Saturday, 30 June 2012
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Is the “Sinner’s Prayer” a Superstitious Act?
By Sharon at She Worships
Earlier this month the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) voted on a resolution to affirm the use of the Sinner’s Prayer as a means of conversion. For those who don’t speak evangelical lingo, the “Sinner’s Prayer” refers to a prayer of repentance in which the individual “accepts Jesus” into his or her heart. Some version of it is frequently recited at altar calls, but there is no fixed version of it.
Supporting the use of this prayer as a legitimate practice in conversion, the SBC resolution stated,
“We affirm that repentance and faith involve a crying out for mercy and a calling on the Lord (Rom. 10:13), often identified as a ‘Sinner’s Prayer,’ as a biblical expression of repentance and faith,” the resolution said. But it added, “A ‘Sinner’s Prayer’ is not an incantation that results in salvation merely by its recitation and should never be manipulatively employed or utilized apart from a clear articulation of the gospel (Matt. 6:7; 15:7–9).”
When I first heard the news of this resolution, I was a little surprised. It seemed kind of random. However Christianity Today explained that this resolution was developed in response to some statements made by SBC pastor and author David Platt. CT quoted Platt as saying,
“I’m convinced that many people in our churches are simply missing the life of Christ, and a lot of it has to do with what we’ve sold them as the gospel, i.e. pray this prayer, accept Jesus into your heart, invite Christ into your life,” Platt said. “Should it not concern us that there is no such superstitious prayer in the New Testament? Should it not concern us that the Bible never uses the phrase, ‘accept Jesus into your heart’ or ‘invite Christ into your life’? It’s not the gospel we see being preached, it’s modern evangelism built on sinking sand. And it runs the risk of disillusioning millions of souls.”
Strong words.
Now I don’t necessarily disagree with the SBC for affirming its use of the Sinner’s Prayer. The practice has its problems, but God can use any tool, no matter how imperfect. What’s more, this resolution seems to shore up some of the theological problems with it.
That said, Platt makes a really good and important point. The Sinner’s Prayer is frequently used as an incantation that assures salvation without requiring any life change. To describe the practice as “superstitious” is no exaggeration for many. Some “Christians” are about as committed to worshiping God after they pray the Sinner’s Prayer as a baseball player is committed to worshiping his lucky socks.
What I appreciate most about Platt’s use of the term “superstitious” is that it recalls a very Biblical concept: syncretism. Syncretism refers to the combination of different religious beliefs and practices (ie. combining Christianity with another religion), and Scripture is very staunchly against it. For instance, in Genesis 28 Isaac was forbidden from marrying a Canaanite woman, for fear that religious syncretism would soon follow. Likewise, Leviticus 19:28 forbids the Israelites from tattooing their bodies because it was a pagan practice.
Today, when Christians talk about religious syncretism they are likely to reference other cultures in which Christianity is combined with indigenous religions. In some cultures, for example, a professing Christian might also seek the help of a witch doctor to heal his ailing child. In the United States, you might think of the Christian who reads (and believes) her horoscope every day. Those are obvious examples.
However Platt’s language gets at the less obvious, yet equally important syncretism at work when the Sinner’s Prayer is used inappropriately. Although the language is explicitly Christian, its implementation is often not.
Syncretism in our country tends to be less obvious than, say, going to a witch doctor, because we live in an increasingly post-religious society in which many Americans’ beliefs are informed by secularism. That said, secularist convictions can be just as strong (and religious) as that of a practicing Christian or Muslim, and they are rather pervasive. Our country’s banner beliefs about personal autonomy, individual rights, and tolerance are all hallmarks of this nation’s secular convictions. That is not to say that these convictions are bad or wrong, per se, but they are so deeply ingrained into our collective conscience that they have become religious in nature. Americans have died defending some of these beliefs.
With that in mind, some individuals pray the Sinner’s Prayer in a syncretistic manner that blends old fashioned superstition with modern ideologies touching on consumerism and individualism. When this happens, I think we need to call this practice what it is.
And the Bible is very clear about syncretism.
This abuse reminds us that as much as Protestants emphasize salvation by grace through faith, the Bible paints a more complicated picture. Salvation is not merely a moment of conversion; it is the inauguration of a new life. Salvation has a holistic dimension to it that encompasses the whole of the believer’s lifestyle, which is why Scripture distinguishes the “sheep” from the “goats” (Matthew 25) according to their fruits.
This aspect of Scripture should not to be confused with works righteousness, but it does press us into a place of mystery, where both faith and works can peacefully co-exist without reducing conversion to a simple prayer, or adding to salvation our own self-justification.
So I am grateful to Platt, not only for identifying a practice in the church that is rampantly misused, but recalling the mysterious and holistic process of salvation as the Bible conceives it. He has reminded us that we are just as prone to religious syncretism as any other culture, and that conversion should not be distilled into a formula.
