Why do Preachers do this?

I do it, because I am curious to see where the Spirit is working...
And yes, I still pray for the ones that raise their hands...
But I don't prolong the invite... The invitation is as long as the song is...

If the Spirit can't move them... I don't want to.
But I let them know that they can talk to me anytime after service...

Edited to say, I do this only with the Spirit's leading, which maybe only 1 or 2 times a yr.

 

too many preachers measure success the wrong way...and try to force emotionalism. It is dangerous territory, one which any preacher should tread lightly in.

not sure why they do, see above...I don't think come forward invitations are biblical...but then again lots of what we do in our contemporary liturgies isn't "biblical"

 

[joke]Did I hear the word "contemporary"?

Contemporary music is of the DEVIL!! Anyone who uses it is of the DEVIL!!

Oh, wait. . .

This isn't the Music Ministry Forum. Forget what I just said . . .

Carry on.[/joke]

 

Jesus, throughout His earthly ministry, continually "invited" people to come to Him.

He invites the lost to come to Him and be saved:
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

He invites those with burdens to come to Him:
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

He invites even the children to come to Him:
Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

He invites us to come to surrender for service:
Mark 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

He invites us to come and dedicate our selves in total surrender:
Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Preachers today, proclaiming the truth of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, are simply extending the same invitation for men and women, boys and girls to come to the Lord Jesus Christ in the same areas that He invited them.

 

There is quite the movement today to mark anything traditional as not ligned up with scripture. It is hard to know peoples motives without actually talking with them. But neither are they willing to be genuine about them.


How tragic would it be when people are in the sanctuary have been convicted of their sin and their need for salvation and making Christ Lord of their life and no opportunity to do it, only to be left alone.

I do not know why people are against alter calls, "Pulpiteering" (this is a disgraceful pejorative) godly leadership, and order and reverence in the church except they just want it their own way. Kind of like the rich young ruler who walked away sorrowful. The disprespect of authority and leadership as well as organization and any attempt to encourage lost people to come to Christ is straight out of woodstock.

 

The last church I was in the pastor did this. The one we are members of now, the pastor does not do this. I think many pastors do this to spare people the embarrassment of walking forward in front of the entire church. I know the pastor of our last church had a heart for God and for the last, so I'm sure he didn't intend anything bad with it. Unfortunately, too many people hesitate to do something so "personal" in front of so many witnesses. I agree with our current pastor's invitation style a lot more, though, because everybody is standing up, singing with eyes open. I seem to recall something about denying Jesus before men resulting in His denying us before the Father, so to me, if you are genuine about accepting Christ, you should be ready to go forward whether it's in front of 10 people or 10,000. :jesus:

 

I might be wrong, but I consider one who raises their hand as considering giving their life to Christ. Usually, in my view, one who isn't interested isn't listening so wouldn't raise their hands. You see them looking around, "fixing" the kids etc...

In the end, if anyone goes to hell, I would hate it to be because I didn't invite them to Christ. I would take that very personal.

Eze 33:6 (KJV) But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

 

It's called the Charles Finney's syndrome--it happens when the preacher thinks that he has to do every thing within his power to get a decision out of the unconverted. Of course, Paul tells us what our role is: we plant, others water, but God gives the growth.

 

It seems to me that some on here have equated inviting someone to Christ with having them bow their heads and raise their hands, etc.


Of course we are to invite people to come to Christ, we are to urge, beg, plead and call people to come to Christ. But what I do not find in Scripture is people being manipulated into to coming to Christ. IMO, this act borders on manipulation and therefore it is not something I ever do in my ministry.

 

Right on....

 

What a scary thought! I would hate to think that my salvation depended on the competency of a preacher.

I am saved because Christ invited me to Him.

 

Perhaps, however, anyone who raises their hand has now identified themselves as not being part of the fold. Why would one be at a Church and acknowledge themself as NOT being a Christian? That's like going to a hospital, saying you're sick then being offended when someone ask you what's wrong.

I will also agree that I don't practise this at our Church. I preach to between 200 and 250 on Sunday so I usually recognize an unfamiliar face without them raising their hand. I can also go by who says what during the acknowledgement of the visitors. When I have seen this done at other Churches, I will admit, I see one who raises their hand as someone I hope to witness to even if not at this service (you may see them at the supermarket etc...).

Edited to add NOT

 

I agree to an extent, it was not I but God who choose the foolishness of preaching to bring men to salvation.

1Co 1:21 (KJV) For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Ro 10:13 (KJV) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

 

Oh, I agree with you about preaching. I was talking about the "quality" of the invitation.

I was saved at home, alone. Just me and God. I hadn't been in a church in years, but some friends of mine shared God's word with me. There was no invitation, no altar to go to, just my broken heart calling to God. raying:

 

True but we also find Paul himself, pleading and begging for those in his letters to listen and obey. I don't think Paul had the Finney syndrome, but a heart that anyone under the sound of his teaching should be urged to not harden their hearts but receive the truth with meekness and gladness of heart.

 

I consider the negative elements of this post the outworkings of the Finney syndrome.

 

He didn't employ manipulaton of any sort.

 

That's considering Paul was a pretty good manipulator, too. Recall his, "I'm here because of the resurrection" statement, which he said in order to play "let's you and him fight" (it got the Pharisees and Sadducees arguing with each other).

 

True, but we don't read of Paul doing anything comparable to the sort of thing mentioned in the OP, that is, asking any of his hearers who were not yet Christians to put their hands up while everyone else closed their eyes, if they wanted him to pray for them. Surely preachers don't wait for their hearers to ask before praying for them?