dont leave here today

I give an "invitation" at the close of every service. The lost are invited to come forward not to be "led in the sinners prayer," but to be shown from the Bible how to be saved. Merely quoting the sinners prayer will not save anyone.

Christians are also invited to come forward to get things right between themselves and the Lord. I will be quick to say that 'yes,' a lost person can be saved right there in the pew without stepping out, and a Christian can get right with God where they are standing.

There is something significant about stepping out and coming to an old fashioned altar and doing business with God. I have found it to be true that if a person is unwilling to step out, their committment will not last near as long.

Jesus Himself invites all to "come unto Me." We symbolically lay overselves on the altar (Rom. 12:1) and leave it there.

My opinion is this type of invitation is neither improper or harmful. If the preaching of God's Word doesn't call for some sort of decision, all that has been accomplished is entertainment.

 

AMEN:! Pastor Bob 63; makes me want to go up
front to the alter right now! .....bill

 

Praise God for you, Pastor Bob! I can see you have a true pastor's heart! That's what our pastor does. Too many churches are busy preaching a social gospel, rather than seeking to bring the lost to Jesus Christ! An invitation is NEVER a waste of time. May the Lord continue to bless your ministry as you serve Him.

 

I agree with Pastor Bob. Keep doing the Lord's work!!

May God BLess You and Your Family

 

Sounds great to me Pastor Bob

 

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. KJV
Me thinks that often, too much is placed on "confess with thy mouth" and too little on "believe with thy heart". I have witnessed many so called conversions where the alter call was made the end all and not as the first payment on a lifelong note. What should be accomplished at the alter is not so much a decision as a commitment.

 

The practice itself is unscriptural in the sense that you will not find any altar calls in the Bible. As a matter of fact, Charles Finney was the first one to use an altar type call back in 1830. Before that they were unheard of.

Is the practice harmful or helpful. That depends on how, why, who and for what purpose the altar call is practiced. It can be either.

It isn't like saying baptism is necessary for salvation unless the person giving the call actually says that you must be saved at an altar call in order to be saved. (At least in my opinion.)

I will say this, I know many people who have walked the isle and it hasn't changed thier life a bit. I think sometimes too much pressure is put upon people to come forward and make decisions. Too much pressure from the man rather then the Spirit can lead to fleshly decisions rather than spiritual ones. When a pastor says things like "We are not leaving here today until the Spirit of God is done moving" It makes me wonder who gave them the power to tell the Spirit of God he must complete his work of conviction in the short time period after his sermon. We plant the seed, others water, but it is God who gives the increase. Sometimes we need to realize that.

Now, even though it may not sound like it, I have no problem with altar calls that are done correctly. Sometimes people need some guidance or direction in making that decision. Having a time when they know they can ask for that help is a good thing. My pastor also stays up front after the service and altar call for anyone else that might want to talk in a more private fashion. I think that is an excellent idea.

Anyway, those are my thoughts.

~Lorelei

[ November 28, 2002, 09:16 AM: Message edited by: Lorelei ]

 

2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.)

[ November 29, 2002, 12:17 AM: Message edited by: preacher ]

 

Could you tell me where the concept of the "invitation" came from?

~Lorelei

 

I AGREE WITH PASTOR BOB!

 

So during an "invitation" people are just presented the gospel and not offered a chance to come forward for any public decision?

Trying to get the definition straight. I looked at both the "invitation" and "altar call" as the same thing, just different titles. I am trying to see what divides the two.

All the churches I have been to actually call it an invitation and most of them don't have the sensationalism that was referred to and none of them were Calvinistic in doctrine.

~Lorelei