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About the Author
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- From: sheworships
- Name: Sharon
- About Me: Sharon Hodde Miller is a North Carolina girl, born and raised! She is originally from Charlotte, NC, and she received her undergraduate degree and Masters of Divinity from Duke University. Sharon has worked for Proverbs 31 Ministries where she was a contributing writer to the ministry’s daily devotions and radio broadcasts. She has written for Relevant Magazine’s online articles, Lifeway’s Collegiate Magazine, Ungrind Webzine, and she continues to write and minister to women all over the world about being a Christian woman in an ever-changing culture. Sharon currently lives in Durham, North Carolina with her husband, who is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Duke Divinity School. If you would like to contact her regarding a speaking or writing opportunity, if you have any questions, or would like to submit a blog topic, please e-mail her at sharon(at)sheworships(dot)com.
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Comments (15)
I agree. Just saying that prayer doesn't guarantee salvation. God knows our hearts and whether we are genuine and sincere in our faith and repentance, and our desire to obey, trust, and worship him as Lord.
For some people the prayer is the act of crossing the threshold into eternal life in Christ. For many (far too many) the "sinner's prayer" is the beginning, or continuation of an empty, self-serving, religion which never includes a true, born of the Spirit, moment.
There is some hope for the use of the sinner's prayer. We're beginning to see churches return to discipleship, for converts, in Christian faith and practice. There are various curriculum to be found. One of my best friends started the "New Beginning's" course for his church. Many who have been "saved" for a long time, who take the class quickly learn they are not and have never been truly saved, truly born again, or truly changed from the inside out. I attended an ocean baptism, with my friend's church, and there were several testimonies which included, "I used to think I was a Christian, but then I took "New Beginnings" only to discover I had never, actually, been born again."
My friend started writing the curriculum for the classes several years ago. The course, from beginning to end, now takes a year to complete. The ones who take the "New Beginnings" course have all, and I can't stress the all enough here. Every person who has taken the "New Beginnings" class have become faithful givers, workers in ministry, and capable of sharing the gospel effectively. The old "20/80" rule, ( 20% of the Christians do 80% of the work in the church) has not held true (thus far) for the "New Beginning's" ministry.
Is it possible that the sinner's prayer has been mostly taken out of context, and needs to be placed back into the context of discipleship?
The Catholics offer penitential prayers at the beginning of each mass. It takes about 2 minutes. The first prayer is called the Confiteor.
All: I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;
through my fault
through my fault
through my most grievous fault
Therefore, I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
Priest:May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. .
Formula B:
Priest: Have mercy on us, Lord
Congregation: For we have sinned against you.
Priest: Show us, O Lord, your mercy.
Congregation: And grant us your salvation.
Formula C (said or sung by the deacon or priest, or sung by a cantor):
Minister: You were sent to heal the contrite (or a similar invocation): Lord, have mercy.
Congregation: Lord, have mercy.
Minister: You came to call sinners (or a similar invocation): Christ, have mercy.
Congregation: Christ, have mercy.
Minister: You plead for us at the right hand of the Father (or a similar invocation): Lord, have mercy.
Congregation: Lord, have mercy.
In all cases, the formula of absolution that follows is:
Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
Congregation: Amen.
These prayers are incredibly beautiful and their every day use in the Mass speaks of the continual need for conversion.
I love it! Other people can decide what God thinks about you, and knows what your life is supposed to be like. Say the magical words, and you are one of us. Southern Baptism comes to mind. Vote for the wrong person and you're out. It finally reached the point where people would ask me if I was saved, like it was any of their business, and I would reply, "God knows." Simply saying you accept Christ as your personal savior doesn't make you a better person internally. In fact, it has the possibility of making you one of the most critical, self righteous pricks on the planet.
The author of this post has some great points. And I agree with "musterion99". It isn't at all about simply reciting certain words... it is entirely about the heart. Sincerity...motivation. I personally can attest to it. After reciting all kinds of prayers for 20 + years (including prayers exactly like the ones "prisonerxofxlove" posted), I discovered that what I was saying was empty; reading words in a hymnal no different than reading out loud in English class. It wasn't because the words were ineffective or superstitious. It was because my HEART wasn't in it... just going through the motions that we all are told to do. During this period, I disregarded the sinners prayer as unnecessary. My baptism was supposed to have "sealed the deal" so to speak.
But the emptiness pushed me to seek more. There had to be more. So I prayed the sinners prayer with sincerity. Suddenly I was so thirsty for the Word I couldn't go to enough Bible studies. Inwardly there was a HUGE transformation of mind, heart and spirit. It encompassed all of my being and now most of my actions. I say "most" because I am still a sinner. Sure there are some dry spells too... but my faith has never been the same. PTL!! And it all started with saying a simple prayer with a sincere heart.
Yes, there definitely are too many American beliefs informed by secularism. This bothers me very much; seeing more and more everyday. The Sinners Prayer, when the heart isn't in it, can fall into the same trap if those encouraging the prayer aren't explaining it correctly. So this post is a great reminder for all believers to be better educators and "disciples" (as "such_are_you" stated) in the aiding of the conversion process.
@agapeartbeat - Formal prayers like the Liturgy of the Hours and the Rosary are most powerful when done in communion with others who are also praying those prayers.
