Church invitation

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Bro Blue

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Do any of you guys think that invitations are a bit over done? Do you think that preachers usually use that time to drum up a little emotion? I've heard a bunch of times, ' teaching is for knowledge, but preaching is for decisions'. So usually that means that at least two times a week you need to make a decision. Usually at the altar. I've listened to a lot of preaching, and usually when the voice drops low and an illustration starts it's almost time for ' Just as I am'. I've heard stories from the past about how saints used to come to the altar weeping and really getting a hold of God, but seems to be becoming a religious ritual or because of being guilt tripped into it. What say you?
 
I think it is way overdone.  In the years I experienced it, it was emotional manipulation.
 
And also, what do you think the pastor should do after concluding his sermon?
 
Hmm, I don't really know. The times I've been invited to church, it was just an ordinary visit, a chance to check out another church and meet some people, hear a new preacher, with none of the drama the OP talks about. But maybe life is different in IFB circles.

Once I was invited to an IFB church, and though they were very polite, it was obvious they didn't particularly approve of me. Maybe it was my biker leathers? I was dressed like Joan Jett in the opening of this video. Also, I'm an ethnic mix that's hard to pin down just exactly what I am, having ancestors from four different continents, and that gives the sock sorters a hard time.

Joan Jett - I Hate Myself For Loving You [ Original HQ ]

I didn't especially approve of them either. They looked like I'd stepped through a time warp into the '50's, like onto the set of Father Knows Best. I kept expecting to start seeing everything in black and white. Their hymns were lame and boring. The preaching was legalistic junk, the kind Paul condemned in Galatians. But though we were clearly mismatched, I do give them props for being nice to me. I thanked the pastor for inviting me, but I never went back.
 
Izdaari said:
Hmm, I don't really know. The times I've been invited to church, it was just an ordinary visit, a chance to check out another church and meet some people, hear a new preacher, with none of the drama the OP talks about. But maybe life is different in IFB circles.

Once I was invited to an IFB church, and though they were very polite, it was obvious they didn't particularly approve of me. Maybe it was my biker leathers? I was dressed like Joan Jett in the opening of this video. Also, I'm an ethnic mix that's hard to pin down just exactly what I am, having ancestors from four different continents, and that gives the sock sorters a hard time.

Joan Jett - I Hate Myself For Loving You [ Original HQ ]

I didn't especially approve of them either. They looked like I'd stepped through a time warp into the '50's, like onto the set of Father Knows Best. Their hymns were lame and boring. The preaching was legalistic junk. But though we were clearly mismatched, I do give them props for being nice to me. I thanked the pastor for inviting me, but I never went back.
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He doesn't mean inviting somebody to church.

He means telling people to come down the aisle at the end of the sermon.  Most ifb churches do it at almost every service.
 
Bro Blue said:
And also, what do you think the pastor should do after concluding his sermon?
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I think he should tell the people during the sermon how to respond. And I think that how he ends the sermon depends. Maybe give a blessing? Maybe sing an appropriate song. We sing a song at the end of most services. When our one pastor speaks he just prays, then tells everyone that he and the other pastors will be a the front if anyone needs prayer and he dismisses us.  There is almost always a line of people who want someone to pray for them. 
 
Definitely.

I especially hate the "everyone close your eyes, nobody looking around." If someone is coming for salvation, it really throws me that the tone is that it is done in secret so they won't be embarrassed.

Then they stand up and announce them anyhow. LOL

I don't get it. Shouldn't we all be clapping and shouting and rejoicing when someone takes that step?

Even if they're going up there to confess something and straighten out their lives, shouldn't we be rejoicing that they are doing so and offering support, not holding out the music until they're done and can slink back to their seats and hope nobody notices? Seems opposite of what scripture says. Plus, how do we know to help them out if we're not supposed to know they have a problem bad enough that they need to go to the "church" for help. And aren't we ALL the church, not just the counselors standing up front?

Yep, all too emotional and not a feeling of reality or joy. Let it be done with joy, in the light, and while emotions are just fine, it all just seems rather silly at times to see it played out the way it is and so many times, the person just goes gung-ho for a short time, gets disillusioned, and is worse off than before they walked that aisle because they responded to the emotions and not the message.
 
Seems to me like if there was going to be any convicting going on, it would be going on during the preaching. And if you are truly convicted about something you won't need an invitation...you will be hunting someone up.
 
