Disclaimer: About This Blog

THIS BLOG IS: my personal journey of how I am rethinking some of my spiritual beliefs.
THIS BLOG IS NOT: intended to point fingers at people who I think are wrong.
I do not believe the final judgement will be based on how many correct answers we get on a theology exam. I believe many people throughout history have had genuine relationships with God, despite holding questionable beliefs and practices. I make no claim to having it all figured out or being your judge. If we end up disagreeing over these topics I pray we can find a way to demonstrate grace.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Playdough Scripture Acts 2:38

"Peter replied, "Repeat this prayer after me:
"Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against you and that my sins separate me from you. I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my sinful past and turn to you for forgiveness. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, that He was raised from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become my Savior and the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You and to convict me when I sin. I pledge to grow in grace and knowledge of you. My greatest purpose in life is to follow your example and do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."
and you will be saved. Repent and Then after you've taken baptism classes be baptized, every one some of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Acts 2:38 (Playdough Version)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

so Peter obviously didn't say those words... but is it wrong to believe your "red letters"?

Jonathan said...

I guess I'm just making an observation that some of the traditional ways we do things are not found in scripture. When people get too comfortable with traditions without recognizing them for what they are, we sometimes lose the original focus.

I've grown up in church traditions that have emphasized sinners prayers like this - yet I've never been told that using a sinners prayer like this is a recent tradition that is not found in scripture.

I'm not saying that using a sinner's prayer like this is necessarily wrong... but I'm questioning if it is the only or best way to mark a conversion experience.

Thanks for asking for clarification. What do you think? Is a similar sinners prayer the best and only way to mark a conversion experience?