Should The Unsaved Be Invited To Church?

[a3m24ie]

I've heard it said in many churches to: "Invite people to church!" And by "people" this would refer to the unsaved. Yet, do we realize the devastating effects this is having? (Right off the bat you disagree with me, so I'm going to break it down into some bullet points)

Problems with this method of "evangelism":

* If the pastor doesn't give the gospel that week, will they ever get the message of salvation?

* It numbs our conviction to tell our friends, family, coworkers, or whoever we meet about the message of the gospel, because it's MUCH easier to invite them to church then to share your faith--just let the pastor do it, right?

* Churches become more catered for the unbelieving than for God

* If the unsaved sit in church long enough, they will think they are saved, and eventually become leaders in the church--sometimes even pastors and never become a Christian.

* They might be confused or scared off from deeper teachings or spiritual gifts in operation (depending on your church of course)


Now... do I think we should shun unbelievers from entering the doors of the church--of course not! My point is that if we are only inviting people to CHURCH and not to CHRIST what we end up with is a lot of false Christians which give the true Christians a bad reputation.

This method is just not biblical. We should invite them to Christ, and if they come THEN bring them to church so they can grow in their faith and be surrounded by other believers.

 

[Surf Rider]

I agree with you.

the only group that I have ever heard of that invites non-members into their meetings so that they can become like the members, is Christendom. It defies common sense. How can evil have fellowship with righteousness? Will nto the unsaved even call you out of your minds, if you are displaying the gifts of the Spirit and the unsaved come into your midst, as Paul stated?

We are to go into the fields to harvest: we do NOT bring the fields into our house so that we can harvest the grain while sitting on the couch! Only an idiot would conceive of such a thing, let alone try to practice it!

 

[Templar81]

There only unsaved until they get saved and btw those who think they are saved shouldn't be so complacent. This is because a Christian's relationship with God is something that should be csontantly worked at not just established as saved. "People going around saying I can commit any sin I want because I'm saved, I can do no wrong." Your not saved until you've got yourself past those pearly gATES.

nEVER DENY ANYONE THE gOSPEL.

 

[veteran]

I wonder how many of the unsaved decided they'd had enough of trying to go it alone in life, and decided to start going to a Church and found Salvation through Christ Jesus? How many might one think has done that?

You bet the Church is for the sinner also. In the Christian west that specifically is how many have come to hear The Gospel and have believed and were baptized. THAT is specifically why the founders of the western Christian nations instituted laws to protect religious freedom! That's why the Christian west can put up a building and a sign proclaiming a place of gathering in order to hear The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

And maybe that's why some haven't noticed the freedom to do that in the west is what Christ's enemies especially hate.

Now if an unbeliever comes into a Church to disrupt, then that person shows they are not sincere, and it's a simple matter for the elders to escort that person out the door. Maybe if that person has a change of heart someday, his/her attitude might be different, and be accepted back in the door. It's the responsibility of the called leaders of a Church to handle situations an unbeliever might cause in keeping order in the Church. And that includes a peaceful unbeliever coming in to push doctrines against Christ to divide the Church. So what we really need more of today, are Christian leaders that refuse to fall to political correctness doctrines of the world, and instead are prepared to make a 'stand' for Christ, especially among the congregation of Christ's believers.

Nor should we confuse a Beth-Aven (house of vanity) with a House of God. There are houses of vanity that have a sign on the building claiming to represent Christ as a Christian Church, but what is TAUGHT in a Church is what makes it a House of God. If God's Word is not taught there, but doctrines of the world instead, then it is a beth-aven, a house of vanity. We shouldn't be surprised that those who are not of us can go out and setup their own building to practice vanity while 'calling' it a Church.

 

[Templar81]

I'm reminded of theparable with the pharasee and the tax colector. The tax collector was in the Temple weeping for his sins and humbling himself before God and the Pharasee stood there and said thank you Lord for not making me like him. Those who go around calling themselves saved sometimes seem a little bit like the pharases at times. remember also that Jesus said he had coem to save sinners.