A question about leading others to the Lord

Well yes and no. There is something fake about it and many of those conversions are probably fake, but can you tell me which ones?

What you are talking about is the natural progression of "easy believism" that breaks salvation down to a prayer you can recite and then you are saved. No repentance, no remorse, no change, just recite this prayer.

Whether it takes place while soul winning with a Jack Hyles type church or at a Billy Graham style crusade the result is the same. Some people actually trust Christ, but they are abandoned as babes in Christ with no discipleship or training. Others recite a prayer or walk and aisle and feel real good for a few days but there is no change in their life or heart and within a few days or perhaps weeks they realize this and go back to the way they were. Then you have the real problem, some people recite the prayer and actually put their faith in that prayer. They have not put their faith in Christ, to them reciting the "sinner's prayer" is not different than any other good work and their faith is still based on their own works, not on Christ. These people are still lost, but now they think they are saved.

Then the soul winners are often in the same condition, putting their faith in their works of which winning others to Christ is primary. How can they be lost, they got 50 people saved this week. Of course we don't save anyone, I am just saying it like they would. It is a contest with them, to prove they are better than other Christians, and their "fruit" is the proof of their salvation. In the quiet of night when the absence of God in their lives is evident they use this "fruit" to quench the actual Spirit calling them to Christ. I can't be lost, God is using me to save people.

The scary part is these people think they are doing the Lord's work and to question them is to question God himself.

Yes I have been there and done that, thankfully I know better now.

 

Yea, people can get "Saved" (Born Again) like this. Phillip did it with the Etheopian Eunuch. But I doubt if all 50 of these were saved. Some maybe. But if they were they will follow it up in some way.

It is a bad witness and against scriture to just go out and pray with them, leaving them as unattended sheep. The Great commision isn't to 'Go into ther world and say a prayer with them' But to baptise and make disciples.

(Mat 28:19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: KJV

 

Regardless of how you approach the great commission there are those who have a heart prepared to receive the free gift and others do not. One should never believe that a prayer is what saves you. Neither should a prayer at that glorious moment be avoided.

 

IFRC Phillip approached the Eunuch by the leading of the Holy Spirit. But I could be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time.

EDIT: Looked it up (Act 8:29) Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

 

You wouldn't happen to be talking about this video would you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXMA4xOS5BY

Just enough truth mixed in to be convincing and dangerous. Easy believism will lead millions straight through the gates of hell. :tear:

 

Good questions. We might never know who truly are the "saved" on this side of eternity. It seems, given our varying traditions, that this notion of salvation might never truly find a quantitative definition beyond what we can evidence in fruit that is produced.

One of the most important questions that the evangelical church must answer before becoming fully immersed in this century will be what is our responsibility in regards to the full nature of salvation. We have paraded easy believism above and beyond what we ought. We have scandalized the Gospel too. Suggesting that Christianity is focused on Heaven as our goal seems to negate the necessity for growth beyond a decision point.

I say this while still holding a firm position that renegeration occurs at the moment of justification. I just believer salvation is more of an umbrella terms that necessarily carries with it justification, sanctification, and glorification as part of it.

The church has an obligation to provide top level resources for personal spiritual growth for those who they see converted and baptized in their midst.

I can't save anyone. Faith is Jesus given by the grace of God is the justifier that seals the believer. I don't know if I can judge who is in and out, other than seeing who producing fruit. I can only talk with those in my life who are outside of a relationship with Jesus showing them in word and action what the Gospel is. It's up to them to hear the Holy Spirit and respond. I do have an obligation to see them matured in Christ. But it is their decision.

 

I knew a man who was afraid to send his son to Christian summer camp because of concern that he would be forced to make a profession of faith that wasn't real. My daughter's friend went to Christian camp with her one year and that very thing happened. She now wants nothing to do with Christians or church.

We should never force anything that the Holy Spirit is not at the center of.

Some have professed salvation at our church and attempts were made to disciple them, but they still fell away. Here I think it was an emotional experience that lacked true repentance and Holy Spirit conviction on the part of those who were 'saved'.

 

Anyone who would say "We got x people saved," would seem to be clueless as to who really handles it all.
:jesus:

 

Ahh, good ol' Sanderson.

I better shut up now...might get me in trouble otherwise.

 

I found over time in order to begin leading one to the Lord, I had to introduce them to what sin is; not sins, but sin. The world is so loose to-day that many totally disregard their sins. It is almost like the old fashioned preaching like Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God...shock and shake and then redeeming grace of a sovereign God.

I am alway suspcious of great crowds of people coming to the front led by another...I tend to look for the individual coming alone, hesitatingly and humbly.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Amen...............

 

I have always had a problem with children making a profession of faith, I think it should be handled very carefully with much talking to and listening to them first, those working with these children should spend the time and follow up big time. So many times it is just they are scared into profession without knowing just what it means.

 

If one makes one disciple every two years and each person makes a disciple every two years then together at the end of 24 years they will reach 4,096 people and each will have been discipled along the way. If the same scenario were present except that one person was discipled each year then they would reach 16,777,216. That numbver is no small number. To reach big numbers it take making disciples not good pew sitters but rather workers who can make disciples.

Some people talk about how many they win to Christ but they never talk about how can be reached through those who make disciples. The difference is staggering. The quality of the person is incredibly different.

So much for the joke of follow up.

 

I see what you mean

It is easy believism.

Beth

 

We should look to Philip's soul-winning "method" as a guide for us. He never asked the eunuch to pray anything.

I don't know what Philip said as he explained Isaiah 53, but it obviously wasn't the Roman Road. What we do know is that Philip would not baptize him until he had got this question asked and answered" If you truly believe with all your heart, you may (be baptized."

The eunuch said simply, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God." No Sinner's prayer here.

In fact, nowhere in the NT does anyone tell a lost person to "pray to receive Jesus."

That said, do I believe that if a convicted sinner cries out to God, the Lord will save him? You bet.