Ray Comfort’s Perspective on Sinners’ Prayers

Ray Comfort, an evangelist and founder of Living Waters, recently expressed his views on the nature of prayers made by sinners. In an interview with CBN News, he told host Billy Hallowell that he doesn’t take credit for the salvation of others through his evangelistic efforts. Comfort emphasized that he believes all salvation ultimately belongs to God.

“I can’t save anyone,” he stated. “It’s God who saves. What I do is plant seeds. Others water, but God causes the increase. So salvation belongs to the Lord, and I’ve understood this for many years.”

Co-founding the Master’s Path with actor Kirk Cameron in 2002, Comfort also mentioned that he finds the concept of sinners’ prayers to be “unbiblical.” He pointed out that such prayers do not appear explicitly in the Bible.

“Nathan did not say to David, ‘Repeat this prayer after me,'” he noted. “No, he leaves it to David’s belief, reaches out to the Lord with a heartfelt plea for mercy.”

Comfort used an analogy related to a husband apologizing to his wife after infidelity, illustrating his point. “I don’t need to knock before coming in to apologize. What’s more crucial is genuine remorse,” he said, suggesting that it’s vital for someone to express true feelings rather than mechanically reciting a prayer.

Instead of endorsing sinners’ prayers, he engages with individuals who are “ready to repent,” asking them if they genuinely regret their sins. If they respond positively, he feels confident that “God will open their hearts,” leading them to understand the significance of the cross and ultimately be reborn.

At 75 years old, Comfort hails from New Zealand but has been residing in California since 1989. He frequently visits local colleges to share his message and travels to Huntington Beach on Saturdays. Recently, he released a book titled “50 Years of Outdoor Sermons: Everything I Learned,” aiming to empower others through his experiences in evangelism.

“I want to pass the baton to the next generation and say, ‘I can do this,'” he remarked. “The key is to follow the Great Commission and preach the gospel to all living creatures.”