Questioning the validity of the ‘Sinners Prayer’. August 3, 2008
Posted by Damian in Biblical Exegesis and Interpretation, Prayer.Tags: 'getting saved', christ, gospel, individualism, magic, process, salvation, sinner's prayer, what is the sinner's prayer
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Recently, an evangelical asked a friend of mine if she was ’saved’. She looked at me, questioningly, and I asked him what saved meant. He replied with the sinners prayer. I asked him, where in the bible was the sinners prayer, because I’ve never come across it in any of my reading of the New Testament or Old. He didn’t know, but asked what ‘being saved’ meant to me, if not the sinners prayer.
My reply: The only things ‘required’ to be a follower of Jesus, according to scripture, seem to be to recognise that he is Lord, and to be baptised. I continued by saying that acknowledging Christ as Lord should probably be considered more a process than a decision, anyway – I’ve been a Christian for years, yet would deny that he is Lord in every area of my life . I continue trying.
The conversation ended there, but I kept thinking about it afterwards. As well as disliking the terminology of being ’saved’ (whilst true, it’s seems an egocentric view of the entire process – it’s about my salvation, and not about following Christ), I question that it is something that changes in a moment, rather than over a lifetime. The idea of it being a sudden change seems to stem from a conception of the gospel as some kind of one-step program for going to heaven, or a spirituality of absolutes, as if ‘getting saved’ is all that’s important, or even as a handbook for living your life.
But the gospel isn’t that – it’s a proclamation (good news!) that God has triumphed. It invites you to respond to that. And, because response is never absolute, ‘Are you saved?’ is a bad question to ask. Response isn’t about what you say (or what you pray), it’s about what you do.
There is no magic prayer that transports you into the kingdom of God and promises eternal bliss. We don’t know how it works, and we should give up pretending that we know these things absolutely. All we can do is say, if the Gospel is true, and God has triumphed over sin and death, and Jesus is in charge, and will redeem the earth, then I how should I act accordingly?
Whilst the magic of a saving prayer is an easier, simpler theology, to me, logic dictates that we act accordingly, or respond, or react, to the Gospel, not that it inspire us to a prayer and then continue our existence.
Update: I’ve continued this conversation by looking more deeply at the scripture around this topic, here.
I think the word “saved” in evangelical usage often refers to the time when one experienced conversion and corresponds in the testimony of many to a time when a person prayed from their heart a “sinner’s prayer” (meaning confession of sins, asking for forgiveness and affirming one’s faith in God) followed by repenting and beginning to live a new life in relationship with God. It is a time one never forgets.
I think you may be writing about instances in which such a profound experience has been cheapened by associating it with a superficial prayer that was not really followed by a new life.
I do think that salvation has extreme importance. It represents the grace of God in our lives. It means that our lives and the world are changed and formed by God’s grace and one’s realization of that makes a huge difference in the way one lives, in what one does.
Many Christians do not speak so much about salvation. Presbyterians do not, for example. Liberal Presbyterians do not really believe in salvation and associate that word with evangelical Christians whom they despise. Conservative Presbyterians are somewhat concerned about salvation, but in their understanding of God’s sovereignty, salvation is something that is completely up to God. His elect are saved. A Presbyterian can never really be certain about salvation, can never say “I am saved” in the way an evangelical can. Although contemporary Presbyterians feel uncomfortable talking about predestination, that idea still influences their understanding of God and the language they use to discuss God and their own lives.
I am coming from an evangelical background like that. I was constantly being asked whether I was “saved” and we would always give our “testimonies” as to the decision to follow Christ that happened.
The problem for me was that for far as I could remember I had been “saved” my entire life. I would have to make up some story which I only briefly remembered about how I said a prayer when I was 4 years old. This led to many a crisis of faith where I would “rededicate my life to Christ” because I thought I was “saved” and then to pray the sinner’s prayer again because I wondered if I was indeed saved in the first place because I had never remembered praying that prayer.
