Author	: Bill Kochman
Publish	: Feb. 14, 2026
Update	: Feb. 14, 2026
Parts	: 04

Synopsis:



Continuing our discussion from part three, there is a huge issue which is directly related to the criticism which has been launched against Salvation prayers which really irks me. In fact, every time I see it online, it is coming from an individual who is strongly opposed to Salvation prayers. What am I referring to? It is the bogus argument -- a very fictitious straw man argument really -- which claims that people who say a Salvation prayer have the attitude that once they have said such a prayer, they can live as they please, do as they want, and continue to sin away, without facing any kind of consequences due to their rebellion.

My dear friends, as I have stated several times now in this series, I have believed in the Lord since I was a young boy, and I've strived to serve our King faithfully for more than five decades now. Speaking from my own personal experiences, I have never once met a single Bible-believing Christian who believes as the Salvation prayer detractors claim. That is why I have framed it as a straw man argument. I am convinced that said argument is something which they themselves have invented for the sole purpose of trying to justify their own position.

As I point out in a number of BBB articles, if there is one thing I know, and which the Scriptures make absolutely clear, it is that if any true, Bible-believing Christian steps out of line in a serious way, God will most certainly deal with him about it. The Lord simply will not allow the situation to slide for very long. Following are some of my favorite Bible verses concerning the subject of divine chastisement:

"My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth."


"Open rebuke is better than secret love."


"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons . . . Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed."


So then, returning to the issue of using straw man arguments, this seems to be a very common online practice in our modern day, and I assume it occurs offline as well. Detractors of a particular issue will accuse the supporters of the issue of either saying a certain thing, or believing a certain thing, or doing a certain thing, or having a particular attitude regarding a certain thing. Yet in reality, absolutely not a word of their accusation is even true. But you see, friends, it does not really matter to them. They know that what they are saying is not even true, but if they can convince you it is true anyway, then they have accomplished their goal. Why so? Because they can then attack whatever it is that they have invented, in order to defeat it, and thus supposedly validate their own position.

Salvation prayers are NOT the only issue where I see this happening. I have seen other online instances where other issues and beliefs which are related to our Christian faith are likewise attacked using the very same strategy. So that being the case, I urge all of my Christian brethren to be very careful. Watch out for these grievous, ravening wolves in sheep's clothing who employ this method to try to attack your beliefs and tear you down. Ask God for His wisdom and spiritual discernment, avoid the reprobates and contentious brethren, and don't allow yourself to unwisely become their next meal. Be smart and avoid time-wasting, futile doctrinal debates.

But concerning those self-righteous Christians who outright dismiss and harshly condemn Salvation prayers, personally, I am convinced that they are doing a lot of damage to the Body of Christ. While they may not realize it, through their stiff condemnation, I believe that they are causing certain weaker brethren to not only become discouraged, but their mean words may even be causing some brethren to actually doubt their own Salvation. Imagine that you are a relatively young Christian who has only recently come to know the Lord. Some Christian brother or sister led you in just such a Salvation prayer, and you are now not only convinced that you are truly saved, but you are now faithfully reading the Bible, and you have begun fellowshipping with a close-knit group of like-minded Christians.

However, one day while you are surfing one of your favorite social networks, you happen to come across some very vicious posts which scream at you that your prayer was totally said in vain, and that you are not truly saved as you had thought. My friends, now imagine what a terrible shock that could be to such a young Christian. Whereas before they had been so positive and full of faith, suddenly, they find themselves questioning and doubting everything they have done since the day that they said their Salvation prayer and accepted the Lord. Such is the devastating effect that those critics may have on certain weak-minded Christians.

Furthermore, the harm and the damage may not even end there. By strongly condemning such sincere prayers of faith -- as I have seen some of those online detractors do -- they may even push and convince weaker Christians to lean more towards what amounts to a works-based religion, instead of relying solely on a faith-based religion. Whereas before they believed that they were saved by their faith in Jesus Christ, now they are being told that they have to do this, that or the other in order to secure their Salvation, and to also hold on to it for dear life. My friends, I hope that you can see that this is a very serious matter.

