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Pilgrim said:
As I responded to Tom in one of my replies to him, the fundamental issue is in this matter of "converts". The modern church is quick to acknowledge any type of profession and/or experience as a "conversion". But most lack any true marks of regeneration. It is my deepest concern that the modern church with its myriad worldly methodologies are producing fleshly conversions and nothing more. And the unfortunate individuals who are told that they are now "Christians" are yet dead in sin and under the judgment of God. They have been deceived and are being deceived into a false sense of security when in fact they need to be given a new nature by God's sovereign work, repent of their sins and truly cast themselves before the Lord Christ in faith.

Thus, although maturing in Christ is something which is incumbent upon us all to strive for, one must first be made alive and reconciled to God in Christ before one can mature in Christ. The "seeker-friendly" methods are offering at best crumbs of the Gospel and not the full-course meal which is the power of God unto salvation. And the result actually puts people in a more precarious condition than they were beforehand. What I see is the "blind leading the blind" and unless the Lord is pleased to intervene and dispense His mercy and grace upon them, they shall both fall into the precipice.

As someone who just recently left a "seeker-sensitive church", I have to say Pilgrim is really hitting the nail on the head here. Some weeks the pastor would say, "who wants to be saved," in the service and then ask those people to raise their hands. Or, even worse, he would just ask who hasn't been saved yet. Next, he would (very) strongly encourage them to say a prayer asking Jesus into their hearts right there during the service. Then he would pronounce them saved. Often, he would say that it doesn't matter if you don't understand what you are praying for, there would be plenty of time later to learn. For many of these people, this was the first time they had ever been to church and exposed to the Bible at all. Sometimes he would ask everyone in the congregation to say a group prayer by repeating after him. This prayer would be a prayer asking Christ into their hearts. Fortunately, he didn't tell every non-Christian they were saved by repeating this prayer, unless of course they were sincere. Actually, I had huge issues with the group prayer thing (no matter what the subject). Anyway, many of the people who "got saved" didn't return to church (some did). I'm sure that many of those people were/are very confused about what Christianity is and whether or not they are really saved. Some may be certain they are saved, but are not. Others may have been soured on Christianity because they think Christianity is only saying a short prayer and isn't much different than other religions. In addition, true believers at the church whose foundation isn't strong will be led into all kind of errors about evangelizing and what really makes a person a true Christian. And, ultimately, as has been pointed out by others in this thread, this kind of behavior is not Biblical.

I mentioned "group prayer" above. I dislike the idea of being "led" in a prayer that I do not know ahead of time. In fact, after the first time it happened, I refused to recite the prayers anymore. It made me feel pretty self-conscious though being the only one not saying it. I've been at churches where prayers have been printed in the bulletin and the read by the congregation. I'm not talking about that. As long as I know the exact wording ahead of time, then if I agree with it, I can pray with a clear conscience. But when I don't know what's coming next, I have serious issues about reciting a prayer in a group (even if I trust the person leading). What do you all think about that?

John