the intention of your heart.
When I was a kid I used to ask Jesus into my heart every time I sinned. LOTS of rededication going on there. And then when I got baptized when I was seven, I didn’t know when to say I first got saved was. So I sort of just picked the time that made for a better story, lol.
To echo a bit of what I read, I don’t think vocalizing makes it any more powerful than simply crying out in your mind. It is about the sincerity of your heart, not the words you say.
That said, I think having a prayer to pray is something that gives us some comfort and a reference point to when we actually made this decision. They are like our monument, our marker, our Ebenezer to remind us of that part of the journey.
If I were to rewrite said prayer I would make it simple: “God I can’t do it. I need your grace and forgiveness. I want need Jesus to be my source of strength and my guide through this life. I need you. Amen.” Something like that I guess, but again it’s not really the words that are the important thing.
The sinners prayer it’s always about ASKING for forgiveness.
God NEVER talks about asking for forgiveness, but to ACCEPT Christ: His dead and His resurrection.
Christ dead means forgivenes for us. (total forgiveness, including tomorrow’s sin).
Christ resurrecction means salvation for us. (A new life with new desires with a new heart).
ACCEPTING CHRIST IS NOT JUST ABOUT FORGIVENESS, IT’S ALSO ABOUT RECEIVING LIFE. A LIFE WITH NEW POWER, A FULLFILLED LIFE.
It sounds as if the question being asked is-
What must we do to be saved? Sound familiar? (john 3)
There are two major problems that seem to occur because of this question.
1) Salvation becomes too simple for some.
2) Salvation become a works based thing for others.
Where is the middle ground on this issue? There has to be more than just belief because even the demons believe.
As a youth pastor I tell my students that salvation is giving their hearts to Christ. When Christ gets your heart, he gets your lifestyle.
There is nothing simple about giving over your heart and your lifestyle. And there no works involved in giving over your heart. Its a choice.
The prayer- God I give you my heart and my life. Its yours. Amen.
Truths to consider…
You can believe in something and not love it.
You can pray a sinners prayer while loving only yourself.
If faith is evidenced by obedience and the greatest obedience is Love, than our salvation is not demonstrated by our lack of doubt, but by our abundance of love for God and for others.
Question…did you start loving your wife when you first said the words or when you first told someone else you loved her? Didn’t think so.
I’m thinking we all might have a hard time discerning when exactly we started loving anything. But we know that we do and they know that we do and others know that we do.
That’s what really matters.
The value of this prayer – or similar prayers – is that it acknowledges our sin and our need for a Savior. Jesus Christ is claimed as that Savior in this prayer – and hopefully the only Savior.
No, this prayer does not “save” us. Christ – and Christ alone – saves us. Scripture supports that there are many people who will pray this prayer believing they are saved who will spend eternity in Hell apart from Christ. But this prayer is valuable because of what it acknowledges.
I believe that scripture supports that salvation is a one-time experience. Santification is a life long process. I also believe that God and God alone knows our moment of salvation.
My prayer
” God, please fix me again, I messed up. Also, if this day is THE day, then find me ready.”
thanks so much for posting this.
i’ve prayed the sinners prayer so many times in my life that i got to a point in my early twenties where i just gave up.
the basis of salvation is faith~ i’ve kind of given up on repeating the prayer and in place of it~ i’m learning to trust Christ:)
I already mentioned this in a reply above, but to reiterate, two things:
1) Confessing AND believing must both be present.
2) Jesus isn’t just confessed as saviour, he’s confessed as LORD (which is more akin to the sentence that Colston finished with above).
And a third:
3) My youth minister when I was young always mentioned what Paul’s “sinner’s prayer” was: “Who are you, Lord?” (Acts 9:5). If that little worked for Paul, I’m sure it can work for all of us.
So.
I think there is such a fine line between putting our faith in a prayer that we say and putting our faith in the righteousness that JESUS provided for us.
I think salvation is found only in accepting the right standing with God that Jesus provided in his death, burial and resurrection. I think that the confessing with the mouth can and should only be a byproduct of what has happened in our hearts.
I think there are MANY people who have prayed a prayer but have relied solely on their own righteousness…which is worthless. Those people actually are still slaves to the law. When we understand that we are free from the law, and are empowered by grace to live truly free- not enslaved to sin or religion- we take the first steps towards the most important part of it all….relationship. And therein we find the promise of true salvation.
John 10:10 kind of life.
