Beware of False conversion!

I have been reading a great book by Ray Comfort called, "How to Bring Your Children to Christ & Keep Them There"

It is worth the read even if you don't have children because a lot of what Ray shares is applicable to sinners in general.

I was glad to see that Ray spends a lot of time on the topic of "false conversion" and Ray goes into detail about how praying a prayer is not some magic incantation that can save you.

If you look you will not find a so called "sinner's prayer" anywhere in Scripture and I am very troubled at times. For example, I was out witnessing and doing "street evangelism" one night and shared the Gospel with a high school age young man and several of his friends. His friend (who attended the local 'sinner sensitive' mega church) said something along the lines of "dude, pray that prayer then you can do whatever you want and still go to Heaven when you die."

We had to have a little discussion at that point about "cheap grace" verse if you really understand the price Jesus paid on the cross and how God views your sin that there is no way you would go out and willfully sin against that kind of Grace. We also had to "chat" about what it means to be religious and still lost verses truly abiding in Jesus to bear fruit.

Having a true change of heart and a true awareness of your sin leading to repentance is what saves you. Repent = turn around 180 degrees and go the other way.

If I have ever disagreed with my pastor on anything it is the topic of baptism for really young kids, say a 4 year old I know. I don't honestly believe they truly understand sin or repentance at that age...I can "coach" a 4 year old to repeat anything in a prayer but it doesn't mean they would understand or comprehend what it all means. I know a 4 year old in my Sunday school class that has "prayed the prayer" and been baptized but I fear all it did was set this poor child up for a false sense of security.

I tend to agree more with Ray, that you don't "seek" a "decision for Christ" from your kids because you are likely doing a work of the flesh. You can be well meaning and sincere enough but if the Holy Spirit isn't doing a work in the child's heart right then you are not going to get them to Heaven by "honey, it is really urgent that you repeat this prayer with me so you can get to Heaven." A kid will repeat it, but that doesn't mean they will understand it.

What you seek is the Lord's leading on how to raise your kids in the way they should go and the Holy Spirit will bring them to a "real" decision for Christ that involves an understanding of sin and turning away from sin to make Jesus their Lord when the time is right and they are old enough to comprehend. There is a big difference between true salvation that involves turning from one's sin and making Jesus Lord and simply being a victim of religion and religious ritual that gives one a false sense of security.

If people are subject to a "false conversion" then it really is a bad thing. Later in life when they are in a mess they will say, "O'yeah, I tried the Jesus thing and it didn't work for me" or they could be speeding down the highway to hell like some I know and say, "Dude, I prayed the prayer so leave me alone...once saved always saved".

Once saved always saved while true does not mean you can spend 45 seconds praying a prayer then live worse then the world with the "conversion" not making more than 46 seconds difference in your life.