Perhaps Platt’s having raised this issue from within his denominational ranks will lead many to read and study the issue more and not only substitute a more biblical and sound practice in their own pulpits and ministries, but that in doing so that the Sinner’s prayer may in time be set aside just as the likes of things like the “Four Spiritual Laws”, etc.

David Platt from The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala. has sparked controversey over use of the Sinner’s Prayer with his YouTube Video at the Verge Conference and is currently doing battle damage wherein he seeks to clarify and defend his position and deal with those who object to it.

Platt has done some things well:

1. He has raised awareness of the need to distinguish between authentic conversion and regenerate church membership and those things which are often mistaken, rested in, and substituted for them.
2. He has drawn attention to the dangers of poor gospel presentations and false professions.
3. He has raised concern regarding the role the Sinner’s prayer can and has played in probably countless people’s lives wherein they have (unintentionally but in fact) been misled into thinking they are saved (as a result of “a prayer they prayed or decision t*hey made”) when it is not the case.
4. He has emphasized the need to trust in Christ alone for salvation.
5. He has affirmed that God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” and stated correctly concerning Christ that “everyone in the world who trusts in Him will be saved.” [Note: this does not mean either that all will “want” to come to him or that any can come to Him apart from God’s grace enabling such ability and desire]
5. He has been wise in going back to define this issue and controversy in terms of the significantly greater matter dealing with the salvation of souls rather than allowing it to be couched in the lesser controversies but also important and related issues surrounding Calvinism.

But having boldly raised the flag on this issue, Platt, although he’s been careful and guarded in defining how one might still could make use of the Sinner’s prayer (with enough unnatural flanking maneuvers), under pressure has settled for the lesser of impact, influence and effect, by “lamenting” the limitations of his 3 minute video and continuing to endorse use of the Sinner’s prayer rather than using the spotlight he has attracted by directing attention and setting before interested and stakeholding observers a better, more biblical, clearer, less obstructive and more effective method and procedure for presenting the gospel and calling hearers to a personal response.

Some additional thoughts to consider:
1. The Sinner’s prayer can lead some to think salvation depends ultimately more on what they do regarding Christ than on what Christ does for Sinner’s.
2. The Sinner’s prayer through its emphasis can lead some to think salvation depends on the grounds of their own merit (i.e., based on their saying the Sinner’s prayer or making the right decision) rather than on Christ’s merit (i.e., his substitutionary atonement & righteousness).
3. The Sinner’s prayer can lead some to think that salvation is possible apart from God’s redemptive grace in regeneration and the new birth.
4. The Sinner’s prayer can lead some to believe the mind of man in the flesh is not hostile to God and is able and in some cases will seek after, choose and even submit to God.
5. The Sinner’s prayer can lead some to trust in their own righteousness (i.e., their correct and pious decision) rather than Christ dying and providing for them while being found ungodly.
6. The Sinner’s prayer can leave some with a sense of pride and arrogance if not a reason to boast (since they made the right choice and others haven’t.)
7. The Sinner’s prayer can mislead some into thinking salvation is secured by a personal decision rather than by believing (which God by his mercy and grace enables and brings the person to do) which brings about and expresses itself through repentance and faith.
8. The Sinner’s prayer can create an environment where some are pressured or persuaded by man pleasing rather than the gospel content and promises.
9. The Sinner’s prayer can mislead some into thinking salvation depends on either the degree of man’s sincerity or his/her saying the right words rather than emptying their trust in themselves and casting all their hope and security in God.
10. The Sinner’s prayer can lead some to look to their own attitude or works as evidence in or for salvation rather than looking to God’s faithfulness and promises.
11. The Sinner’s prayer can lead some to believe they are saved when they are not.
12. The Sinner’s prayer can mislead some into thinking it’s not important for their believing response to be followed up with the disciplines and practice of sanctification because its focus in on the one time action of the individual rather than the individual participating in the overall and continuing work of God’s grace in their lives.
13. The Sinner’s prayer can lead to problems regarding assurance of salvation either when performed or later in life.
14. The Sinner’s prayer can cause people to question themselves in a later legitimate conversion (i.e., if they were wrong once, why should they trust this is any different?
15. The Sinner’s prayer can serve as an added source for mockery by unbelievers criticizing false professors.

For these reasons, a better and more promising practice is:

1. when having through our preaching, teaching and or evangelizing presented the gospel along with its motivations and implications, and

2. when practical having through our preaching, teaching and/or evangelizing presented the connection between man’s response and God’s overall redemptive working of grace and mercy through election, predestination, regeneration, calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, and glorification, etc.

3. to persuade hearers to believe (that is, to accept the Word as God’s own Word which is true, authoritative, powerful, relevant and personally applicable) and to respond through faith and repentance (which are non-meritorious).

This can be done in keeping with biblical examples and terminology such as that found in passages like:

Acts 2:38 ““Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”
Acts 3:!9 “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord”
Matthew 3:2 “…Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
John 6:29 “… believe in the one he has sent.”
John 9:35 “…Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
John 20:31 “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Acts 16:31 “…Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved– you and your household.”
Romans 3:21-24 “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Galatians 3:22 “But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. “
1 John 3:23 “And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.”
Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Luke 13:3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
Luke 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Acts 17:30-31 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
Acts 26:20 they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.
etc.

4. to proclaim to our hearers what is of utmost importance is our response to and before God (not man).

5. to provide our hearers with the comforts and assurances of God’s Word to those who respond to God in faith

Romans 10:10-13 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile– the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Psalm 35:3 “Say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation.’”
Isaiah 30:15 “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy ONe of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength…”
Luke 2:29-30 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation.”
Eph 1:13 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,”
1 Pet 1:9 “for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
etc.

6. to exhort and encourage our hearers to follow through with their believing response and confession by making their faith known which includes keeping with obedience in submitting themselves to the elders of the church (1 Tim 3:1; 1 Tim 5:17) with a view toward receiving the covenant sign of admission into the church (baptism) [if they have not received it as the child of a believer] and being admitted to the Lord’s table.

7. to either through our preaching, teaching and/or evangelism or through our pastoral or Sessional discipleship help them see and understand how living in keeping with God’s grace shown to them involves continued discipleship along with participation in the worship and work of the church.

Concluding Remarks
1. Note: these comments are not intended to criticize the Southern Baptist Church per se for their zeal and faithfulness in evangelizing is commendable and has been blessed of God.
2. While some on an individual and denominational level have recently endorsed the Sinner’s prayer, perhaps Platt’s having raised this issue from within his denominational ranks will lead many to read and study the issue more and not only substitute a more biblical and sound practice in their own pulpits and ministries, but that in doing so that the Sinner’s prayer may in time be set aside just as the likes of things like the “Four Spiritual Laws”, etc.

Tim Muse is a Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America and serves as Senior Pastor at Brandon Presbyterian Church (PCA) in the Jackson, MS suburbs.  He blogs at All Things Reformed where this article first appeared; it is used with his permission.

[Editor’s note: Some of the original URLs (links) referenced in this article are no longer valid, so the links have been removed.]