Why is it that the gospel invitation has fallen into
disfavor these days? We hear it being criticized with fervor.
Those preachers who still offer the invitation at the end of a sermon are
characterized as hard cast in the mold of extending the invitation merely
because of "tradition." I have always included an invitation at the
end of my sermons. I have never done so because of tradition and
don't intend to start in the future with that motive in mind.
"What must I do to be saved" is still the most important
question that the human mind can entertain. As a gospel preacher
I am persuaded that those who hear me preach from time to time should hear
the answer to that all important query. However, the current fashion
is for preachers to end their discourses with nary a word of explanation
of what one must do to be saved. Those who are accustomed to the
frequent hearing of the gospel invitation will understand that there are
probably those present in the assembly who are not so familiar with it
and who need to respond to it.
The denominations have long been accustomed to giving
the wrong answer to that question. What is the difference in giving
the wrong answer to heaven's great question and in giving no answer at
all?