My experience is this:
As a 28-year-old, I realized I was being “born again” and wasn’t too keen on it at first. Except I couldn’t deny that scripture reading and prayer were the only things that made sense in my life, the only ways I had left to find peace. A few months into the adventure, I remembered the instructions I’d heard as a child for getting saved: Ask Jesus into your heart.
I began to argue with myself and God. “No way. There is no way I’m saying some canned prayer like that. It’s just not that easy. Ok, ok, I want to live in Your grace, but do I really have to do that? Wait, what? Really? You want me to pray that stupid prayer?”
I was driving down the rural highway that leads to my home while this dialogue ran through my head. And, hurtling down the road at 60 mph, I realized it was time for me to give in, to give up all my pride and “speacialness” that made me “different” from all the other Christians out there…
“Ok, FINE,” I growled out loud. “Jesus, I invite you to live in my heart. There! I said it! Are you happy now?” Grumble, huff, sigh. Giggle. “Wow, I did it!”
I laughed the rest of the way home, and all I can say is my life has never been the same since that moment.
I think the prayer has nothing to do with it – first of all salvation is not as instant and decisive as we’d like to be, and 2ndly the prayer is merely an expression of something that has already happened.
Since when does one have to pray to get saved? I think this is a phenomenon from American tent revivals and/or from the Great Awakening.
Did Jesus lead anyone in the Sinners Prayer?
Did Paul lead anyone in the Sinners Prayer?
If not, why do we?
wow, interesting point! How are you saved?
I believe the bible says through faith in Jesus Christ. Trusting him.
Greetings from Gibraltar bro. Good post.
I think that there IS value to the sinners prayer – but there is a danger of simply having it as a religious mantra that we utter. Lift up your hand, repeat these words, that’s it, you’re “saved”!
If our emphasis is on “getting people saved” we naturally stop thinking about it when they utter those famous lines – However if our emphasis is on making disciples then we start to adopt a far more biblical attitude of a life-long journey following, and becoming like, Jesus.
btw, a small theological point here, the way to “confess” faith and dedication in Jesus Christ historically (and in the NT) has been to get baptized.
Baptism as the sign of profession in Jesus Christ, not a prayer.
Just sayin’.
i said the prayer at a camp, went back the next year and rededicated, same thing again the year after that. it took me a while to realise that saying the prayer is not what christianity is about, but about my daily walk with God.
i went to a church a couple of weeks ago and the preacher said that if you can’t remember the date and time when you saved, then you’re not saved.
so i could totally be wrong, maybe i’m not saved after all.
tsholo,
Interesting how we want those around us to conform to our view of God and how coming to a saving knowledge of His grace MUST follow a certain pattern or prayer.
I have been to that church…ONCE!!!
“The Prayer”, can be important on an individual basis. It helps us center and cement a decision point, and we do love that right? We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and remember loves ones lost at a point in time.
That being said, in many churches today, the “Salvation Prayer” is essentially you “Members Only”card. It gets you into the fellowship!
I am sure when you say “I am becoming a Christian”, some may walk away dazed and confused, and I am equally sure that many have tried to save you pea-pickin soul right there on the spot.
May prayer, “God, as much as I am able, I get it, can I come home?”
Carlos…I have been moved to comment before (and didn’t)..but like many, I struggle with this, as well. I prayed this prayer with a TV preacher over 20 years ago and my life and relationship did change, but not because I said the prayer. It changed because my heart became soft and open to the Lord’s word through the daily baby steps of exposing myself to relationships and situations that nurtured that change. I have also said it many more times since then.
I totally “get” the panicked relief of hearing your own kids “accept” Jesus into their heart. I also struggle with the fact that at 14 my oldest is struggling with this same question and guilt that it may not have stuck because we are still sinning daily.
A pastor of mine always is preaching how we must die to our “self” daily…It reminds me of the Mercy Me song “So Long Self” I don’t know about you, but I could sing this song every day, hour, minute..that is our walk as a follower of Christ. If this prayer brings one to the alter of the Lord for that openess of His spirit for the first time..(or 2nd or 3rd) so that we can die to ourselves and fill up with Him…let it be.
I love “I’m still becoming one.” Imitation is the greatest form of flattery..and I am stealing this…and sharing it with my kids cause we are all on the same journey in our own way.
Funny, we talked about this yesterday & then my roommate talked w/ me about it last night. He was saying that God does judge us for what we do, but He gives us the power, through his Holy Spirit, to walk righteously.
