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Invitation Rejector

Discussion in '2004 Archive' started by Gina B, Sep 13, 2004.

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  1. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    As former pastor in the SBC some of those folks expect that stuff from a pastor. It makes 'em feel good. They are able to shirk their responsibility and let the pastor do things they would never consider thinking that if the pastor can just get them poor folks to come forward they will be in heaven.

    When I have lived in areas where few people go to church and evangelism is tough the shamans don't go there. They can't shout stomp and spit and put on a charade.
     
    #21 gb93433, Sep 15, 2004
  2. AVL1984

    AVL1984 <img src=../ubb/avl1984.jpg>

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    Some of these invitations may as well be chants. I agree, Helen, I've seen the technique used by some of the more strange "religions" of the world. Lord help us if we fall prey to that kind of practice!

    AVL1984
     
    #22 AVL1984, Sep 16, 2004
  3. Hardsheller

    Hardsheller Active Member
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    [​IMG]
     
    #23 Hardsheller, Sep 16, 2004
  4. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

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    Ok, here's the deal. I personally reject invitations as an opportunity to supposably go in front of the church, while the whole church is not supposed to be looking, and confess or "get right" with God and then go back to my seat quietly with nobody looking.

    I don't believe all invitations are tools of the devil though. Ideally, if one is moved to go forward, they would go forward and give a testimony, or go to another person in the church to apologize for a wrong or straighten out a misunderstanding. Or, if someone there was an unbeliever and the message moved them, they could go forward and testify to that, state how the Holy Spirit used the message for them, etc.. Or go up and get baptized. There's no reason to expect everyone to not look while you go up to state your belief quietly with a worker. Dance down that aisle and let the world know! That's the first thing we're told to do in the bible, and it's the first thing that we as a church SQUASH...got joy? Ok, everyone close their eyes and you whisper to me about it...LOL

    I very much dislike a person entering a church and then waiting a month or so until the next "baptism service". If you invite unbelievers into your services then you're obviously going for evangelism, so have a little faith and have that water ready!

    Besides, how can you really not notice that person tripping over your feet trying to sneak out the aisle, even if you have your eyes closed? One of these days I'm gonna simply look at them and offer a hand instead of trying to back up with my eyes semi closed so they can pretend I don't know they're doing it. :D I mean come on, really!

    Gina
     
    #24 Gina B, Sep 16, 2004
  5. av1611jim

    av1611jim New Member

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    All horror stories aside, I believe the old fashioned altar call has its place in a service.
    That is IF it is led by the Spirit of God.
    My home church has one every service. Sometimes the altar is full and sometimes it is empty. Pastor Rick NEVER manufactures some emotional response to his messages. He simply says that if God is talking to you then do business with God. Feel free to do it in your chair or come down to the altar and we will have someone help you if you need it.
    We despise manufactured responses and we NEVER do it.
    That being said, I once had an experience similar to what ya'll are talking about. It was in a little UPC in the central mountains of Idaho. I "needed to get filled with the Hully Gose" so I went forward full of emotion and after MUCH COACHING, hallelujah! he's got it!!!
    After that experience my view of pentecostalism dramatically changed. Needless to say, I am NOT pente-chaos-tall any longer!!!
    :eek: :eek: :eek:
    In His service;
    Jim
     
    #25 av1611jim, Sep 16, 2004
  6. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Granny, You took the words out of my mouth!!

    However, I do not let myself feel uncomfortable when the pastor is pressuring all to come forward. Its my "I'm still on the offense" policy. Who know, maybe I am making the pastor uncomfortable, because he can not get me to come down.
    Anyways, I do not have anything agains a (true) invitation, but when it becomes a "dog & pony show" it is just too much for me. I am of the opinon that comming forward should be someting special, if everyone comes forward, then what is so special about it.
    Here is another point. In many chuches I have been in both IFB & SBC it seems that the most important thing is to see how many decision cards can be filled out. Many, many, many years ago in VA at Trinity Baptist a young boy maybe 7 years old came forward for the umpteenth time. This night I went up to counsel with him. A few moments later, the usher came by to get the decision card. I did not have one for him. Mr Bean was very upset, he told me I must fill out a card since the boy got saved. I told him, "No, he did not get saved!" Mr. Bean could not believe my answer. When he realized I would not budge, he moved on. Now for the rest of the story. As I was conseling this young boy I talked to him about the need of salvation, that we must ask forgivness of our sins. This boy informed me he had never sinned. Well, if you have never sinned, you cant get saved. ! Well, come to find out this boy came forward at least twice a month, but he had no ideal what he was doing. It is my policy, that if a person comes forward I will take them to a closed room so I may be able to share the gospel with them, without the music or the pressuer of the congergation waiting for the benedicition. Anotherwords, Quality, not quanty. (Yes, if it is a women, then my wife will take her aside.)

    BTW, Granny, I agree with you about prayer circles, ie men and women holding hands.

    Salty
     
    #26 Salty, Sep 16, 2004
  7. Irwin Hawkins

    Irwin Hawkins New Member

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    OK friends, brothers, and sisters,
    I have been reading your post here on the subject of "alter call, or invitation", and I agree with most of what is said. However I personally think an invitation to come forward and publicly confess Jesus Christ as your LORD, and Savior is a good thing if it is not over done. Being a preacher myself I have seen folks sitting in their pew just waiting to be ask to come forward, and when they do they are very emotional. I remember several years ago in a SBC that I belonged to the old pastor who taught me quite a lot; after his Sunday morning message he said I'm not going to give an invitation this morning; then the associate pastor got up and whispered something in his ear, then the pastor said; "I guess I better give an invitation." Very shortly a young lady came forward to acknowledge her acceptance of Jesus Christ as her LORD, and Savior. I myself have experienced similar things. There has been times when I would finish a message, and think to myself; "There is no point in giving an invitation this morning." Through the Holy Spirit I would be "pushed" to do so, and someone would come forward. Then there have been other times that I felt sure there were folks who wanted to come forward, and all they needed was to be invited; I give the invitation, and no one comes. Sme of these alter calls are only a form of mind control. I know that there are a lot of folks sitting in their pew anxious for services to be over so they can get out of there.
    With the love Jesus gave me [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
    Love from God the Father,
    Love from God the Son.
    Love from God the Holy Spirit,
    All three make one.
    irwin
     
    #27 Irwin Hawkins, Sep 16, 2004
  8. Carolyn Dee

    Carolyn Dee New Member

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    When I first started, I used to go down front at invitation time rather often. But as time went on, I noticed something: those who were Baptist a lot longer either very very rarely went down or never. I asked myself why. One such person told me: "You can pray right where you are standing (or sitting)." And he was right. If there is scripture to that says we must publicize and genuflect before the congregation, let's have it. [​IMG]
     
    #28 Carolyn Dee, Sep 17, 2004
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