Featured Have we turned the sinner's prayer into a sacrament???

In the middles ages the Catholic church changed the definition of a sacrament to be something that gives grace instead of something the is a sign or signified a given grace. Which is one reason we Baptist use the word ordinance instead of sacrament. Because we see Baptism and the Lord's Supper as "an outward sign of an inner grace". It is our, (at least my) understanding that all grace comes through faith, not sacraments presided over by a priest or pastor. And that participation in the life of the church through prayer, study, worship, serving, giving, and the ordinances are means of grace only in that they grow and strengthen our faith. God changes who we are and that in turn changes what we do.

But as I've read through some of the threads on this forum it occurred to me that perhaps we Baptist (and Evangelicals in general) have turned the Sinner's Prayer into a Sacrament. By this I mean we believe that "saying the sinner's prayer" has become the means of Salvation instead of a sign of Salvation. And maybe the goal of evangelism has become to get people to say the "sinner's prayer" instead of leading them to a deep and abiding faith in Christ.

While we don't use the term sacrament, it seems to me that our usage of the sinner's prayer has become a sacrament of sorts. In that many see it as how we are saved instead of a sign of God's grace which has already worked to change our heart from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh.

Thoughts????

 

Interesting reply, but it doesn't address the topic. Someone can say a sinner's prayer 1,000 times and never repent and someone can repent without ever saying the sinners prayer.

 

To put it another way. Is the sinner's prayer How we are converted and express repentance or is it conversion and repentance why someone say's the sinner's prayer?

 

That is a different topic. I'm asking specifically about the "sinner's prayer" in relation to salvation. It is "how we are saved" or is it a "result of having been saved".

 

Okay, I'll this a different way. Is saying the Sinner's prayer how we "believe and repent" or is it a result of "believing and repenting"?

 

Please explain.

 

I don't know that the "have" to pray any particular words. But if you've been around evangelical Christianity for any length of time you've heard something like this:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior.

 

Well you still haven't answered the question. Do people pray this prayer because they have already confessed and repented (in their hearts) or is praying this prayer how someone confesses/believe/repents?

 

Me 2. Which is why I think it has become a Sacrament of sorts to us Evangelicals.