Therefore (he said) such a faith that simply believes God but does nothing is not a saving faith (“even the demons believe”, “faith w/out works is dead”).
He said it’s walking by the Spirit, putting to death the deeds of the flesh that saves (!!!!? really!?) – so the prayer isn’t the salvation moment, but it’s walking by the Spirit.
This makes a lot of scriptures make sense (Rom 6 & 8, 1 John, Jesus’ teaching about fruit, Gallations) – however it seems to disagree w/ the traditional evangelical notion of being saved solely by faith (Eph 2).
I love this topic and all of the responses it’s generated!
Someone made a point that having the prayer to say gives us comfort, a sense of direction for how to handle a decision like following Christ. However, I think we have to be careful that it does in fact mean something, rather than just being a “tradition.” It needs to be meant, be felt, be lived out, not just recited every week and church and that’s that.
That doesn’t mean that every church that says it at the end of every sermon doesn’t mean it; I just think that especially the American church has fallen into a sense of complacency where everything we’ve done in the past is just fine because it works, because it’s comfortable. There are some things that need to be reevaluated sometimes, switched up to make people a little uncomfortable so that the can grow.
Anyway, that’s my thinking of it all…
Los,
This is an awesome post! Glad you wrote this.
I believe I am being saved everyday. I don’t think salvation is complete until we are with Jesus. Paul said to workout your salvation with fear and trembling.
I have always wondered, where do we get “Just ask Jesus into your heart.” I have never seen this in scripture.
Great post! Totally agree…way too many churches place too much value on the words that are prayed instead of a life that is lived for Christ. I’m far less concerned about the words someone says when I “lead them to Christ.”
I really try to emphasize afterwards that they are drawing a line in the sand between the person they used to be and the person God wants them to be and that from this day forward, it’s going to be a constant growth process of becoming more like Christ.
Again, great post. We need to be talking more about this in the church.
I think the best prayer of salvation I ever read was in the bible…’Remember me when you come into Your kingdom’…I guess Jesus cares more about the heart than the specific words.
I said this prayer as a child. As I got older, I resented God more and more for it, for reasons I won’t get into here. But the gist of it is, that this prayer is centered a pie-in-the-sky theology that salvation is a golden ticket to heaven when we die, and that we just have to bide our time on earth managing our sin. That was never Jesus’ message.
Scripture says that the “kindness of God leads men to repentance.” So, the sincerity in turning to the Lord is our reaction to his grace and love. Scripture also says that we love God, because He first loved us.” When we realize that he loves us, it should cause us to repent and want to love him back. That is the relationship in which we find eternal life. “This is eternal life, that they might know You, the one true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” Eternal life is right here right now.
So here is it what that looks like in prayer form:
“Wow, God, you freed me from slavery. Thanks. I am not sure why you would do that, but can I hang out with You and get to know you better?”
me, I’m a baptist (grew up Catholic, then was Episcopal, then non-denominational – so I guess you could call me a non-baptiscopalic
anyway… I’ve known so many folks to pray that prayer and STILL not have the conviction that they are “saved”… yet it seems like it is an important part of the process of becoming fully devoted and following Christ.
my husband is Episcopal and so when he hears the “sinners prayer” and the “four steps to salvation” and all that he looks at me and kind of just blinks. He doesn’t think it is a useful part of the sacred, his salvation experience came in the middle of a tornado where the “sinners prayer” were not exactly the words he was uttering.
soooo… I dunno… only God knows our hearts and what we say is not always a reflection of that
Haha. I re-write the “sinner’s prayer” every time I pray with someone who wants to hand his/her life over to Jesus. I didn’t know there was accepted text for the prayer. I figure as long as it hits the basics (I screwed up, Jesus is the Man, I need some help here, take my life away from me before I hurt somebody), it’s in-bounds for salvation.
Someone who actually read the Bible enough to know that there’s no “sinner’s prayer” in there! Nicodemus is the only guy who gets told by Jesus he must be born again. And Nicodemus is a smart guy b/c he knew you couldn’t be born again physically. And your soul is not born again b/c you don’t have your memory erased when you get saved. Jesus clearly states that being “born again” is a spirit thing. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians “therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” What becomes new? Our spirit does. Paul then tells us in 2 Thessalonians “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Your spirit became whole, when? When you confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. No prayer, no thee’s and thou’s, no “amen” to seal the deal. But that’s just your spirit. We know from James that the engrafted Word is able to save our soul and Paul tells us in Romans to renew our minds, and in Ephesians the bride of Christ (the church) is cleansed by the washing of the Word. So, God’s Word works on us to “save our soul” and make them whole. As for our body: Jesus died for our healing (Is 53) but that requires faith. So, if you don’t have enough faith to get your body whole on this earth, you must wait until you get your glorified body in heaven. Sounds like to me we gotta get saved 3 times!
