Who is Inviting Whom to What?

Pastor Brandenburg has recently written quite a thought provoking post on the issue of inviting the lost to church. The point I believe he is making is that, whenever invitations are given in the Bible, they are given to come to Christ (for salvation), not to come to the church (to hear a sermon). I believe it is clear enough that he is NOT saying that lost are unwelcome in church, just that we should be evangelizing (giving the gospel to) the lost, not just inviting them to attend a church service or church services. Some would say that this goes against the teaching of Scripture that says,

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Corinthians 1:21)

But if we are honest with Scripture, we’ll note that this preaching is not ONLY found in churches. In fact, this preaching is the bold proclamation of the gospel to the lost. Most often, this is done on the lost’s “turf” in Scripture.

Now, as I have been considering his point (and there are some that think I think too much), these two Scriptures came to me.

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)

In Matthew, Christ is inviting the lost, those that labor and are heavily laden, to come to Him. He will give them rest. In Colossians, Christ is represented as the head of the church, which is His body. Now I know that the Bible speaks mysteriously here, because the church is also pictured as Christ’s bride. The church is His bride and His body, somehow. I bring up the mysterious nature of this just to recognize that my connection between these points could be TOTALLY off base. But, I think it is something that should be considered.

The lost cannot be a part of the body unless they are saved, but could they come to salvation by coming to the physical gathering of the body of Christ–the church? Obviously, attending a church doesn’t give salvation, but in coming to the physical gathering of the body of Christ, the lost could hear the gospel and trust Christ for salvation. The Bible clearly indicates that the unsaved will be present at some church meetings:

If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. (1 Corinthians 14:23-25)

So while the biblical pattern is primarily evangelizing the lost on their “turf” and believers meeting together as a church, I find that it is not unbiblical to invite the lost to church. We must be careful, though, not to allow the lost (or even the inviting of the lost to church) to change the focus of our church gatherings. The church, by definition, is a gathering of saved people. And its primary purpose in meeting is to edify believers.

Much more to be discussed here, but that’s all for now.