Bro Blue said:
Seems to me like if there was going to be any convicting going on, it would be going on during the preaching. And if you are truly convicted about something you won't need an invitation...you will be hunting someone up.
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That would be my thought, yeah.

The whole big deal altar call thing seems like a quaint custom to me.
 
I would like to hear from any pastors on the forum if at all possible about this subject.
 
Not a pastor but have stood through the way over done alter beg a thons to get bodies down the isle to report it out to the SOL.

I have also been in services when the preaching was about done, people came down the isles to settle things with God without the preacher begging or singing even started. Theses are few and far between anymore.

Recently in a church where a good report was given about Gods hand in the healing of a newborn. You could tell much prayer had gone out on this matter from the amens and glories heard all around. The song leader got up and started a congregational song as part of the normal service. It wasn't long before the alter was full of people giving prayerful praise to God. You don't forget these experiences.
 
I think an invitation is just that it is an invitation to do whatever the Holy Spirit has placed on your heart.  It is a time for folks to pray.  It is a time for folks to get help.  It is a time for folks to make a decision.  It is a time for folks to confess.  It is a time for folks to praise.  It is a time for folks to worship.

All of these can be done where folks are sitting or standing.  It could also be done up front if they prefer to come forward.

I don't believe folks should to talked into making a decision.  I don't believe folks should be shamed into making a decision.  I don't think folks should be manipulated (emotionally) into making a decision.

 
Gina B said:
Definitely.

I especially hate the "everyone close your eyes, nobody looking around." If someone is coming for salvation, it really throws me that the tone is that it is done in secret so they won't be embarrassed.

Then they stand up and announce them anyhow. LOL

I don't get it. Shouldn't we all be clapping and shouting and rejoicing when someone takes that step?

Even if they're going up there to confess something and straighten out their lives, shouldn't we be rejoicing that they are doing so and offering support, not holding out the music until they're done and can slink back to their seats and hope nobody notices? Seems opposite of what scripture says. Plus, how do we know to help them out if we're not supposed to know they have a problem bad enough that they need to go to the "church" for help. And aren't we ALL the church, not just the counselors standing up front?

Yep, all too emotional and not a feeling of reality or joy. Let it be done with joy, in the light, and while emotions are just fine, it all just seems rather silly at times to see it played out the way it is and so many times, the person just goes gung-ho for a short time, gets disillusioned, and is worse off than before they walked that aisle because they responded to the emotions and not the message.
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Well said!!
 
The invition should be an opportunity for people to respond to what the Holy Spirit has said to them...in a place where someone can help them with their decision. Manipulation is never an invitation.
 
Bro Blue said:
Do any of you guys think that invitations are a bit over done? Do you think that preachers usually use that time to drum up a little emotion? I've heard a bunch of times, ' teaching is for knowledge, but preaching is for decisions'. So usually that means that at least two times a week you need to make a decision. Usually at the altar. I've listened to a lot of preaching, and usually when the voice drops low and an illustration starts it's almost time for ' Just as I am'. I've heard stories from the past about how saints used to come to the altar weeping and really getting a hold of God, but seems to be becoming a religious ritual or because of being guilt tripped into it. What say you?
Click to expand...

I have really wondered about this also the last couple of years. A time where people can come and pray or make public some decision is fine but in our church there is a LOT of pressure to 'use' the altar. In fact there is so much that at the end of every sermon when they start the invitation song, I watch as people automatically get up and go down to the altar, do their prayer, and after a couple more stanza's the pastor will stop to preach a little more and most of the people will rise on cue and go back to their seats. For many it is almost like  a regular part of the service. In fact, I think a dog could bark for 5 minutes, the pastor could give an invitation, and people will come to the altar. Afterwards they will give accounts of how the altars are filled with people making decisions.

Now there is nothing wrong with this practice that I can see but people making decisions is way over the top. Most do it every service. One time the pastor was talking about his plans and visions for the church and then said, "All of you who are behind your pastor now is the time to come up here to the altar and show your support." Now I absolutely REFUSE to do that Jim Jones type of thing. There were only about 4 people in each pew who were left but I refuse to be a part of that heavy handedness in church. There were some visitors sitting near us and I could tell that they were extremely uncomfortable.
 
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