The Magic Words Jesus Didn’t Use

Wow. My wife and I were talking about this very thing on our walk home from church yesterday.

Thanks for your words on this.

This is a great article! It's distressing how we've neatly packaged the Gospels into some formula. I was saved (from what?!) every year at Bible Camp when I was young. And I think even one time in Bible College...for good measure.

I've never thought quite so radically about the Q & A between Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler, "What must I do to enter heaven?" -- "Sell your stuff and give to the poor."

No wonder Jesus scares people. He doesn't mess around.

Great, great article. I worked at a camp in the summer where The Prayer was a big thing. It always worried me to see that accepting Christ was being based on something that is essentially non-Biblical. Thanks for re-emphasizing this often overlooked truth.

great article! I totally agree. The "idea" of the prayer is supposed to be the first step to living a life of following jesus but obviously the point gets lost most of the time. I've seen the same thing so often. I remember when i was a kid and i kept saying the prayer in as many creative ways as i could create in case one of the wrong.

Very good.

Well done! This paints such a fuller and richer picture of what it means to follow Christ. I immediately found myself recalling all the "mountain-top" church experiences of my youth and how they all were just that: experiences. I even remember once while away at a weekend retreat in the mountains several of us cornering a youth leader because we were concerned about the 'know-beyond-a-shadow-of-a-doubt' part of the Prayer... we were afraid that it hadn't stuck from the night before. It wasn't until later in life that I began to actually read and meditate on Jesus' words to see that there is so much more going on here. Again thank you for sharing this essay with us!

Thanks a lot for the article and especially the biblical examples. I feel like this is an important topic to think about for my spiritual growth.
Thinking about this topic definitely reveals some bigger truths about the church and perhaps why some people aren't exactly pleased with it; especially if they grew up in it. I mean, do we want to live our life knowing we are 'saved' or knowing and following Jesus. I guess Jesus never did say it was going to be easy.

That's why I'm so excited that I can point back to specific time and place in my history where God came to me and saved me -- my baptism!!!

As I struggle with the new life he gave to me (being sinful yet saved at the same time), I can always rely on his promise that because of what He did, I will always be his child!

You mean the incantation might not have resulted in adequate fire insurance???!!!

You mean that camp counselors and itinerate pastors can lay off the emotional manipulation before the alter call and the requisite "sinner's prayer"????

Great article... I completely agree... and I think you have a much more gracious attitude about it than I.

-vern-

Absolutely brilliant.

This was an absolutely wonderful article. Very straight-forward. Thank you for writing this article.

Jesus taught no big secret nor did he perform any rituals in which to be forgiven. Jesus taught: �God is Love.� �Love IS Givingness�, �Love IS Forgivingness�. The Law that Jesus taught was the law of cause and effect which automatically compels humankind to reap as they sow, both in deed as well thought.

Realization that every mistake you�ve made will not be held against you for Eternity. Jesus proclaimed that �the kingdom is at hand.� Jesus did not tell the thief on the cross: �You miserable sinner you must suffer for Eternity.� Jesus replied: �To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.� To the laborer who came at the eleventh hour he did not say: �You wretch and fruitless man, how can you expect to enter the vineyard so late an hour? The Master replied: �Behold, the fields are ripe unto harvest � thrust in your sickle. The vineyard yields fruit � pluck the grapes. The wine of life waits, the chalice of love overflows � drink.� And not to the apologetic did he say: �Sorry, but your sins are insusceptible of reform!� But with love he used these words: �You are forgiven.�

The day we cease to sow fault in others and self, we reap truth. The day we stop sowing hatred, anger, and guilt, we reap love. When we stop un-forgiveness, we are thus pardoned. When we cease sowing distress, we reap faith.

It is a known fact that thoughts are often repeated in ones mind automatically and unconsciously becoming apart of ones mind, sub-consciously. We become paralyzed with fear, unhappiness, poverty and sickness which is actually only a thought made manifest though your �free will� the thought process unconstructively. St. Paul tells us to report on �whatsoever things are lovely and of good virtue� think on these things.�

Wishing you heaven in your heart... starlight in your soul... and miracles in your life!!

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and love..." (1 Timothy 1:7)
[ I would wish to add that there is no evil in on this planet ;) only the lack God, i.e. LOVE. Hate will convert to LOVE when the vibration of LOVE is in [its] presence. ]