A couple of years ago, the Southern Baptists debated, and voted for the use of a so-called sinner's prayer. The debate was fueled by David Platt's remarks at a pastor's conference that the sinner's prayer is a superstition which leaving many people with a false hope.
Though I am not a Calvinist (or any sort of Reformed), I also see that prayer as a superstitious ritual which has run untold millions into spiritual ruin. One can say a prayer, having absolutely no knowledge of Christ or the cross. One can say a prayer, yet deny that Jesus Christ rose bodily. One can say a prayer, yet deny that Christ is God. One can say a prayer, and believe that it is the prayer which saved him.
And I am not speaking flippantly about this issue, as I said a so-called sinner's prayer somewhere around 600-800 times from the age of 6 til I was 28. I had no knowledge that Jesus is the Word of God made flesh, or the purpose of His death on a cross, or what it accomplished. But boy, could I say that prayer. Sincerely, too. I would say this prayer, asking God to forgive me of my sins, and then I would ask Jesus to come into my heart. And I would "give my life" to Christ.
Then it would usually be a week or less, and I was the same old guy (or kid). There was no assurance for me, because I thought this prayer was only one thing on a list of works I had to do in order to make myself righteous enough to enter heaven.
When I read of Platt and his comments, I was so proud that a Sothern Baptist stood up and proclaimed the danger of this cancerous superstition. Then, in the same fashion that I became proud of him, I shortly became extremely disappointed.
Platt back peddled from his original statement, which I thought might have been a political move for his status in the convention. I don't know for sure, but he sure disappointed me.
Then, after reading many who had voted for and against the resolution which was passed, I was utterly flabbergasted that not one single person who was against the sinner's prayer accurately handled Romans 10:9-13.
Not a single person was able to accurately refute the wild misinterpretation that Romans 10 teaches a sinner's prayer and/or confession related to conversion.
That is pitifully sickening
My son attends a Christian school (which is also our church), and his teacher has remarked on Facebook lately about the kids in her class who have "said the prayer"
During a recent sermon series in the book of John, our pastor has stressed numerous times that no one has ever been saved because they said a prayer, that Jesus saves. He believes that a prayer would be one of thankfulness, not one of request.
A couple of weeks ago, during bible study, our pastor asked for thoughts regarding what he said about a sinner's prayer.
I spoke and said that the only thing I was disappointed in was that he did not condemn it as outright heresy - a godless superstition, a cancerous plague, and the most deceitful lie ever whispered from the lips of Satan.
My son's teacher was in that bible study, and testified that she had "said the prayer" at the age of 14, then came to understand the purpose of Jesus' death, and His blood, and righteousness by faith at a later time around 20 years old. And that at 14, she knew nothing except praying that prayer
She considers that she was saved early, without any knowledge at all about Christ, and was then "discipled" by others who taught her the truths of Christ 6 years later.
Amazing, isn't it?
I have met many hundreds who have "said the prayer", and I can assure everyone here that a vast majority of those I've met have no understanding of the cross - Zero.
Did Paul preach Christ crucified, or sinner's prayers? I've only read of one in scripture
