Proclamation and Persuasion: The Invitation

By John Caldwell

Two years ago I wrote an article for another magazine identifying 10 of my greatest concerns about trends within Christian churches. Some were matters of biblical teaching, absolutes; while others were matters of personal but practical opinion, having to do with effectiveness. In retirement, I’ve preached in at least 200 different churches. In one such church I preached the gospel as effectively as I could. Then, as I always do, I presented an invitation for all who were ready to give their lives to Christ, to come forward publicly to confess their faith in him and prepare for baptism. 

As we sang a song of invitation, a middle-aged man made his way to the aisle and proceeded to make his way to the front. It became obvious that something very special was taking place as there was a stirring in the congregation. Some were in tears while others were lifting hands in praise, and yet others were hugging each other in an obvious display of excitement. As it turns out, this was someone who attended every Sunday, and many had been praying for his salvation for years. After receiving his confession of faith, the local pastor baptized him into Christ amid great celebration. When I later had the opportunity to ask him, “Why now? Why today?” He simply responded, “Because no one ever asked me before!” 

Proclamation, Persuasion, Response 

I can’t help but wonder how many lost people might give a similar response. You see, salvation or regeneration is a process in which many play a part. God the Father planned the process: “God so loved the world” (John 3:16). God the Son enabled the process: “He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:1). God the Holy Spirit convicts. John 16:8 tell us that he “will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (New American Standard Bible 1995). But you and I have a part in that process as well. We are to proclaim the gospel. Then we are to persuade people to give their lives to Christ. In Acts 26:28, King Agrippa said to the apostle Paul, “in a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” Though many believe he said it sarcastically, it is certainly an acknowledgment of the role of persuasion. 

We have no greater example of this than with the apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost. Read Acts 2:14-36 where Peter clearly proclaimed the gospel of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. That proclamation clearly led to conviction, which in turn led to the response in verse 37: “Brothers, what shall we do?” But Peter didn’t leave it at that. “With many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation!’” 

Then there was the response. According to verse 38, their faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of mankind led them to repent of their sins and to be baptized for the remission of their sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. And 3,000 of them did so. Just days later, as Peter was again preaching, “Many of those who had heard the message believed and 5,000 more were added to the church.” 

No, I don’t know all the logistics, although there were many pools available in Jerusalem, but I do know that when the gospel is proclaimed, and the Holy Spirit brings conviction, and people are challenged to respond, they respond. Yes, there must be proclamation for “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). There must also be persuasion, even if only giving people the opportunity to respond. James wrote in James 4:2, “You do not have because you do not ask.” While the context requires an expanded application, the principle is valid. Only after seeing the people respond does the further process that we know as discipling take place. Acts 2:42 says, “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” And evangelizing became an ongoing part of that process according to Acts 2:47: “And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” 

Reflecting on My Conversion 

This past spring, Jan and I were privileged to participate in a wonderful cruise put together by the Bill Gaither ministries. Yes, the nightly concerts put on by some of the best instrumental and vocal artists in Christian music today were outstanding. However, the most meaningful times for many of us were those times in which we joined our voices in singing hymns, gospel songs, and praise choruses the church has been singing, in many cases, for decades. One afternoon we sang the songs that have been considered invitational or decision songs. The leader asked us to stand if and when we sang the song that was being sung as we publicly went forward to confess Jesus as Savior and Lord. 

For me it was “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling.” Though that was many, many years ago, I experienced anew my confession of faith: “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and I accept Him as my Lord and my Savior.” I could almost feel the cool waters of the James River just outside of Springfield, Missouri, as I was immersed in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I was thrilled again to feel what it means to become a new creation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. As we sang, I broke down and wept—no, I sobbed—as I remembered that experience and how it had changed my life for all of time and eternity. You see, there is an experiential element to being born again. It’s not just an intellectual acknowledgment of doctrinal truth nor just an experience of the head, but perhaps even more so, of the heart. By the way, as you might have guessed, more people stood as we sang “Just as I am” than for any other such song. Perhaps this might be the time to go back and reread the words of that great hymn, whether from a hymnbook (remember them?) or by pulling those words up on your computer or device. 

Let me be quick to acknowledge that the public invitation as we think of it today was not a regular practice of the church until the 1800s, the age of the great revivalists. However, it fulfills all the basic elements of the process of true conversion: proclamation, persuasion, belief or trust, genuine repentance, and public acknowledgement in confession and baptism.  Until the church comes up with a better practice that is consistent with biblical teaching, the biblical mandate, and works from a practical vantage point, I want to urge congregations that have abandoned the practice to reconsider. Because a practice is new doesn’t mean it is better and because the church down the road does it doesn’t make it preferable. Personally, I believe in “same hour of the night baptism” (Acts 8:29-39). But in the many instances where the convert is baptized in a setting outside a public gathering, I always encourage them to respond to an invitation offered in a public service so as to affirm and strengthen their faith as well as to identify with other believers. 

Of course, the public invitation can serve a number of purposes. People can come for prayer, to identify with the local church, for rededication, and to dedicate their lives to Christian service or ministry. There was a time when the latter invitation was a staple at church camp, at youth events, and from time to time in the regular services of the church. Could it be that the abandonment of that practice is related to the lack of men and women going into full-time Christian ministry today? 

Perhaps the most unusual response to a public invitation had to do with a preacher friend of mine who had asked a young lady in the congregation to marry him. At first, she was reluctant to agree. But on the following Sunday she came down the aisle to say “yes,” much to the delight of the congregation. This year they celebrated their fifty-third anniversary. Remember, you have not because you ask not. 

The Importance of Personal Evangelism 

While our main theme in this article is the public, evangelistic invitation and its abandonment by many churches, let me at least mention another related and, I believe, more important concern: a lack of emphasis on personal evangelism in the church today. I honestly wonder if most Christians have any idea of where to start in leading someone to Christ. I’m so thankful that my college experience was under men like Don DeWelt who taught us the use of “Ten Timely Truths,” an adaptation of what many call “The Roman Road.” I was further blessed in my weekend ministry by hosting some of the best evangelists in the country, not just in their preaching but in their practice of personal evangelism. That approach continued during my many years in full-time located ministry. 

Sharing the gospel with someone who doesn’t know Christ, leading them to faith in him, and persuading them to yield their lives to Christ outwardly as well as inwardly, is an experience like no other. And lest anyone think that is something reserved for “the clergy” to do, let me make it clear that in the local church I served, Tuesday nights and Wednesday mornings were reserved and required for evangelistic calling by staff members, elders, and other leaders in our congregation. And great was the harvest as a result. Personal evangelism was also regularly taught from the pulpit. I have far more stories than space allows to tell of the resultant, dramatic conversions. For instance, the oldest convert I can remember was an old German lady named Josephine who my wife, Jan, led to Christ on a Wednesday morning. Josephine was 105 years old. There is nothing to compare with presenting the gospel to someone who is lost, seeing them come to saving faith, asking them to give their lives to Christ, often with tears running down their cheeks and yours, and hearing them say “Yes! Thanks for asking!” 

And having asked, don’t be reluctant to press the issue. Time and time again I’ve had people tell me, “If you had just sung one more verse, I would have given my life to Christ!” Fortunately, when I’ve been told that, the person was so close to conversion that I’ve had the privilege of going on to lead them to Christ. But your invitation, the invitation, may well determine a person’s eternal destiny. 

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ’Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life” (Revelation 22:17, New International Version). 

John Caldwell served for 36 years as senior minister of Kingsway Christian Church in Avon, Indiana. In retirement he continues a writing and speaking ministry.