I’m not quite ready to pick up my Man-Centered Christianity series yet. But the latest post on the sinner’s prayer, has been well received.
Since posting on the problematic use of the sinner’s prayer as well as the non-Biblical phrase “Ask Jesus into your heart”, I ran across three other posts on the issue that are worth the read. I thougt I’d share them here while our thoughts are on this important issue.
- TomintheBox reports on the frantic search for the phrase “Accepting Jesus into Your Heart”. While always hilarious, TomintheBox sometimes uses satire to deal with serious issues. This is such an issue.
- The InternetMonk (Michael Spencer) also discusses what’s wrong with “Christ Knocking at the Door of Your Heart“. He helpfully explains how this idea came about and the negative ramifications of such an emphasis. This is really a post worth reading, even if we might disagree with the IMonk on some issues (such as Calvinism).
- The IMonk actually links to one of my reforming fundamentalist friends, Brian McCrorie. Brian has an excellent post delving into this problem further, especially showing how it hampers child evangelism.
These are all worth reading. I hope to have the next installment of the series done tomorrow or Friday, so bear with me!
Along the same lines, how about using the “altar” area emotionally drawing folks to the steps to pray, etc.?
In a way I think it could give people the wrong impression that one is closer to God by going upfront. Many times it’s the same people going forward too. For some reason it reminds of me the Roman Catholic having to go through a priest.
My old post is here if you’re interested. I think there is another some where too. This issue continues to wear on me as I see it.
Maybe it’s just me…
Mark
JohnMark,
I agree with the concerns you raise in your post. Such a methodology can promote class distinctions in the church, the good people who do come forward often, and those bad ones that don’t. Often coming forward is given as something to do after the pastor put everyone on a guilt trip.
In all of this trusting Christ alone for acceptance with God can be diminished. Its easier to feel better about yourself for having jumped through some expected hoop. Pleasing men is part of the act even when you don’t really realize it is.
Part of this stems from moralistic messages (see my post here on that). And I think that calling the lost to come forward is also a modern innovation that can impact the purity of our gospel, see this post on Finney and the Altar call.
Such methods may work, when we appeal to emotions, but are they right? Are they majoring on Scripture or on how to get people to do things (psychological pressure)?
Thanks for dropping by,
Bob