Now, I have been in thousands of church services of the Hardshells and I know their practice in this regard. Of course, there are always exceptions. But, I speak of what is generally or predominantly the case.
Invitation #1
(After regular services other than in conference)
"The doors of the church are open for the reception of members."
Observations:
Some only say this. Some elaborate a little. Meaning, some say, "just come forward and let us know of your desire." Or, "come let the pastor or one of the deacons know of your desire."
This is not much of an invitation. With only this, people feel more like they are "joining" a religious social club, a kind of cult "family."
Invitation #2
"If anyone would like to join the church, the opportunity is now available to you."
Observations:
This is sort of the kind of invitation I gave when a Hardshell pastor. I would invite people to "come forward" and speak if they had such a desire and the church would hear them. I was baptizing regularly. Looking back on it now, of course, I see where I was very inexperienced in how to address seekers and sinners and about how to give them scriptural invitations.
Invitations During Preaching
(as part of their addresses in their sermons)
"Go home to your friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you."
I always liked this kind of invitation that many Hardshells have given, though it alone is not sufficient.
I am sorry to see that today, in the sermons I have heard from today's PB preachers (with exception of PBs like the Eastern Association and some others) have absolutely no invitation at the end of a discourse, and very few during the discourse. This is so sad and is one of the several causes of PB churches dying.
I have written extensively on this subject and will no doubt, the Lord willing, have much more to say on this important subject. The people to whom we preach and witness must be exhorted to do. They must be told they need to confess and must give them opportunity to do so. They must be allowed opportunity to confess Christ openly by coming forward to announce it. They must be told that if they are believers that they need to be baptized. They need to be told to repent and at the end of the service they need to give invitation to any who desire repentance to come forward for prayer and counseling.
If I were pastoring a church today I would try to always end my sermons with questions and invitations. I would ask "if you died today, where would you go?" I would say the bible says "whosoever will may come and drink of the water of life." Will you "come and go with us?" The bible says "today is the day of salvation." Why will you delay? You have no promise of tomorrow. Don't you hear the Lord calling you?
"From Burkett & Read's History of the Kehukee Association" (here)
Giving the people an invitation to come up to be prayed for, was also blessed.
The ministers usually, at the close of preaching, would tell the congregation, that if there were any persons who felt themselves lost and condemned, under the guilt and burden of their sins, that if they would come near the stage, and kneel down, they would pray for them. Shame at first kept many back, but as the work increased, numbers, apparently under strong conviction, would come and fall down before the Lord at the feet of the ministers, and crave an interest in their prayers. Sometimes twenty or thirty at a time. And at some Union Meetings, two or three hundred would come, and try to come as near as they could. This very much engaged the ministers; and many confessed that the Lord heard the prayers of his ministers, and they had reason to hope their souls were relieved from the burden of their sins, through the blood of Christ. It had a powerful effect on the spectators to see their wives, their husbands, children, neighbors, &c., so solicitous for the salvation of their souls; and was sometimes a means of their conviction. Many ladies of quality, at times were so powerfully wrought on, as to come and kneel down in the dust in their silks to be prayed for. The act of coming to be prayed for in this manner had a good effect on the persons who came, in that they knew the eyes of the congregation were on them, and if they did fall off afterwards it would be a disgrace to them, and cause others to deride them; this, therefore, was a spur to push them forward." (pg. 76, 77)
That is "Old Baptist" practice!
"After the removal of Elder White, the church labored under great coldness and barenness until about 1801, when the church consisted of not more than twenty members in full fellowship. About this time, Elder Burkitt on a circuit of meetings attended this place. He preached, prayed, and sung, but no good effect seemed to attend his labors. At the close of the meeting, he at last told them, “that if there was any person in the congregation who desired to go to heaven or be converted, if he would come up to the pulpit, he would pray to the Lord for him.”
"Hardshells & Gospel Invitations" (here)
Elder Leland wrote:
"So that the great query which has agitated my mind for more than thirty years, 'How is a congregation of sinners to be addressed?' at the time I am speaking of, fell with such distress upon my mind, that I could hardly contain myself. But in the midst of my difficulties, I had a meeting at a school house; in the time of service my soul got into the trade winds, and without consulting Gill, Hopkins, Fuller, or Wesley, without comparing our translation with the Septuagint, Chaldee, or the King of Spain's Bible, I addressed the scholars and young people in a way I never can without God helps me. The spirit of the Lord fell upon them. Very soon after this, five of them came forward and confessed Christ."
Elder Leland was an Old Baptist and he often gave invitations. So too did Elder Grigg Thompson, Hardshell founding father, as we have shown in numerous postings.
"From Burkett & Read's History of the Kehukee Association" (here)
Giving the people an invitation to come up to be prayed for, was also blessed.
The ministers usually, at the close of preaching, would tell the congregation, that if there were any persons who felt themselves lost and condemned, under the guilt and burden of their sins, that if they would come near the stage, and kneel down, they would pray for them. Shame at first kept many back, but as the work increased, numbers, apparently under strong conviction, would come and fall down before the Lord at the feet of the ministers, and crave an interest in their prayers. Sometimes twenty or thirty at a time. And at some Union Meetings, two or three hundred would come, and try to come as near as they could. This very much engaged the ministers; and many confessed that the Lord heard the prayers of his ministers, and they had reason to hope their souls were relieved from the burden of their sins, through the blood of Christ. It had a powerful effect on the spectators to see their wives, their husbands, children, neighbors, &c., so solicitous for the salvation of their souls; and was sometimes a means of their conviction. Many ladies of quality, at times were so powerfully wrought on, as to come and kneel down in the dust in their silks to be prayed for. The act of coming to be prayed for in this manner had a good effect on the persons who came, in that they knew the eyes of the congregation were on them, and if they did fall off afterwards it would be a disgrace to them, and cause others to deride them; this, therefore, was a spur to push them forward." (pg. 76, 77)
That is "Old Baptist" practice!
"After the removal of Elder White, the church labored under great coldness and barenness until about 1801, when the church consisted of not more than twenty members in full fellowship. About this time, Elder Burkitt on a circuit of meetings attended this place. He preached, prayed, and sung, but no good effect seemed to attend his labors. At the close of the meeting, he at last told them, “that if there was any person in the congregation who desired to go to heaven or be converted, if he would come up to the pulpit, he would pray to the Lord for him.”
"Hardshells & Gospel Invitations" (here)
Elder Leland wrote:
"So that the great query which has agitated my mind for more than thirty years, 'How is a congregation of sinners to be addressed?' at the time I am speaking of, fell with such distress upon my mind, that I could hardly contain myself. But in the midst of my difficulties, I had a meeting at a school house; in the time of service my soul got into the trade winds, and without consulting Gill, Hopkins, Fuller, or Wesley, without comparing our translation with the Septuagint, Chaldee, or the King of Spain's Bible, I addressed the scholars and young people in a way I never can without God helps me. The spirit of the Lord fell upon them. Very soon after this, five of them came forward and confessed Christ."
Elder Leland was an Old Baptist and he often gave invitations. So too did Elder Grigg Thompson, Hardshell founding father, as we have shown in numerous postings.
