Christ Community Church

If you were with us Sunday morning December 4, you’ll know that this blog’s title is a twist on the sermon title that morning, “Why We Worship How We Worship.”  In my message I did something unusual: instead of expositing a text of Scripture, I walked us through a typical Sunday morning service and gave a rationale for what we do. 

When I discussed this topic several weeks ago with my ABF*, we also talked about some of the things we don’t do in worship, like extending an invitation at the conclusion of the service.  That’s what I want to discuss briefly here – how come don’t we do that at CCC?

In many churches, the minister invites people to leave their seats and come to the front of the church to indicate their desire to receive Christ as Savior.  Typically, if someone responds to this invitation, a pastor or other counselor will meet privately with the person to explain further what it means to trust Christ. 

Although it’s not my intent to find fault with those who follow this practice (of relatively recent invention in church history, by the way), there are a few reasons why I don’t.  First, most Sundays the teaching is directed at Christians.  Perhaps some specific response is called for, and some kind of invitation to obedience would be appropriate, but to make an abrupt shift from a sermon addressed to believers to an appeal to the unconverted seems weird, untrue, even, to the message preached.

More importantly, I fear that this kind of invitation confuses the real issue of response to the gospel.  Some who hear the good news and are inclined to respond to it will be put off by this embarrassing request (What? Leave my seat in front of all these people and walk all the way down that aisle – it looks at least a quarter mile long – no thanks!), and so resist the gospel invitation because the minister has asked them to do something the Bible never asked anyone to do.  The person who has not yet received Christ does not yet have the Holy Spirit living within, to help make such a public profession and do hard things.  On the other hand, a different person with a different personality make-up may have no trouble making a public spectacle of himself, and so walks the aisle – forever after trusting that act as what saved him! 

The Bible calls on people to believe the gospel and to signal that belief publicly by being baptized.  That’s what we should be asking people to do.

 *ABF stands for Adult Bible Fellowship.  The one I teach meets in the Fellowship Hall every Sunday morning at 9:00.  I love our animated discussions – thanks, class!

 Ken Langley

Please send any questions or comments to klangley@ccczion.org.