"Decisions" for Christ??

sermonindex Nov 9, 2007

Lately, there have been a lot of attacks on the evangelism term "decisions for Christ". The criticisms of this term have come from the Calvinistic side of things.

Finney no doubt could be responsible for this term in evangelism. That is because Finney taught that freewill was involved in conversion, thus you make a voluntary and personal "decision" to follow Christ. The word "decision" was simply to emphasis the responsibility of freewill.

What do you guys think? Is conversion a decision? Is calling conversion a decision a good thing? Should we tell sinners that they must make a decision to repent and make a decision to follow Christ?

Here is my argument:

- One must "obey the gospel" in order to be saved

- Obedience is a decision

- Therefore one must make a decision to be saved

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- It is a decision to repent of your sins

- It is a decision to put your faith in Christ

- It is a decision to deny yourself

- It is a decision to pick up your cross

- It is a decision to follow Christ

- It is a decision to die daily

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- The bible even say that Christ will return to punish those who "obey not the gospel", which is the same thing as saying that Christ will punish those who do not make a decision to repent of their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ.

I think that the word "decision" has a very important place in evangelism.

I

intrcssr83 Nov 10, 2007

Hi Jesse,

It hasn't been just the calvinists that have raised these concerns as there have been those who held to the Arminian/Wesleyen view of salvation who have been just as vocal. (Specifically, the more traditional pentacostals of the early 20th century and the "Holiness" preachers from which they originated e.g., Tozer, Ravenhill, Wilkerson).

Personally, I think the term is semantic at best, but the negative connatation originates from those who are quick to count salvation as being merely a momentary event as opposed to a process wherein a true beliver is sanctified and bears genuine fruit (Easy-Believism).

Ben

L

LiveforGod Nov 10, 2007

Good questions dear Brother. Freewill is definetly involved in conversion, no doubt about it. Yes, true obedience is also a decision. Also true that one must make a decition to be saved, as long as God has convicted the person of sin, if not then it will all be nothing less than a religious act. I do belive God´s spirit plays a major role in the salvation of souls.

Im looking forward to what other brothers and sisters have to say about this. God Bless

sermonindex Nov 10, 2007

LifeforGod,

Amen! Good post!

"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beg you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God!" 2Cor 5:20

Here we find Paul begging and praying to sinners to be reconciled unto God! That is because reconciliation of two opposing parties requires voluntariness on both side. For two to be reconciled, they must both mutually be willing. Paul knew that God was already willing, and was not begging that the sinner becomes willing.

If someone is not reconciled unto God, it is not because God was not willing, but because the sinner was unwilling.

I

InTheGarden Nov 10, 2007

Lazarus1719 wrote:
If someone is not reconciled unto God, it is not because God was not willing, but because the sinner was unwilling.

Amen! That is very true, but you must be careful that the decision for Christ is real - just because someone "decides" to follow Christ doesn't mean that they are saved. Someone can say all the right things and not mean it.

Mikah