Church Invitation (Full Version)

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praises1111 -> Church Invitation (9/30/2008 3:57:21 PM)

I'm a member of a large church and I'd like to pose a concern I have about how our pastor "opens the doors to the church" at the end of church service, and I wanted to get different perspectives on this before approaching him about it.

I’m concerned it’s confusing to our first-time visitors when our pastor asks the entire congregation to recite the prayer of salvation and then asks, and this is exactly how he states it, "For those of you who have said this prayer for the first time, I want you to come to the altar and shake my hand because we want to place some information in your hand about the decision that you have just made." What decision did they make? Without there being a preface, I don't think they realize what they are doing. I wonder if they think he's referring to them deciding to come shake his hand and get more information or if he's referring to them deciding to accept Christ?

With that being such a sacred moment in a person’s life. I wonder how many really know what they are doing or are they just following the pastor's request?

This seems a little forced and unnatural to me, and I believe when a person is compelled in their heart, they will come.




raivyne -> RE: Church Invitation (9/30/2008 4:14:18 PM)

Welcome to the boards!

I think you should definitely talk to your pastor about his views and reasoning for doing this. I can't really say I find objection with what you've said, though they seem a little out of the "norm"... we all have our own style. I will say sometimes people do need a little encouragement (like I said everyone is different), and/or perhaps explanation of things.



JimboFletch -> RE: Church Invitation (9/30/2008 4:47:16 PM)

There's a name for this well-meaning ritual: Cheap-Easy-Believism.

Churches are full of people that recited a mystical "sinner's prayer," walked down an aisle to shake a preacher's hand, got dunked in a baptismal pool, and added their names to the church roll but never repented of sin, been born again, or received the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit. They are as lost as the day before the little ritual, but now they have a false sense of security.



Qtman -> RE: Church Invitation (9/30/2008 4:49:13 PM)

What he^^^^^^^said. I have never been fond of having someone recite a pre-written prayer. I believe the prayer of repentance should come from the heart not some piece of paper. There are way to many people in churches today, professing to be Christians simply because they walked the aisle, shook hands with some preacher and got baptised. These are all good things to do but do not bring about salvation.



greatdivide46 -> RE: Church Invitation (9/30/2008 8:40:15 PM)

I can remember one time when I was coerced into saying the "sinner's prayer" not knowing what was coming afterward. I remember that I felt misled at the least and bamboozled at the most. It was not a saving experience for me, that's for sure!! Since then I have searched in vain for the Biblical basis of someone being saved by saying a prayer, walking down an aisle, or shaking the preacher's hand.



raivyne -> RE: Church Invitation (10/1/2008 12:29:51 PM)

I took the invitation to walk down the aisle and shake the preacher's hand to be so that he can minister to you about what the decision of accepting Christ is and what it fully involves... not so that he can say "congrats you've just received free salvation... go on about your business".

I guess evidence of this would appear in his sermons... does he only preach the things we sinners want to hear? what makes us feel better about our miserable lives?



Theo-Minor -> RE: Church Invitation (10/8/2008 4:00:07 PM)

I was "saved" via a "sinner's prayer." However, the pastor at the time had given plenty of information prior to the invitation. He told the congregation that Jesus died for our sins, rose on the third day, etc., and then invited those who wanted to accept the Lord to raise their hands and say a prayer with him. For me, under those circumstances, it was a life-changing experience.
If there had not been that preamble, I don't know that it would have been the same.

But then again, it was my time of visitation. God put it on my heart and laid the decision at my feet. I honestly believe that I would have been compelled to make the choice regardless. The Holy Spirit delivers the words if the pastor is listening, however inadequate they may seem to those who are already saved. Perhaps his method is precisely what it takes to reach the people who are being reached. Nathanael believed in Jesus because he said he saw him under the fig tree (John 1:45-50). Who are any of us to decide what's appropriate to say and what not? Paul says that one plants, one waters, but God gives the increase. Who are any of us to say that they aren't real Christians just because we don't agree with the manner in which they made the decision. We'll know the trees by their fruits. But none of us can say whether or not someone is being truly touched, poorly informed or otherwise.

These are my thoughts on the matter.



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