Is Inviting People to Church Really Biblical?

 Is Inviting People to Church Really Biblical?

We've all been there. The flutter of excitement when an invitation arrives, the subtle sting of exclusion when it doesn't. From childhood birthday parties to adult gatherings, the desire for inclusion runs deep. We're taught that inviting others is a good thing, a way to build community and share experiences. But is this always true, especially within the context of the church?

Today, I want to gently challenge the conventional wisdom of "invite everyone to church." It's a practice so ingrained that we rarely stop to question its effectiveness or its underlying motivations. Let's take a closer look at the different groups we typically extend these invitations to:

Believers Not Part of a Church Body:

Why aren't they involved in a church? Do we really know, or do we even care beyond the surface-level invitation? A casual "You should come to our church sometime!" often overlooks the complex and personal reasons behind their absence. Perhaps they've been hurt by a previous church experience, are struggling with theological differences, or simply haven't found a community that resonates with them. Frankly, this group, often carrying unseen burdens, is too often overlooked in our broad-stroke invitation efforts.

Believers Part of Another Church Body:

Is it truly ethical to casually invite someone actively involved in another church? Are we inadvertently "stealing sheep" from a ministry where they are already connected and growing? These invitations often come with the least personal investment from us, making them feel like a low-risk, high-reward endeavor. "They're already in church, so no harm done," we rationalize. But are we respecting the work being done in their current faith community? Are we considering the potential disruption to their spiritual journey?

Non-Believers:

This is where the real challenge, and perhaps the most well-intentioned effort, lies. Is inviting someone with no prior understanding of Christianity to a typical Sunday service truly the most effective way to introduce them to Jesus? Consider their potential experience: singing songs to a God they don't know, participating in prayers filled with unfamiliar concepts, possibly witnessing communion – a deeply meaningful act for believers that can feel utterly foreign and even exclusive to an outsider.

Even major holidays like Christmas and Easter, often touted as great "invitation opportunities," can feel alienating for those who don't share the foundational faith. Surrounded by traditions and language they don't understand, they might leave feeling more confused and disconnected than ever before. While we believe God can and does work through any means, we must ask ourselves: is this the most biblically sound and compassionate approach?

Why do we rely so heavily on invitations to our church gatherings? I believe several factors contribute to this:

• Minimal Personal Investment: It's easier to extend a general invitation than to build a genuine relationship with someone outside our faith community.
• Church Growth and Financial Stability: Let's be honest, more people often translate to more resources.
• "That's Just How We've Always Done It": Tradition can be a powerful, yet sometimes unexamined, force.

However, there's a crucial point we often overlook: the Bible doesn't primarily emphasize inviting people to church. Instead, it emphasizes going into the world.

Jesus' core call was to "come to me," not "come to my church building." The church, as the body of Christ, is meant to equip believers for ministry, to send them out as ambassadors of the Gospel in their everyday lives. Not to mention that the church is literally defined as the "Called Out Ones" (meaning Christians). 

Instead of relying so heavily on passive invitations to a specific place, let's prioritize:

• Living Out Our Faith Authentically: Our lives should be a compelling invitation in themselves. Do our actions reflect the love, joy, and peace of Christ?
• Building Genuine Relationships: Investing time and effort in getting to know those outside our church walls, and understanding their lives and needs creates fertile ground for meaningful conversations.
• Sharing the Gospel Through Actions and Words: As Jesus commanded, we are called to make disciples, which involves both demonstrating God's love and articulating the good news.
• Making Disciples: This is a process that goes beyond a single invitation. It involves walking alongside individuals, teaching them, and helping them grow in their faith.

Gathering as believers is undoubtedly essential for worship, encouragement, and equipping. But it's not the final destination; it's the launching pad.

Let's move beyond the often-superficial act of simply inviting people to church and embrace the active, transformative call to go into the world. Let's meet people where they are, build bridges of genuine connection, share the love of Christ through our lives, and make disciples in the places where we live, work, and play. This shift in focus might just be the most impactful invitation of all.

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