I am messed up.
I believe.
Save me!!!
A guy has done research on this subject… the sinners prayer came into being in the 18th century, and also the call to “come forward”. Very interesting.
http://willspina.blogspot.com/2006/08/sinners-prayer-history.html
It is freakin’ funny to see how an evangelistic method has become a doctrine in the evangelical world. Scary.
can someone please explain to me what happened between 1970 and 2000 that now has a whole generation or two of people so wigged out about talking about the consequence of NOT coming to faith in the One and Only Jesus Christ?
honestly, i am so ridiculously sick of this present day, watered down version of Jesus and Christianity.
what’s more offensive… vocabulary or Hell?
grow up and let’s get back to what we know to be True and stop worrying about offending people in proclaiming it.
i understand that may be have been a tangent about something else, but i think it relates.
we never arrive at perfection. there is a continual sanctification (i didn’t grow up in the church and yet i can use words like sanctification and i am not afraid to) process we all face as Christians.
we’re all going to sin. we’re all going to keep sinning until Christ comes back. but when we sin as Christians… the Lord still sees us as paid for by the Blood of Christ. there’s grace that covers it all. so why not allow people every chance we have to pray that prayer – to secure their lives with Christ?
however it is worded doesn’t matter – how it is said in the heart is what does.
I couldn’t agree more!
I haven’t read all the comments, but my first thought were that I’m really glad I prayed a prayer when I was 12 and knew that I was committing to follow Jesus for my whole life and that I believed he is the son of God and died to save me from death!
I get what you’re saying Los, about “still becoming a Christian”, but I think what’s more appropriate to say is that you’re becoming more Christ like. We don’t become perfect when we become a Christian but hopefully over time we’re becoming more like Jesus. Yah, we mess up all the time, but we’re still Christians! I think you became a Christian whenever it was in your life that you first decided to commit to Jesus whether that was a spoken prayer or thought prayer.
My husband and I have been there while our three kids prayed to God to commit to follow Him and tell him they believe and every time was awesome and something they talk about often.
Thank you for this post. It’s not the words of the prayer, it’s the faith we place in the One to whom we pray. Is His love unconditional? Is His grace freely given? I believe many a person has prayed the sinner’s prayer and still wondered – hence some “re-dedication anxiety.” The transformation requires me to believe that my sin really matters and that God really forgives it. When I reach that point and “confess” it–that I begin cooperating with God who wants to make me into His New Creation. I become that new person–not perfect, but being perfected day by day by God’s continuing grace which He does not stop working when I get off track or confused or fearful.
I was raised in the “walk forward, say a prayer” church all my life. Now it just makes me sick to my stomach. All those years emphasizing “making converts” has left carnage all over.
I still am re-working my brain with my own kids. Resisting the urge to “get them saved”. Resisting the urge to have them say magic words. But I worked in youth ministry too long and know that while that stats say many people become Christians at an early age, I also know that most teens have false hope and believe in a prayer, not in Jesus as King and Lord of their lives.I am instead emphasizing being a disciple of Christ and to do that by loving God and loving people. The “making converts” thing is sooo stuck in my brain though…
This vid clip from Piper says a lot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFBrHB70RF8
I started really having issues with “the prayer” when I was in high school. Even then I could see the danger in it. It’s not that the words themselves are dangerous, the whole thing just becomes dangerous when people think that they can “pray the magic words” and then get their “get out of hell free pass.”
The very first step to becoming a Christian is giving your life to Christ–truly surrendering to Him and asking him to cleanse you and make you his. I believe this can be done in so many different ways. The only thing that matters is the heart’s desire. Yes, it could sound like the “sinner’s prayer” sometimes, but with it could also be as simple as someone saying “God, please. I can’t do this on my own.” It’s all about the heart.
And THEN Christianity is about following Christ wholeheartedly–asking and allowing Him to change/sanctify us. Becoming more like Christ is an every day thing. Salvation is just the start. Sanctification should be the true desire of someone who gives their life to Christ.
I’m daily learning how to be a Christian–a little Christ.