We’ve heard (and used) some phrases so much in our churches that we don’t stop to question anymore where they’ve come from. Take the ever-popular invitation for lost people to “pray to receive Christ”. We’ve heard it a lot. Sounds easy enough. Sounds spiritual. Must be right… Right?
The phrase “to receive” is used in John 1:12 in reference to Jesus, but it is not an encouragement to pray a prayer. Rather, those who are said to have “received Christ” are those who have “believed on His name”. So receiving is equated with believing, not with praying. It’s true that prayer can be an expression of belief, but it is not necessarily the case, and it is dangerous to equate the two.
Another Biblical use of language would be to speak of those who have “received Jesus” as those who have adopted, or fed, or clothed, or otherwise comforted children in the name of Jesus. Luke 9:48a “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.”
Let’s stop to think about what we’re saying. Does anyone who encourages someone to “pray to receive Christ” really intend for them to pray that God will bring children into their lives for them to love and care for?
Trying to think, and speak, Biblically,
nathan
Good challenge. Interesting thought.
Sounds like you’re seeking to be evermore “radically Biblical” :). Keep it up!
I don’t have a pithy word because my word is “Huh?” I don’t get the point you are trying to make. It couldn’t be because I lack intelligence. After all, you are intelligent and Grandmother always said intelligence comes from the mother’s side.
To clarify: I understand the point you are trying to make, but don’t understand how your example makes the point.
Obviously, I am the one lacking the intelligence if I wasn’t able to write in a way that someone as brilliant as yourself could understand!
My point was that we often speak of “receiving Christ” in a way that the Bible doesn’t, and that if we are going to use the words “receive Christ”, then we should use them in the way the Bible does.
The examples are provided to demonstrate how the Bible actually does use that phrase.
Nowhere in the Bible is anyone ever encouraged to “pray to receive Christ”.
This link is to an article that is basically addressing the same thing, but instead of the phrase “pray to receive Christ”, he’s addressing the phrase “pray to invite Jesus into your heart”.
http://ow.ly/16JYe
He goes to much greater lengths to make himself clear, and he’s more intelligent than I am, so you’ll probably understand what he’s saying.