If you look at the comments including yours, they are all about "Me! Me! Me!"Ritual prayer gets everyone in the community on the same page doing the same thing. And that kind of prayer is what has kept the world from blowing itself to smithereens.
So while I do benefit from the excellence (virtue) of formal, ritualistic prayer (stopping and praying 5 times a day as has been done by the Church for 2000 thousand years), I do so as an act of personal submission to God, and in union with the Church who prays constantly in praise and thanksgiving.
And yes, there are even a few prayers during morning and evening sessions that are for "Me! Me! Me!"
"This aspect of Scripture should not to be confused with works righteousness, but it does press us into a place of mystery, where both faith and works can peacefully co-exist without reducing conversion to a simple prayer, or adding to salvation our own self-justification." - this is exactly what I am studying righ tnow.... interesting.
I like the points made here. I have taken issue with the sinners prayer, recently, as did Platt. I agree strongly. So many legalistic practices we preach as the only way, or we call principles that are not so. Howver, there are usually grounds for why they were started etc. It all comes down to the heart.
@Pollypinks@xanga - amen
@PrisonerxOfxLove@xanga - I am not sure why discussion of personal growth gets you so edgy with accusations of being selfish or me, me, me. There is nothing wrong with monitoring and wanting to improve and strengthen our faith as long as our goal is getting closer to Jesus and not just on "feelings". We are not always going to feel like we are growing. There will be dry spells and spinning wheel spells, but hopefully nobody experiences it long term as I did.
I suspected you wouldn't like the mentioning that any prayers including the formal prayers of the Liturgy and Rosary (which I too prayed for 21 years) didn't work during my insincere days. Or maybe they did work at some level but I just couldn't see it. May I remind you of the admission that it wasn't the prayers fault... it was my hearts fault? The Liturgy and Rosary are still great prayers and I agree with the beauty of the same prayers being recited around the world.
Yet, all prayers can ring empty if the heart isn't in it. Sincerity of heart isn't necessarily an upbeat or strong "feeling". Agreeing with the words you're saying and faith in the One you are praying to, even if feeling down and distracted can still be sincere. For a long time I wasn't sincere. I was instead just reciting words on a page, not truly thinking about or caring about what I was reading. Had I been sincere at that time, my whole faith walk and growth would have been completely different. I will gladly be accused of being me, me, me...if it helps someone else by admitting that applying my heart to prayers, instead of merely reciting words on a page helped my stagnant
faith walk to sore.
@agapeartbeat - Personal growth in the human being always starts out, "Me! Me! Me!"
But maturity entails becoming part of a community.That is true spiritually too. So how does one join a world wide community in prayer?
I'm not mature spiritually by any means, but I have been trained by elder priests in praying the Liturgy of the Hours and the Rosary.
So it is the duty of the youth to put his training into practice.
I am not talking about personal growth in the human being... I am talking about personal growth in the Spirit in getting closer to the Lord. There is a huge difference. Community is important of course, but it isn't the only way to mature.
I am talking about not requiring a knowledge of others' spiritual growth in order to make a decision as to their bonding with a certain church. One can always simply say what others expect of one, and not have a clue as to spiritual growth, and that's why fundamentalist churches cause me to question. They will come right up to you and ask you if you've accepted Christ into your heart. Some people new to the lingo don't even know what that means, or, haven't reached that point yet, and will find droves of people waiting in line to convince them to do just that. Saw a t.v. special years ago where kids went to camp, and the leader was whipping them into a frenzy, at which point she screamed at them, "Speak in tongues!" Then they started a bunch of gibberish that no one could possibly comprehend. Also dragged out pictures of presidential candidates and dead fetuses. You can say this is extreme, but I say it's the norm for charisma, where you have to do something to prove your worthiness to God. And no, I have no problems with liturgical prayers, if the meaning is understood. Our church had to pull out of church camp for two years because there were so many people there approaching our young kids and asking them if they were saved, and if they wanted to be saved by saying a prayer. We don't operate that way.
@agapeartbeat - Since our humanity comes from God, our personal growth becomes full when it results from discipleship.
The spirituality of the Gospel teachings of Christ integrates our entire life.The reason community is so incredibly important, critical in fact, is because in his deepest mystery God is family.
The thing that is mostly abused in the church today is the actual mixing of mosaic law and grace and calling it the gospel. Using the sinners prayer in the ministering to the Saints is hardly misused, and quite often overstated. What is misused is the teaching that titheing is scriptural and valid under the new covenent which we are not under. The word titheing shouldn't even be used in the pulpit because of its clear connection to mosaic law.
Thank you for this well written post, it helped me understand a bit better this prayer that many of my friends seem to almost demand be said, or you are not saved. For myself, I have always been a follower of Christ, my faith central, but for me is about a continual conversion that takes a lifetime of committment. I have come to trust in God's love for me no matter how I feel or what ever my inner demons are telling me....mostly voices from my far past. Trust is a choice, to move forward is a choice, to love and God and others is a choice, which is of course a response to an invitation that we call grace.
Peace
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