Sean, I saw the video and I think it is unfortunate that a man who calls himself a Christian evangelist can say some of the things he has, with no regrets. He attacks those who are trying to help people come to Jesus and he criticizes them? This is borderline blasphemy.
Now having said that I agree that those who place their Salvation in infant baptism is wrong, but I can't agree with much anything else he says, besides how a Christian is supposed to live Holy and bear fruit. This is all a given.
But to say no one can be saved by praying a sinners prayer, is to cast doubt on the millions who have done this already AND are still living the Christian faith now.
No one should make blanket statements such as he did and cover everyone and every situation. Some who pray a prayer fall away to be sure, but Jesus said they would, so this should not be shocking to anyone. Sad yes, but not shocking.
So what prayer would this 'evangelist' recommend? Nothing at all? The bible gives many examples of sinners prayer type conversions, but no two experiences were ever exactly the same which also proves there are many roads to Jesus, but only one way to Salvation. Though Salvation is through Jesus alone and grace alone, it comes through many methods and mediums.
The tax collector in the temple cried to the Lord to be forgiven and was made right with God. The prostitute was not accused by Jesus, but was simply told to go and sin no more. The book of Joel proclaims anyone who simply calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. The thief on the cross asked Jesus, to be in heaven and was saved.
The reason this 'preacher' does not like alter calls or sinners prayers, is because it negates his twisted theology that says mans free will has no role in Salvation when it clearly does. There are many passages that speak of how the grace of God can be resisted and mans free will is always at work sometimes agreeing with God and sometimes not.
Regeneration is not a sovereign action by God done to only "the elect", nor is it something that God does apart from the will of man. Man must be depraved enough to ask to be regenerated or it won't happen.
In our depraved states we have to call out on God for Salvation, that is our duty. Then and only then does God regenerate, but to say someone can't turn their back on this experience and go back to their lives of sin and to blame someone or anyone else if they do, is being blind to reality.
This man who you seem to hold up, is not the judge of how someone is saved or if they will stay saved. Shame on him.
Craig Opal |