False conversions from Sinner's Prayers. The sinner's prayer was invented just a little over a hundred years ago and was never used by anyone in the Bible. Why didn't Jesus just lead the rich young ruler in a simple “sinner's prayer” and then tell him he had eternal life? Why didn't Jesus just tell the man to ask Jesus into his heart? Why did Jesus say that it was so hard for a rich man to be saved if all he had to do was pray the “sinner's prayer”? That is what the vast majority of today's ministers would have told the rich young man had to do, to just pray the “sinner's prayer,” and then they would tell him he was saved. Especially since the man obviously was a “good” moral person and he was also wealthy. He would have been welcomed into virtually any church in America today, and then shortly be given a position of leadership or teaching. He would have also been given special treatment because of his financial status. Churches and pastors love to get members who are well off financially. They are much more able to support the pastor's programs and his salary than poor people are. They are often referred to as “big tithers.” And then when the rich church member dies, he would get “preached right into heaven” and the pastor would speak about how great a man he was and how generously he gave to the “work of God.” This scenario has been repeated millions of times all over America during the last hundred years since the “sinner's prayer” was invented. In fact, the “sinner's prayer” has become the most common method used to determine if someone was ever “saved.” The “sinner's prayer” has become the standard of measure rather than repentance and a changed life that bears fruit. www.christianmyths.org