The Right Place and Time

Over the years I have heard many a preacher giving an impassioned invitation to meet Jesus as the funeral service was coming to a close.  Always it was the wrong place and time.  It is important to invite people to come to Jesus, but not at a moment when a grieving family needs to hear words of holy comfort.  Offering an invitation at such a time seems like selling a fire insurance policy!  I suppose there are some who gave their life to Jesus at such a time, but I am still waiting on someone to show up with such a witness.   

What is even more disturbing is the way some preachers and churches seem to be embarrassed to invite people to give their lives to Jesus during a worship service.  Some preachers have even said that Sunday morning worship is not the time or place for such a thing to happen.  When I am confronted with such logic, I wonder what time and place is right.  What seems to be the case is the false conviction that everyone who shows up in worship is there because he or she is already one who believes in Jesus.  In Jesus' day there were a lot of folks who wore the robes of righteousness as they clamored for the death of the Son of God.   

Inviting people to encounter Jesus is important.  It is the mandate of every believer.  This is what we hear Jesus saying in those last verses of Matthew as He said to go and make disciples.  If it is the mandate of the individual disciples, it is surely part of the business of the church.  Actually, it is not just a  part of the business of the church.  It is the business of the church.  If the church is not serious about inviting people to meet Jesus and following Him, the doors should be shut and locked for regardless of the good which might be done in Jesus' name, the most important part has been forgotten.