EMOTIONALISM AND FALSE CONVERSIONS

 

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.  But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us....1 John 2:19

Let's talk about false conversions.

I don't think there are many churches who like to discuss this topic, but it needs discussing, especially since there is, more than likely, a number of false converts sitting in their pews each week.

I, at one time, was a false convert.  From around 1987 to around 1991, I struggled with doubts about my salvation.  Anytime I started doubting, the voice in my head would say, "But you walked the aisle; you got baptized; you prayed The Sinner's Prayer."

All true.  But none of those things contributes to salvation.

As I looked back to when I was 8, nearly 9, years old, and what caused me to walk the aisle and repeat the Sinner's Prayer, I realized it was because my friends I was sitting with did and I didn't want to be the "odd" one out.  So, to keep from being left out, I did the same thing.  There was no conviction of sin.  Everything that happened was "works" based.  Walking the aisle, praying the prayer, going through baptism......none of that saves anyone.  Preachers say all the time, "If you would just walk the aisle and say this prayer, Jesus will save you."  Do and Jesus will respond.  They give you the idea that Jesus can't save you until you do something.  That's works, and salvation isn't gained by our works.

I began feeling conviction around my senior year in high school and into my college years.  But anytime I felt that conviction, I started making excuses.  Of course, I'm saved because I walked the aisle, and I repeated the prayer they told me to pray, and I got dunked in the water.  Or what will people think of me saying I've been a Christian all these years and turns out it was all a lie??  I finally surrendered to Christ in 1991 and was baptized again.

Let's talk about "emotional experiences".  See, at that revival where I first walked the aisle, I remember there was an invitation given.  I'm pretty sure they sang "Just as I Am", every single verse, and to make things even more "dramatic", I remember they had the lights in the sanctuary dimmed low (I remember it being dark in the sanctuary).  And the evangelist, to tug on people's heart strings probably said, "I just know there are more people who need to be saved so we're going to sing that last verse one more time.  I know God is dealing with someone right now and if you just walk this aisle and say this prayer, Jesus will save you."

I very much dislike using emotionalism to manipulate someone into "getting saved" because more than likely, that person will be a false convert just like I was.  I know of people who responded to an emotional altar call who, right now, do not live out the Christian life they started out with.  They don't darken the door of a church anymore and they live a "spiritual" life, but it's not of the Holy Spirit.  They've allowed New Age and other "religions" to permeate their life.  To them, Jesus is just one of many ways to God, not THE way to God.

The thing I like about the church I attend is there is no altar call.  There is no invitation with an emotional song like "Just as I Am" or "The Savior is Waiting" to manipulate someone to walk the aisle.

"Well, how to people get saved?" you may ask.

People get saved from hearing the gospel.  People don't need manipulation.  If you have to manipulate someone to respond, you're not trusting God to do His work.  At our church, if you're not saved and you have questions about salvation, there is an elder who will meet with you after the service to answer any questions you may have.  If you're feeling conviction and desire to be saved, they will get the pastor involved and one or both will disciple you through a series of meetings to explain the gospel and to make sure you understand it and what salvation means.

Emotionalism creates more false converts because people rely on an EXPERIENCE to give them assurance.  Our assurance of our salvation is how are we living NOW compared to what we were like before.  If we see no change in how we live, if we see no fruit bearing in our life, and if we don't experience any true spiritual growth, then it's probably a sure thing that our conversion is false.

If you're relying on some emotional experience or on something you had to do to give you assurance of salvation, you're probably a false convert.