Sometimes people ask me why I am so cynical or critical about beliefs. The reason is that wrong beliefs can have eternally wrong consequences. The following, so-called, "Plan of Salvation" is offered by Rick Warren on pages 58-59 in his book, THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE.
“Right now, God is inviting you to live for his glory by fulfilling the purposes he made you for (sic). Will you accept God’s offer?
“First, believe. Believe God loves you and made you for his purposes. Believe you’re not an accident. Believe you were made to last forever. Believe God has chosen you to have a relationship with Jesus, who died on the cross for you. Believe that no matter what you’ve done, God wants to forgive you.
“Second, receive. Receive Jesus into your life as your Lord and Savior. Receive his forgiveness for your sins. Receive his Spirit, who will give you the power to fulfill your life purpose. The Bible says, “Whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever!” John 3:36a (Msg). Wherever you are reading this, I invite you to bow your head and quietly whisper the prayer that will change your eternity:
“Jesus, I believe in you
and I receive you.”
Go Ahead. “If you sincerely meant that prayer, congratulations! Welcome to the family of God!”
It matters not how sincere or loving we are in our intentions; it matters not that God accomplishes His purpose with His Word regardless of our ineptness or frailties, heresy by any other name is still heresy.
1 comment:
Whoa. Wait a minute. Pardon my ignorance. I knew the old version of the Sinner's Prayer was not - in and of itself - a "ticket to heaven" but this? Is this what even that has been reduced to? From a full and wonderful spiritual rebirth,repentance for the remission of sins, a glorious gift that did not have to be given in order to atone for those sins, the joys of a newfound love for Christ and the honest desire to turn away from the follies of the world and the pain that the presence of sin in it causes to the Holy Spirit living within, and so much more...to a little "Sinner's Prayer" to... "I believe in you and I receive you"?
Aye-yi-yi....
You know, my heart just breaks. It really, really does.
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