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History
Of The Sinner’s
Prayer (Prayer of Faith)
By Allan E. McNabb
The sinner's prayer, as we know it today, was invented by twentieth
century preachers as a quick and easy way to save people. Unfortunately,
it is a false doctrine resulting in eternal punishment.
Second Century
Around the second century, Gnostics taught that baptism was not essential
to salvation. Christians, on the other hand, vehemently refuted the
Gnostic doctrine and taught that baptism was absolutely necessary to
be saved.
16th - 17th Centuries
Later, during the Reformation (sixteenth and seventeenth centuries),
Protestant Theology, in opposition to Catholicism, led to the invention
of Protestant denominations. Reformation theologians opposed
some Catholic doctrines of salvation (e.g., indulgences) while embracing
others (e.g., infant baptism). Trying to “reform” the
Catholic church, Reformation theologians formulated their own doctrines
of salvation from which denominations were created in breaking away
from Catholicism. In the process, Gnostic doctrines of salvation
(e.g., salvation before baptism, and salvation without baptism) were
again popularized in Reformation doctrine. But, the doctrines
of Reformed Theology did not develop into the “sinner's prayer” for
hundreds of years after the Reformation.
Luther, Anabaptists
As the Protestant Reformation developed, some churches (under the guidance
of doctrines from such men as Martin Luther) taught that salvation
was a gift from God and that baptism was not necessary for salvation. Later,
Anabaptists broke away from churches adhering to the doctrine of infant
baptism under the leadership of such men as Menno Simons and John Smyth,
only baptizing adults.
Praying to be Saved
As these Protestant issues were hashed out, man-made religious doctrines
increasingly rejected God's word which requires men to be baptized
to be saved (Matt. 18:18-19; Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). Since
the Anabaptists rejected God's word concerning baptism while also rejecting
the Catholic and Reformed doctrine of infant baptism, they were forced
to invent a human doctrine prescribing the point of one's salvation. Praying
to be saved became their substitute for God's command to be baptized. In
the end, baptism was relegated to merely being a symbolic act, not
having anything to do with salvation. And in time, the phrase “baptism
is an outward sign of an inward grace” was invented and adopted
into Protestant doctrine.
Mourner’s Bench Salvation
As man-made doctrines of praying for salvation developed, “mourner's
bench salvation” was invented by men in the eighteenth century,
becoming popular in the nineteenth century and dying out in the early
twentieth century. This doctrine of salvation asserts that a sinner
might be saved if he prays long and hard, at the mourner's bench. Stories
of people spending many long, arduous hours at the mourner's bench were
common. During this time, such phrases as “alter call” and “pray
through” were popularized. But today, the mourner's bench
is practically nonexistent, although some churches have preserved the
benches as mementoes of bygone revivalist days referred to as “old
time religion.”
Pray a Prayer Salvation
In the early twentieth century, revivalist preachers began simplifying
their doctrines of salvation. Mourner's bench salvation was too
time consuming and arduous a process making it unappealing. Also,
large crusades became popular resulting in
denominational preachers desiring a simple way for hundreds of people
to be simultaneously saved within just a few minutes. So, preachers
began asking people to come to the front and pray a prayer to be saved. By
praying the prayer, people were led to believe they were forgiven of
their sins and saved. This prayer soon developed into what is
called the sinner's prayer today.
Radio and Television Evangelism
As radio and television evangelism became popular in the twentieth century,
preachers again simplified their doctrines of salvation. It was
not possible for people listening to the radio or watching television
to come to the front of an assembly, have contact with a preacher,
and pray with him. Sometimes, people listening to the radio
were asked to touch the radio and pray. Other times, people watching
television were asked to touch the television and pray. And sometimes,
they were not asked to do anything but pray. Since then, many
preachers in churches do not ask people to come to the front and pray
a sinner's prayer but simply to pray while sitting in the audience.
Today, Sinner’s Prayer
Today, people are led to believe they can pray a sinner's pray anywhere
and under any condition to be saved. Many preachers and teachers “suggest” prayers
for sinners to pray — some are several sentences long and some
are only one or two sentences. But more and more, these preachers
let people “receive Jesus” any way they want. Unfortunately,
people who believe they have been saved by praying a sinner's prayer
have believed a false doctrine originating from men (Eph. 4:14).
Jesus’ Doctrine
The doctrine of Christ and His church (2 Jn. 1: 9) is the same today
as it was during the first century (Heb. 13:8).
- We must be baptized to be saved (Mk. 16:16; Matt. 28:18-19).
- Baptism is for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38).
- Our sins are washed away when we are baptized (Acts 22:16).
- We are saved when we are baptized (1 Pet. 3:21).
- The Lord adds us to the church when we are baptized (Acts 2:38-39,
40-41, 47).
Conclusion
If we believe God's word, we know that no one is saved by praying a sinner's
prayer. To be saved, we must be baptized having believed in God,
repented of our sins, and confessed Jesus to be God's Son.
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