Comments on: on invitations

By: Dena

Dena — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 21:34:43 +0000

In reply to ox. Thank you so very much. dena

By: ox

ox — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 22:50:38 +0000

In reply to Dena.

Hi Dena

I am sorry to hear your story. That sounds like the kind of manipulation I am talking about, although there may be other problems in that church as well. Sometimes small churches can be very clannish, any outsiders that come in must overcome suspicion before they become truly “one” with the group. Of course, that attitude can keep churches like that small as well. (I don’t know if that is the case in the situation you describe, it is just one possibility.)

I would also disagree with a woman in leadership in a meeting like that, I hold to a strictly complementarian view of church leadership. That is, I believe that God designed men and women to fulfill specific roles in the home and in the church. When those roles are ignored, the Christians involved are disobeying the Scripture.

Last, from what you say, I suspect that my music philosophy would be far more conservative than your experience, so I would also see that as a problem in the church (though you may not).

I’ll pray for you today that the Lord will grant wisdom for you to make godly decisions about your church situation. By saying that, I am not trying to suggest any decision in particular, but if you continue to find the kind of pressure you describe here, you may need to seek the Lord about whether he would have you continue in that church. It’s not an easy decision and we are all prone to making mistakes, so we really need the Lord’s wisdom for it. As I said, then, I’ll join with you in prayer asking for wisdom about this situation.

Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3

By: Dena

Dena — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 21:56:47 +0000

I have a question and It has been bothering me all day. Last night I attended a Night of Worship at my church. It was wonderful music for two hours. I was on cloud nine. At one point, I felt so overwhelm with the love of the lord. I went to the front and lift my hands to the Lord with such Praise for him. I was loving him. After the music end. The Lead of the Praise and Worship Team. Ask, everyone to come up front and wanted to share what was on her heart. It was just a few of us left. So we went up. Then she was saying she felt the Lord was telling her that someone was struggling with addictions, hurt and Sin. No one was doing anything. So she push, and push the subject, on how you need to ask for forgiveness. While the whole time she was staring at me. The good out of it, is someone started crying, and we ended up praying for her. After we prayed for the young Lady. He husband started speaking about sin, and telling his story about how the Lord has helped him. Then he proceeds with, He feels the Lord is speaking to him about someone in the room needs to be prayed over to confess. As he is looking at my husband and I. We are new to the church, and the church is Very Small. I can’t help but feel they were pointing me out. I have been a Christian and born again for ten years. I am not perfect. However, my relationship with the Lord is amazing. And, yes, I confess when needed. I also know, when you confess, the past is the past. I just need help to understand, if I was being bullied, or was the Lord trying to speak to me through them. I went from feeling so good and feeling so blessed to be a part of an amazing time of Worship to feeling uncomfortable. dena

By: Pastor Tod Brainard

Pastor Tod Brainard — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 18:00:34 +0000

Excellent post! I think you give a balanced approach. Such manipulation of people by high-pressure evangelists and well meaning pastors has resulted in false professions and false hopes.

By: Kent Brandenburg

Kent Brandenburg — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 21:49:41 +0000

Good post, Don. I defended some kind of invitation as a circumstance of worship several years ago, here:

http://jackhammer.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/the-altar-call-james-121-and-the-circumstances-of-worship/

By: ox

ox — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 21:47:24 +0000

In reply to Tyler Robbins.

Nice. I like what Chafer says here also. More later

Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3

By: ox

ox — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 21:45:21 +0000

In reply to Mark Smith.

Hi Mark, thanks for the comment. I mention invitations for salvation briefly, but perhaps I can write a follow-up post that will be more specific.

Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3

By: Tyler Robbins

Tyler Robbins — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 19:25:12 +0000

More Chafer. This is what Chafer says about how to do an invitation; I remember reading these words and having them strike deep within my soul (no hyperbole!). This is surely how a proper invitation ought to be done, that avoids all temptation for manipulation:
——————–
“The real value of public methods will be secured and many evils avoided if, after explaining the way of life and during a season of silent prayer, the unsaved are simply asked to accept Christ by a conscious act of the will, directed in definite silent prayer to God. After such an appeal, an opportunity should be made for personal conversation with any who believe they have accepted Christ by faith, or any others who may have honest difficulties. In this conversation the individual’s exact understanding of the step can be ascertained and his faith strengthened. Such conversations can easily be secured in an after-meeting, or by offering some attractive literature suited to beginners in the Christian life. When it is clear that an intelligent decision has been made, confession of Christ, as a personal Saviour, should be urged along with the other duties and privileges of the new life,” (33).

By: Mark Smith

Mark Smith — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 19:04:18 +0000

Don, you seem to be mainly addressing invitations to Christians to get them to do something or modify behavior. Is that correct?

How do you handle invitations to salvation in a church service?

By: ox

ox — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 18:38:47 +0000

In reply to Jim Peet.

Thanks for the link.

Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3