There are numerous "Sayings" which have
been attributed to the Bible, some for a hundred years or more, that
do not appear in the Bible. During the month of July we will share some
of these that are "Not In The Book."
It's NOT In The Book!
The Sinner’s Prayer or the Altar Call
The concept of the Sinner's Prayer and Altar Call is relatively new in the 2000 year old Christian Church. They originated in the 19th Century and are accredited to and were popularized by evangelist Charles Finney.
Scripture does teach and urge all people to repent, believe, be baptized and confess with their mouth, however there is no specific mention of an altar call or a sinner's prayer requesting Christ to enter one's heart.
Romans 10:9-10 may have been the inspirations for Finney's convictions.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. –
(Rom. 10:9-10
KJV)
Charles Grandison Finney (1792-1875), American theologian and educator, was a famous evangelist who brought frontier religion to the urbanized East.
Finney was concerned how man could achieve salvation. He decided that, instead of waiting upon God's regenerate spirit, any man could exert himself to give up sin and accept Jesus as a redeemer. In 1821 he had a mystical experience in which he believed he stood face to face with Jesus. From this time he devoted his energies to preaching revivals. He was licensed as a Presbyterian minister in 1824.
Finney was a masterful pulpit orator. He addressed the audience as sinners and prayed for them by name. He prolonged his meetings until early morning. Only his success at winning converts persuaded more orthodox clergymen to pardon his techniques. (Source: Answers.com)
Love
you,