Does this mean that I am not saved? No. Absolutely not. I think that one of the things lacking in Evangelicalism (which I have found in Orthodoxy) is the conception of people being “saved” without a crisis to precipitate that. I never did drugs, became and alcoholic, had sex outside of marriage, was an atheist, or got locked up in jail. I was a “good kid”. I didn’t really have a crisis to precipitate that.
Though, I also know that I am not saved by my works. The more time that goes by, the more evaluation of my self, motives, actions and attitudes, the more I realize how wretched I am and how great God. We need to rediscover the Orthodox view of salvation as being equivalent to our view of sanctification, because to the ancient people we were not saved, but BEING SAVED.
And it is only through Grace which comes as divine energy to all who are baptized into Jesus that can allow us to journey towards that perfect state to be realized in heaven, because Christ calls us unto himself. I think that this is the nature of the Gospel, the resurrection (body and spirit) of the individual in the community or Body of Christ (the Church) towards union with the God tribune through God the Son.
Hey Ben,
Thanks for replying – sorry for the delay. I agree with you totally. In my experience, people like you – who God has blessed to a huge extent – often feel like they’re missing out in such an environment.
You’re spot on with your perception of salvation as a process and not a moment. I’m glad you’ve found God’s humility in salvation in the wisdom of Orthodoxy.
Damian,
I find your blog refreshing. As and evangelican pastor I am currently struggling with what you have so easily put into words. I have had trouble doing that. Thank you and I look forward to more commentary. I too am interested ultimately in Christ. I am also interested in the “banned” books of the bible that were rejected for various reasons.
Angela,
I’m glad you find some solace here. All in our life should be Christ-centric, and I’m blessed that God might use some of my thoughts to help you in your journey. I hope you enjoy reading.
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Good post!
We have a never ending need for salvation. I define it as being in total communion with God; when we sin that separates us and it is a constant renewal process. In every moment we are making a choice to choose God or deny him. Continue to seek the truth and be transformed by it. I would encourage you to pursue an understanding of the Orthodox Christian faith because you seem to be defining it already.
Thanks for the encouragement Kelly – You are right about our never-ending need for salvation; and you are right that it is an ongoing process of transformation brought on by our communion with God. If you enjoyed this post, I hope you read a few other posts around here. You’ll find that I have an interest in the Orthodox faith, although I’ve yet to consummate it by attending Orthodox services. I certainly intend to follow my fascination with Orthodox theology, which I think has some focuses that are important and that have failed to achieve priority in many traditions.
steve
Look in these blogs many different varieties of sinners prayer.
If your not going to use the bibles tried and proven gospel by the apostles from the book of Acts then it is open slather.
Baptism was always part of the Gospel message, administered straightaway. Why the urgency?
Act 2:41 Then they that GLADLY RECEIVED HIS WORD were BAPTIZED: and the SAME DAY there were added unto them about THREE THOUSAND souls.
Act 8:12 But WHEN THEY BELIEVED Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, THEY WERE BAPTIZED, both men and women.
Act 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Philip preached baptism in the Gospel.
Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; WHAT DOES HINDER ME TO BE BAPTIZED ?
Act 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Paul baptized
Act 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Cornelius and the Gentiles
Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he COMMANDED THEM TO BE BAPTIZED in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Paul preached baptism TO Lydia
Act 16:14 woman named Lydia, …: whose heart the Lord opened, that SHE ATTENDED UNTO THE THINGS WHICH WERE SPOKEN BY PAUL
Act 16:15 And WHEN SHE WAS BAPTIZED, and her household, she besought us, saying, IF YOU HAVE JUDGED ME FAITHFUL TO THE LORD, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
Paul preached baptism TO Philippian Jailer
Act 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
All baptized the same hour the Gospel was preached read Rom 6:3-7 and you will understand that without baptism there is no gospel.
Steve,
I followed up on scripture here. You’re right, but I went into more detail there, if you’re interested.