Plan of salvation?

[MyFaithIsInHIM]

I visited a non-denominational church yesterday, is it typical of non-denominational churches not to at some point in the service give the plan of salvation, to let those who are there that may not know Christ how to know him and encourage it? Most of yesterday I was trying to figure out what did not seem right about the service and that was it....and there were many people there, about 15 or so who had never attended that church before, they had us all raise our hands...were they just assuming we all knew the Lord since we were sitting in church?

[Zecryphon]

I visited a non-denominational church yesterday, is it typical of non-denominational churches not to at some point in the service give the plan of salvation, to let those who are there that may not know Christ how to know him and encourage it? Most of yesterday I was trying to figure out what did not seem right about the service and that was it....and there were many people there, about 15 or so who had never attended that church before, they had us all raise our hands...were they just assuming we all knew the Lord since we were sitting in church?
"I visited a non-denominational church yesterday, is it typical of non-denominational churches not to at some point in the service give the plan of salvation, to let those who are there that may not know Christ how to know him and encourage it?"

Non-denom churches are as varied as the people who attend them. There is no set rule of protocol. Some may offer the plan of salvation at some point and others may not. This is what those communication or new visitor cards are designed to do as well, but almost no one takes the time to fill those out anymore. So it's just easier and quicker to do it this way. Just what is this presented plan of salvation you're talking about? How have you heard it presented elsewhere?

"Most of yesterday I was trying to figure out what did not seem right about the service and that was it....and there were many people there, about 15 or so who had never attended that church before, they had us all raise our hands...were they just assuming we all knew the Lord since we were sitting in church?"

If they had you raise your hands as a first time visitor I could see why you'd think they would then offer this "plan of salvation" presentation. Here's what they're really doing. They're seeing if their marketing of the church is paying off in new and more visitors. More people means more money, more money means bigger budget, bigger budget means bigger campus, bigger campus means success and purpose. You were sitting in a church that cares more about money than about God as evidenced by their own actions. Avoid this church in the future.

[MyFaithIsInHIM]

By plan of salvation...maybe wrong term, I was meaning talking about accepting Christ, repenting from sin, asking God for forgiveness, and so on...a message about how to come to Christ, letting those know who are sitting there that they too can have a relationship with the Lord, that they can choose to come forward at that moment and give their lives to God and/or if they would like they can speak to a Pastor or someone once the service is over.

[Zecryphon]

By plan of salvation...maybe wrong term, I was meaning talking about accepting Christ, repenting from sin, asking God for forgiveness, and so on...a message about how to come to Christ, letting those know who are sitting there that they too can have a relationship with the Lord, that they can choose to come forward at that moment and give their lives to God and/or if they would like they can speak to a Pastor or someone once the service is over.
"By plan of salvation...maybe wrong term, I was meaning talking about accepting Christ, repenting from sin,"

Stop right there. What you're talking about here is something you will not hear preached in a lot of non-denom churches, especially the seeker-friendly ones. No one today tells people that they are sinners and need to repent of their sins by calling on the name of Jesus Christ to be saved. There may be some non-denoms that do, but for the most part, it's all about how good you are and what God can do for you today.

"asking God for forgiveness, and so on...a message about how to come to Christ, letting those know who are sitting there that they too can have a relationship with the Lord,"

Okay, but in order to do that they would have to explain why people need a relationship with Jesus Christ in the first place and that involves talking about sin. Look at the big churches on tv, they're not preaching a message of sin and repentance and grace through faith. They preach a self-centered message that tickles the itching ears. If you wanna empty a church in about 5 minutes, start talking about sin and how everyone in that church is a sinner in need of salvation. People will leave in droves. That's why a lot of churches avoid this topic altogether. It's just not good for business. It's a case of avoiding the negative and focusing on the positive. But the positive is robbed of it's meaning if people don't understand the negative situation they have placed themselves in.

"that they can choose to come forward at that moment and give their lives to God and/or if they would like they can speak to a Pastor or someone once the service is over."

An altar call then. I personally don't like altar calls mainly for the reason that you're asking a person to make a decision with eternal ramifications and consequences based upon maybe a 5 minute presentation of the gospel that may or may not have included the law and how they have broken it. Altar calls usually follow emotionally charged personal testimonies, designed to bring forth people to the altar to give their lives to Christ as you've said. But the message that precedes this call is usually so bad, that the people who answer altar calls have gone back to their sinful lives in a matter of months. It's a case where the church is usually looking for decisions rather than disciples. The job of a pastor or an evangelist should be to teach God's word effectively and plant a seed. Let the Holy Spirit water that seed and bring forth fruit, in this case a new, soundly-saved convert.

[MyFaithIsInHIM]

Stop right there. What you're talking about here is something you will not hear preached in a lot of non-denom churches, especially the seeker-friendly ones. No one today tells people that they are sinners and need to repent of their sins by calling on the name of Jesus Christ to be saved. There may be some non-denoms that do, but for the most part, it's all about how good you are and what God can do for you today.

I do pray that when I visited a different non-denominational church this up coming Sunday that it is a bit different. No, I don't want to go to a church that week after week after week is nothing but making those attending feel down about life and themselves, but I don't want to be in a church that only preaches on the good things...we are all sinners and that is something very important for everyone to realize that b/c without that realization many will not come to Christ.



