Should we still be bolstering the power of "the prayer"?

We went with some friends to Bethlehem last night. Well, not *really* Bethlehem, but a church gymnasium that was converted into different locations in the Christmas story: Harod's castle, the temple, a marketplace, a hotel with a certain manger in the back, and a field with shepherds and angels. Other than the hour long wait to get in (they took people in by groups, and each group lasted about a half an hour...so we had about an hour wait for ours), it was very well done and for the children that went I'm suer it was a great experience (they even had some live animals too: sheep, llamas, goats, donkeys, a baby cow...).

At the end of the experience we had, as I expected, a gospel presentation...which I was fine with and, considering this was a church outreach based event, would have been surprised if they wouldn't have done. The last room we were in as part of our "tour" held one of the pastors, who presented the message of Christmas and Christianity, and as many of these type of alter-callish things go, there was the talk of "The Prayer": those magic words that once we speak give us a clear entry into Heaven and into the family of God.

I struggle with this prayer...well, not the prayer itself, but in how some churches and Christians use it as a target: "I need to get people to pray THIS PRAYER and they will be saved!" Well, that's not realistic though is it? Just saying a prayer doesn't make you a Christian...there's nothing inherently life-altering in just acknowledging those simple words. Wait...let me clarify...

There IS something life-altering in meeting Jesus, and discovering God, and starting down your spiritual journey, and yes acknowledging our sin and asking for its forgiveness is part of beginning that journey. But my fear is that there are Christians out there that think just saying a collection of words somehow equates to eternal salvation.

Fully understanding what it means to be a Christian (Jesus even warned that we must "count the cost") cannot be rationalized within a few mere moments, or a relationship be fully engaged with only a few words. This prayer that so many push on others needs to be recognized for what it is: an invitation to further discussion, further discovery, and further decision.

I guess my real issue I see with the "pray a prayer" approach is its focus to get as many into Heaven as possible while ignoring the importance of us building a relationship with God here on Earth. It's that which works out our faith, and ultimately God wants us to be in relation with him...not just a number to add to Heaven's population (that comes as a perk).

CC