Balancing the Gospel with the Invitation

Many modern evangelism techniques, influenced by man-centered theology, over-emphasize the appeal. It seems like they ignore the Law, gloss over the Cross work of Christ, but then spend inordinate amounts of time pressuring to get a decision from the hearer.

I’ve seen preachers spend 20 minutes on an appeal! Well, not one single appeal actually. I was in a Southern Baptist church service in Atlanta, GA where I experienced multiple invitations via a number of high pressure ‘altar calls’.

Part of the reason for this unbalanced presentation is that many Christians don’t seem to realize that the gospel content is separate and distinct from the gospel call, or invitation or appeal.

The truth content of the good news of Jesus Christ is what the Holy Spirit uses to regenerate and save a repentant believer. Here is the gospel in a nutshell from 1 Corinthians 15.

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you …

that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

1 Corinthians 15:1,3-4

Let’s put our trust in the work of the Holy Spirit for salvation and the content of the gospel instead of high pressure sales pitches and manipulative tactics to get someone to make a ‘decision’.

Oh, let our emphasis be on Jesus Christ and Him crucified!