Why is it that so many in our work, say that they thought they were saved only to find out years later they weren't? What should we do differently in our work to keep from misleading anyone and how are we supposed to lead others into our work when this is a common issue among our members?
It seems to me that we are so overzealous in getting folks "saved" and too worried about the numbers that we are misdirecting them towards the only way to salvation.
4 comments:
Good question. I am of the opinion that much of it results from overzealous (albeit well intended) preachers.
I believe some want to see souls saved so badly that they try to convince the lost that they are saved, leading t false professions, instead of letting God ensure them of their salvation.
As it was with me, a child, it was not explained to me that I had to mean what I was saying. I was lead into a repeat after me type prayer. Then upon saying amen, I was asked "how do you feel?" and I remember exactly what I said. "ok I guess". The preacher patted me on the back congratulating me telling me I was saved. He asked me where I'd go when I died, I said I wasn't sure. He said since I was saved I'd go to Heaven, and next I needed to be baptized. Later, I realized I hadn't even understood I was a sinner, much less meant what I'd "prayed".
I find with children who tell me they want to be saved, I ask them why they want to be saved and get into the specifics of what they are thinking. I've had some who wanted to be saved to please their parents who were overseas, some who wanted to be saved b/c their friend told them they needed to, some who wanted to be saved b/c they wanted to take the Lord's Supper or be baptized. Basically, I've found it is pretty easy most times to tell when the Lord is dealing with someone by how long you can keep their attention when talking to them about salvation. If they look like they want to go play with the other children, even though they just told you they want to be saved, something is a little fishy.
I always go over the entire plan of salvation and make sure they know what they have to do (or at least have the head knowledge of it). Then if it seems to me they aren't really wanting to be saved or if they don't have a heart conviction, I end it with "You can do that any time you want, as long as you mean it, and you'll be saved." Then I leave. If they seem to me to be under conviction, I say "You can do that any time you want, even now if you want, as long as you mean it and believe it. Do you want to do that now or later?"
Finally, a way to help this is every child who comes for baptism should be spoken with in detail to try to understand their "salvation experience". If a young person says they want to be baptized, I usually tell them to come back and talk to me the next week. If they are serious, they will, if not, they won't.
We could be careful not to use "steps" of salvation such as the ABC's of salvation.
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