Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Vusik
“Finally you venture an "O Lord Jesus," but only with your lips. Smiles and encouragement come from the whole group. They like what you're doing. "That didn't hurt so much," you muse. You vocalize it softly, "O Lord Jesus."
I think that this hit the nail on the head. Forget about Jesus, or understanding what he has done on the cross. Just convert people to the “local church”, that’s what it all about.
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Those hearing the gospel must make their own voluntary choice of free will. Perhaps this is why Billy Graham's more anonymous "altar calls" were more effective. Being singled out in an LC meeting creates enormous pressure within just to comply,
with or without genuine faith, resulting in man-pleasing performances, rather than salvation's spiritual birth.
My former in-law was one such story. He later told his wife that he never believed or repented, rather merely succumbed to pressure, repeating the words to everyone's delight. But this was not a new experience in the LC, as I'm sure many Christians in other churches have faced this same quandary. Everyone needs to hear the Gospel, but the hearers must believe on their own.
This is why Apostle Paul said "
believe in your heart and confess with your mouth." Words alone mean nothing without faith. "
Calling on the Lord" is just that. Calling. On. The. Lord. It is not merely repeating words, or shouting words, even good spiritual words from the Bible. If one's heart is not turned in faith and repentance towards the Lord, seeking Him, then all is vain,
even sinful, since "
thou shall not take the Lord's name in vain."