Hi guys,
Thanks for your input regarding my OSAS and sister-in-law post. I
understand what you are both saying about the prayer she said not necessarily
translating into a heart conversion.
Just makes me wonder, though, about how important the follow up is to a
person - even if they have just said "the prayer". It seems to me that
education about our Lord and "coming along side" the new convert is
essential for their heart to grow in knowledge and love for the Lord.
It's just like getting married. When you first marry, you are attracted to
the person, but if the relationship is not built with advice from those who have
been there, and also possibly books, or church teachings, etc., - that
relationship may fall apart from lack of support and education - thus the 50%
divorce rate these days.
I just wonder if my sister-in-law's family, or even the friends who brought
her to church that night - had really followed up with her, cared about her, and
come along side her to help her grow in her new decision - if she might have
really gotten to know and truly love her Lord.
Anyway, thanks for your insights.
Diane Chapman
I think that you may be missing the point of being born again
(truly) and
saying some prayer making a commitment which is followed with
lots of joy.
Was she truly saved at that point? As Greg Laurie likes to point
out, he
never claims at his Harvest Festivals that there were 2000 people who
were
born again. Rather he merely states that 2000 people came forward and
made
a commitment to Christ. But, this does not always translate into every
one
of them becoming born again, even though they repeated the prayer. We
know
that many of them never follow the Lord. So it was not the prayer, but
what
was in their heart.
If you consider the parable of the
seeds,perhaps this sister-in law seeds
did not fall on the rich fertile soil
of her soul. Something to consider.
David Molina
About your sister-in-law, you said
that:
I don't think there is any way that anyone can say her
conversion experience at 12 yrs old was not real.
I have asked her about her conversion experience when she was
young, and she says it didn't mean anything, and was just something
she tried.