"I worked in a country for many, many years of my life, where everybody believed they were saved, because as infants they were baptized. They can commit every abomination and hellish form of device and thought, and yet they believe they're saved, because when they were infants they were baptized---and Baptists scoff at that---and I tell you, Baptists do the very same thing today. The only thing is, it's not infant baptism---it's repeating a prayer. Treating salvation like a flu shot."
-Paul Washer
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
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2 comments:
'Baptists do the very same thing today. The only thing is, it's not infant baptism---it's repeating a prayer. Treating salvation like a flu shot."'
That is a good point that makes sense.
Russ
Thanks, Russ.
The problem of easy-believism has been recognized for many years. Even when I used to be a strong advocate of 'leading people through a prayer of salvation,' I used to first warn them that it was not a magic formula, and that merely repeating some words cannot save you; but that it was a matter of the heart.
Now, after going through a "Way of the Master" course, including videos, plus reading the book by the same name (written by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron), I understand that 'walking down an aisle' or 'praying a prayer' when the person does not fully understand (or grasp, or accept) the gospel, has led to some becoming false converts. In addition, I now believe that, once the complete gospel has been explained to the person, they don't need to be 'led' in any prayer. If they are truly sincere about wanting to follow Christ, they will pray on their own. The exact words of the prayer don't matter. And an 'exquisitely worded' prayer means nothing at all unless the heart, attitude, passion and will are sincerely and strongly crying out for the same plea.
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