Invitations

I have found myself thinking today about invitations...not the ones you get that invite you to a party or other social gathering...the ones where we student pastors stand before students challenging them to step across the line of faith and begin a relationship with Christ.  I have recently been reading Greg Stier's book, OUTBREAK, and I just thought I would share some of the pieces from that and possibly shed some light on what God's Word teaches us about leading students toward Jesus through these "invitations."  I am sure many of us have heard the phrase "ask Jesus into your heart," it is probably the most overused, unbiblical phrase used in the presentation of the gospel.  Many of us probably remember the Sunday school teacher pointing to the picture of Jesus standing at a door and knocking.  "That is the door to your heart, and Jesus wants to come in," they would say.  Then they'd quote Revelations 3:20:  "Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."  The problem is that that verse was not written for unbelievers.  John was writing to the Christians in the church of Laodicea.  The passage is not about salvation but about service and communion with God.  Not one passage in Scripture says we must "ask Jesus into our heart" to be saved. 

I remember as a child hearing my Sunday school teacher use this term almost every week.  I did not get it.  Sitting there in Sunday school as a seven-year old boy, I wondered, What if I get a heart transplant?  Will I go to hell?  If I cough too hard will Jesus escape through my mouth?  How do I really know He is in my heart?  If we are not clear in presenting the Gospel we limit its impact.  It was not until JR Vassar, an evangelist, finally explained the cross to me that I got it.  On June 17, 1997, I trusted Christ as my Savior thanks to the Spirit of God and a clear presentation of the Gospel message.  I really think when we just simplify following Christ down to just saying a prayer we set our students up to live a life that relies just on that prayer and not a daily walk with Christ.  Saying a prayer never saved anyone.  Faith in Christ alone is the only way.  I am convinced that there will be people in hell who said the sinner's prayer but never tryuly believed in the finished work of Christ.  My prayer is that we would challenge students to trust Christ with their lives, take that step towards Christ and then with Christ in this marathon of life.