Invalidating the Word of God by Tradition

I have seen some thngs very close to me in a very different light of late. First, I got a glimpse of how me and others that I know who are diligently after God could have unknowingly slid into a teaching/preaching mode that gives nothing other than ear tickling messages. It seems I hear more today than ever, "well what do they want to hear."

Now with a little different twist the passage in Mark 7:9-13 has shown me how even those with a very "spiritual" intent can be sidetracked into relying more on their traditions than God's Word. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Scribes because they were taking that which they could help their parents with and "giving it to God." Here it's easy to imagine that these guys were so zealous to serve God that they were giving everything to Him. What could be wrong with that? Jesus said that by doing so they were actually violating God's command to honor your Father and Mother. That's what's wrong. They decided over and above the authority of the scriptures what needed to be done. And it sounded pretty doggone holy!!!

It seems to me that we may have done that in this generation in the way we present the Gospel. Now the basic intent is to get people "saved". That's good!! However, in our fervency there has been established a methodology in the evangelical presentation that makes promises and assurances to people on non-Biblical grounds. For example, if you say this sinner's prayer you will go to heaven. On what grounds can we say that? If someone is repentant and believing God, they can say most any prayer and find relationship with Jesus, but we have made it sound as though there is some kind of special sure-fire incantation that when recited God must receive you into His kingdom.

Some have attached the extra instruction that once you've said this prayer it doesn't matter what you do you're saved!! This has left a lot of people who have never repented or believed in the Lord Jesus Christ , but simply said a prayer, wandering around our society with a hope, not in Jesus, but in a well-meaning Christian's words, that they are without a doubt destined for eternal life. And, now they are immuned to most anything you actually show them from the Bible because they have already received the final word on that when they said the sinner's prayer, which is not in the Bible.

We have a tradition. It is how we get people saved! The trouble is that salvation has one who can guarantee, and He never said that anybody that wants to can say the sinner's prayer and be saved. He said anyone who comes to him won't be rejected. And He said that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws Him. With a good intent, our methods have actually made the Word of God invalid in the thinking of those who have said the prayer. Let's look for true repentance and faith. Most of the time it is pretty evident.