The PuritanBoard - View Single Post

BJClark · #9 (**permalink**) 12-27-2007, 11:25 AM

When my oldest daughter was about 5 years old, she wanted everyone in the neighborhood to have a bible..I went out and bought a couple boxes of bible's for about $15 each at the local Bible book store for her..she put the bible's in her wagon and proceeded around the neighborhood giving away bibles.

Only one man commented about it...with a rather gruff voice to her, and asked why she was doing this..she looked at him and said "I want to know everyone in my neighborhood has an opportunity to at least read about God." He said, "Your not going to invite me to your church?" She said "No, I just want you to have God's word." He gave a really puzzled look and we moved on to the next house. When we were walking past there on our way back home he was sitting on his porch reading it, and yelled out to her..."thank you." She smiled and said "your welcome" and continued home.

When I was looking for a new church home after our pastor left, the new pastor had offended many people which brought on a huge split in the church body, he had the nerve to tell many of the elderly in our church they couldn't be christian's because they didn't even know how to read." One of the men told him "I may not be able to READ, but I can certainly have others read it to me, and I've heard many a paastor teach it to me." the pastor asked him..and "How do you know what they said was correct, when you can't even read it on your own to know for sure." But many churches in the area heard about the church split and what was happening..and went out door to door inviting people to their churches...they didn't know WHO went to that church and who didn't..so they just went out and invited everyone...to come and fellowship with them and their church body...and I actually visited a few of them that came and invited me to come and worship with them..I didn't join any of them...but I did take the time to at least visit them..

I invite people to church all the time, I strike up conversations about Christ in the grocery store line (you know where they have all those tabloid magazines) I pick them up read some of the most absurd head lines and make comments..most people will comment back..and a conversation about Christ and what the Bible says typically begins...and I ask where they go to church, some go, some don't..and I extend an invitation to visit our church body sometime..

Our church has an outreach program, that when someone comes to visit our church and fills out the visitors card..someone takes cookies to them later that afternoon..making contact with them, letting them know we are glad they came to visit..then someone else calls and makes an appointment to go visit them sometime during the week...but they don't typically, at least to my knowledge do cold calls (much like sales) going into neighborhoods inviting people in...unless they have a church plant, then a few from our church will go to that area and invite people to come visit...

I personally don't get offended with people coming to my door inviting me to their church, never have...because I know for the most part, they care about peoples souls and they don't know who God is calling to Himself and who He isn't, so they invite everyone they can....and they may be the one God has chosen to use to invite them in...granted some may not look at it that way, and do it as a works based thing...but I know I am that way, I invite others because God prompts my heart to speak up..not with everyone, but He does with many people..and if I don't say something then...I may never get the opportunity to do so again..and I realize even when I speak up..it may be to their salvation or to their damnation...just as God hardened Pharoahs heart, He could be using what I say to harden their hearts..and that is a fearful thing to think about...

Consider all the Pastors standing up proclaiming the Gospel each week from from their Pulpit..and the members of their congregation who are NOT Christians, whose hearts are being hardened against God every week they do not believe it to really be true..they heard but didn't believe..that is a fearful thing..to understand the words they speak on behalf of God will be used to condemn a person for eternity...and those Pastors who get behind a pulpit each week who are not called by God to be there, who are wolves in sheeps clothing and do not really believe God to be GOD..and how their own speech will be used against them..again that is a fearful thing...