With an Assembly of God friend of mine last Saturday night.
It wasn't planned at first-- it just happened.
An awkward moment came when my friend wanted me to lead our new convert in a "sinner's prayer". In fact, my friend asked me if I knew, "The Sinner's Prayer" and I told him, "No," but I was willing to pray.
The most awkward moment came when after my friend led the new convert in a "sinner's prayer", he announced to the new convert,
"YOU'RE SAVED! YOU'RE SAVED!! HOW DO YOU FEEL?"
The guy said he felt good, felt happy.
But I could not help to feel that somehow, something was missing.
I told him with as much intensity as I could that God had so much more for him and that he is not to stop here- but to keep seeking the Lord, reading and obeying His Word.
We parted ways soon after that.
I have prayed for this guy, but I can't shake the feeling that there was indeed something incomplete about the whole transaction.
Just thought I'd share this experience.
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"The choices we make reveal the true nature of our character."
Sounds like he repented and ask god into his heart.So I guess god saved him..see nothing wrong with this
Yeah, but like I said, something was missing.
Maybe he didn't really repent?
Maybe we should have tried to get him baptized right then and there, but it wouldn't have been a simple task and then my friend and I differ on the baptismal formula.
Maybe we should have prayed with him longer. It would have been much more comforting, in a way, to know that God was working in his heart, somehow.
The way it stood that night, it was just his word that he was "happy."
I've tried to follow up with this guy, but my cell phone was stolen on campus on Monday morning (that or I misplaced it).
Like I said, there was something missing in our transaction. It still gnaws at me.
I am not sure that this guy's heart was converted.
I guess if we had prayed with him until tongues, then I'd be a bit more at ease about the transaction.
But that NEVER happened in this context when I would witness as a three stepper. The main thrust of my efforts were to spread the Gospel, pique interest and get them to my church for the next service so that God can "fill them with the Holy Ghost" there.
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"The choices we make reveal the true nature of our character."
So if you were falling off a cliff and ask God to forgive you before you hit bottom you don't think he would?
I am not sure if true repentance can occur in a matter of seconds.
If God is the only one who draws souls to repentance, then surely He can keep the guy from falling off of the cliff if he is about to be drawn to repentance.
Besides, I doubt someone who is unsaved at the time of such a tragedy with death following so quickly (usually) would be in the mindset to pray for forgiveness.
They may be cursing in anger, yelling in horror-- but I am not sure if they would really be praying.
If we're talking about someone who is already saved, then their response will be (should be anyway) different and I believe that person would be saved.
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"The choices we make reveal the true nature of our character."
I see what your saying but the Thief on the cross contridicts your thinking...
hanging and dying an agonizingly slow and painful death on a cross is completely different from trying to get a prayer of repentance out in the last 20 seconds of your life-- especially if you are already unsaved.
The scripture, "Him that is filthy, let him be filthy still" comes to mind.
It would be a very unfortunate situation, and that is being very mild about it.
For this guy, he's still alive, as far as I know and I will try to contact him.
But in the future, I don't think it would be wise for me to go soul-winning with someone who is currently in the A of G.
Then again, I am not sure if that was the one and only issue, or if this guy really didn't repent or why it was I felt and still feel uneasy about it.
If he is dead,
how do I know this guy repented?
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"The choices we make reveal the true nature of our character."
But I have to wonder, is the Oneness approach really better? How can you tell if anyone is really saved? (Even yourself, for that matter. See http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com...ad.php?t=20984. Note that 40% voted something other than "100% sure".)
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
hanging and dying an agonizingly slow and painful death on a cross is completely different from trying to get a prayer of repentance out in the last 20 seconds of your life-- especially if you are already unsaved.
The scripture, "Him that is filthy, let him be filthy still" comes to mind.
It would be a very unfortunate situation, and that is being very mild about it.
For this guy, he's still alive, as far as I know and I will try to contact him.
But in the future, I don't think it would be wise for me to go soul-winning with someone who is currently in the A of G.
Then again, I am not sure if that was the one and only issue, or if this guy really didn't repent or why it was I felt and still feel uneasy about it.
If he is dead,
how do I know this guy repented?
I think that is why we are not allowed to judge. We are always, always working with incomplete information. Only the Lord knows if that man truly repented or not.
Beyond that, even 3-steppers must admit that by repenting, this man made at least the first step towards salvation. Every one of us, started with that same 1st step.
Perhaps if you are still feeling uneasy it's because there is something else God is asking you to do. Maybe keep this man in your prayers, befriend him, or disciple him.
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