Okay, but in order to do that they would have to explain why people need a relationship with Jesus Christ in the first place and that involves talking about sin. Look at the big churches on tv, they're not preaching a message of sin and repentance and grace through faith. They preach a self-centered message that tickles the itching ears. If you wanna empty a church in about 5 minutes, start talking about sin and how everyone in that church is a sinner in need of salvation. People will leave in droves. That's why a lot of churches avoid this topic altogether. It's just not good for business. It's a case of avoiding the negative and focusing on the positive. But the positive is robbed of it's meaning if people don't understand the negative situation they have placed themselves in.

I do not watch preachers on tv. So I really can not give my views on that. I guess I am naive in the fact that I would think that Pastors and those members of a church would want to help as many as they can to know God, to grow a relationship with him.



An altar call then. I personally don't like altar calls mainly for the reason that you're asking a person to make a decision with eternal ramifications and consequences based upon maybe a 5 minute presentation of the gospel that may or may not have included the law and how they have broken it. Altar calls usually follow emotionally charged personal testimonies, designed to bring forth people to the altar to give their lives to Christ as you've said. But the message that precedes this call is usually so bad, that the people who answer altar calls have gone back to their sinful lives in a matter of months. It's a case where the church is usually looking for decisions rather than disciples. The job of a pastor or an evangelist should be to teach God's word effectively and plant a seed. Let the Holy Spirit water that seed and bring forth fruit, in this case a new, soundly-saved convert.

I have mixed feelings about altar calls(and thank you for the term). I think if someone does something on pure emotion, on being caught up is what is going on around them, then yes, they may fall. I think if someone during an altar call or right after service goes to the Pastor, then the Pastor or someone in the church, should council that person, answer questions, help them in bible study, prayer ect...

Maybe I am expecting too much. I don't know. Maybe non-denominational is not the way to go....I don't know yet. Trying to get myself out of the denomination I was in, and stepping into another is honestly terrifying.

[AllTalkNoAction]

. . . to let those who are there that may not know Christ how to know him and encourage it? . . .
Sounds a bit sad, it wouldn't have happened if people were sticking to God's nominated way instead of de-nominating (breaking it up).

Starting at Acts 2, God's anointed preachers explained why Jesus died and that people now need to repent, be baptised unto his death and receive his Life by receiving the Holy Spirit.

So simple!
Why get it wrong ?
it's "blind leaders of the blind".
Best thing to do is make sure you are getting it right, then tell them.
(breaking it up).

[Zecryphon]

Stop right there. What you're talking about here is something you will not hear preached in a lot of non-denom churches, especially the seeker-friendly ones. No one today tells people that they are sinners and need to repent of their sins by calling on the name of Jesus Christ to be saved. There may be some non-denoms that do, but for the most part, it's all about how good you are and what God can do for you today.

I do pray that when I visited a different non-denominational church this up coming Sunday that it is a bit different. No, I don't want to go to a church that week after week after week is nothing but making those attending feel down about life and themselves, but I don't want to be in a church that only preaches on the good things...we are all sinners and that is something very important for everyone to realize that b/c without that realization many will not come to Christ.



Okay, but in order to do that they would have to explain why people need a relationship with Jesus Christ in the first place and that involves talking about sin. Look at the big churches on tv, they're not preaching a message of sin and repentance and grace through faith. They preach a self-centered message that tickles the itching ears. If you wanna empty a church in about 5 minutes, start talking about sin and how everyone in that church is a sinner in need of salvation. People will leave in droves. That's why a lot of churches avoid this topic altogether. It's just not good for business. It's a case of avoiding the negative and focusing on the positive. But the positive is robbed of it's meaning if people don't understand the negative situation they have placed themselves in.

I do not watch preachers on tv. So I really can not give my views on that. I guess I am naive in the fact that I would think that Pastors and those members of a church would want to help as many as they can to know God, to grow a relationship with him.



An altar call then. I personally don't like altar calls mainly for the reason that you're asking a person to make a decision with eternal ramifications and consequences based upon maybe a 5 minute presentation of the gospel that may or may not have included the law and how they have broken it. Altar calls usually follow emotionally charged personal testimonies, designed to bring forth people to the altar to give their lives to Christ as you've said. But the message that precedes this call is usually so bad, that the people who answer altar calls have gone back to their sinful lives in a matter of months. It's a case where the church is usually looking for decisions rather than disciples. The job of a pastor or an evangelist should be to teach God's word effectively and plant a seed. Let the Holy Spirit water that seed and bring forth fruit, in this case a new, soundly-saved convert.

I have mixed feelings about altar calls(and thank you for the term). I think if someone does something on pure emotion, on being caught up is what is going on around them, then yes, they may fall. I think if someone during an altar call or right after service goes to the Pastor, then the Pastor or someone in the church, should council that person, answer questions, help them in bible study, prayer ect...

Maybe I am expecting too much. I don't know. Maybe non-denominational is not the way to go....I don't know yet. Trying to get myself out of the denomination I was in, and stepping into another is honestly terrifying.

Here is a link to an article about how to choose a church:

http://zecryphon.blogspot.com/

[MyFaithIsInHIM]

Sounds a bit sad, it wouldn't have happened if people were sticking to God's nominated way instead of de-nominating (breaking it up).

Starting at Acts 2, God's anointed preachers explained why Jesus died and that people now need to repent, be baptised unto his death and receive his Life by receiving the Holy Spirit.

So simple!
Why get it wrong ?
it's "blind leaders of the blind".
Best thing to do is make sure you are getting it right, then tell them.
(breaking it up).

You are right, make sure I am getting it right :)

[MyFaithIsInHIM]

Here is a link to an article about how to choose a church:


Thank you, will go have a look :)