So as I mentioned in part one of this series, those of you who are guilty of doing this really need to pray about the harm you are doing to your brethren. You really need to back off, and STOP condemning those of us who at some particular point in our lives prayed a Salvation prayer as our way of accepting Jesus in our lives. If any Christian should fall back from their faith due to your harsh, condemnatory words, I am sure that God will hold you personally accountable for it. Why do I say this? Well, because it is what Jesus also said as well in the Gospels. He clearly warned about placing a stumbling block or impediment before weaker brethren so that they fall away from their faith. Now if you doubt that this is so, then please take note of the following Bible verse and for your own sake, wake up:

"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."


In the previous verse, the word "offend" is derived from the Koine Greek word "skandalizo". It is in fact from this word that we derive our English words "scandal" and "scandalize". While this Greek word is translated as "offend" in the New Testament, Thayer's Greek English Lexicon actually defines "skandalizo" as "putting a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall". Thus, in the previous verse, Jesus is actually warning those people who, by whatever means, lead His lambs away from the truth of the Scriptures and faith in Christ. As you can see, this lexicon definition is substantially different from the more modern meaning of the word "offend" with which most people are now familiar.

Furthermore, the act of someone tripping or falling away from the truth is also directly related to what the Apostle Paul wrote regarding the tragic conditions which would exist prior to Jesus Christ's return to the Earth. Please note what Paul wrote in the following verse which is found in Paul's second Epistle to the brethren at Thessalonica in Macedonia:

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"


In the previous verse, the words "falling away" are derived from the Koine Greek word "apostasia". Thayer's Greek English Lexicon defines this word as "a falling away, defection or apostasy". In our modern day, there are quite a few reasons regarding why so many Christians are now falling away -- or stumbling -- from the true faith and doctrines of the Bible. However, this topic is amply discussed in other articles, so I will not dwell upon it here. Returning to the earlier verse that is found in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus then continued to warn against those people who would offend His little ones by saying the following:

"Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!"


Thus again we can see that these "offences" -- or stumbling blocks, from "skandalon" -- are the lies, deceptions and false doctrines which are causing so many people to be led astray from their faith in the saving grace of God through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. In my view, condemning Christians who came to Christ by way of a Salvation prayer is one such serious stumbling block. So again, anyone who is guilty of doing it had better watch out! You really need to stop your foolishness right now! Mind your own business, and let other Christians live their faith as they feel so led by the Lord and His holy Word.

With these thoughts, I will bring this article to a close. It is my hope that you've found it informative and enlightening, and I pray that it has been a blessing in your life as well. If you have an account with Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or with any other social network, I would really appreciate if you'd take the time to click or tap on the corresponding link that is found on this page. Thanks so much, and may God bless you abundantly!

For additional information and further study, you may want to refer to the list of reading resources below which were either mentioned in this article, or which contain topics which are related to this article. All of these articles are likewise located on the Bill's Bible Basics web server. To read these articles, simply click or tap on any link you see below.

A Treasure in Earthen Vessels: God's Promise of the Spirit

Age of Accountability and Parental and Divine Discipline

AI, Deepfakes and Humanoid Robots

All Are Given a Chance, But

Are You Saved and Sealed and Healed and Filled?

Backsliding, Divine Chastisement and the Divine Agreement

Beware of the Pauline Extremists!

Facebook False Prophets and Misguided Teachers

Fifty Days Which Changed the World

Free From the Fear of Death: Law and Works vs Grace

God's Man Against the Majority

Holy Ghost: The Spirit of Jesus Christ?

Is the Message of Salvation Meant for All Men?

Message to the World

Not Everyone is a Child of God

OSAS: Are We Once Saved, Always Saved?

Please Stop Misinterpreting the Scriptures

Salvation is Free Through Jesus Christ

Sex, A Bowl of Soup and the Nature of Angels

Should Christians Engage in Doctrinal Debates?

The Marriage of the Lamb

This Little Light, Glory of the Lord and Our Bright Future

To Believe in Jesus Is Also to Accept Jesus

To Pray or Not to Pray? That is the Question

Understanding the Bible in Context

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Please avail yourself of other areas of the Bill's Bible Basics website. There are many treasures for you to discover.