Featured You MUST give an invitation?

So this guy is saying that if you're a pastor and you don't give an altar call you aren't saved? Am I understanding that right?

That's just stupid.

 

It is an intentionally exaggerated statement made in order to emphasize the perceived need to make sure there is always an invitation.

 

I hope it's exaggerated, though I'm sure there are some who believe it is true.

It's still absurd though. An invitation is not a necessity.

 

The thinking is that there could be someone there who needs to hear the gospel and be given an opportunity to receive it who might not ever get that chance again.

 

I get that.

But to say that it must be done after every single service is extreme. Especially when you insinuate, even hyperbolically, that those who don't do so are not saved either.

Also, why wait until the end of service to explain the gospel? Shouldn't that have been made plain in the preaching itself? Of course you can't always give a complete explanation of the gospel in every single message, but I hope you get my point.

 

From Lectures to My Students, C. H. Spurgeon:

"Do not close a single sermon without addressing the ungodly, but at the same time set yourself seasons for a determined and continuous assault upon them, and proceed with all your soul to the conflict. On such occasions aim distinctly at immediate conversions; labor to remove prejudices, to resolve doubts, to conquer objections, and to drive the sinner out of his hiding-places at once. Summon the church-members to special prayer, beseech them to speak personally both with the concerned and the unconcerned, and be yourself doubly upon the watch to address individuals. We have found that our February meetings at the Tabernacle have yielded remarkable results: the whole month being dedicated to special effort."

"Mean conversions, expect them, and prepare for them. Resolve that your hearers shall either yield to your Lord or be without excuse, and that this shall be the immediate result of the sermon now in hand. Do not let the Christians around you wonder when souls are saved, but urge them to believe in the undiminished power of the glad tidings, and teach them to marvel if no saving result follows the delivery of the testimony of Jesus."

 

The invitation is about giving someone the opportunity to give their life to the Lord. It is about making an appeal to do the thing most needed in this world. You are right the gospel should have been made already otherwise the invitation is a moot point.

 

But is even that kind of an invitation really a necessity? After EVERY service? I have my doubts.

Regardless, the OP said that each service needs to end with "a clear explanation of God's simple plan of salvation." Sounds like this guy thinks that the entire gospel should be explained at the end of every service. Maybe he didn't explain himself well or I'm being to literal with his words.

Also I could be reading into the quote what I think of when someone says "invitation" - the altar call that was so prevalent in my old churches. Come down front, recite a prayer and we popishly will declare you saved.

 

Probably an over simplification but yes that is what they are talking about.

 

If so then that should never be done, IMO. I have no problem with "addressing the ungodly" as the Spurgeon quote said and urging them to trust Christ, but the altar call is an altogether different animal.

 

Yup. Agreed. :thumbs:

 

I doubt anyone has been taught that. I think people have come to rely on that which is a discipleship issue, but no one has taught that.

 

Sounds like you are "projecting" onto the OP quote. From adding the concept of "invitation" in the title (Salty), which was latched onto and tweaked into "altar call" (Bosley), then the leap to charging popish recitation, 123 repeat, etc.

You're far afield from what the initial quote actually said.

 

I do not agree with the sentiment in the op but your position is an extreme in the other direction.

 

How? I have no problem with the preacher telling the lost that may be present that they need to come to Christ. I think it should be done.

However the "traditional" invitation/altar call is not the same and should be abandoned.

 

If one is in a larger church I think it would be proper to do so.
Not necessarily an altar call, or even asking for a show of hands, but just closing his sermon with a concise gospel message and/or call to come to Him--whichever way the Pastor is led to close the service.

 

Why? because of the poor characterizations and over generalizations of it?

I do not think you and I will see eye to eye on this. I am not a Calvinist