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 “Along
with most preachers, I have noticed the increase in the number
of “restorations” in response to the invitation. In the past
year, more than thirty of the 200 members of the church for
which I preach have come forward to ask for the prayers of the
congregation. Did they do wrong in coming? It seems highly
unlikely. Who would accuse anyone of sinning in confessing sin?
There
are, however, two circumstances under which “restorations,”
while not absolutely wrong, may be harmful to those who respond
to the invitation.
If
“coming forward” is substituted for real repentance or a
true confession of sin, then it hurts more than it helps.
Sometimes Christians make a general confession of sins in public
when they should confess a specific sin to a particular
individual (Matt. 5: 23,24). Sometimes they give no indication
of why they “came forward.” At other times, it appears that
“coming forward” has been substituted for repentance,
because no change is apparent in the life of the individual who
has responded. These practices are harmful to the individual
because they may lead him to believe he has forgiveness when he
has not actually met the conditions of forgiveness.
If public prayer is substituted for private
prayer, then the person who responds lives without the peace he
ought to have. I believe the reason why many Christians
respond to the invitation is that they do not enjoy the “Blessed
Assurance,” the “peace that passeth understanding,” the
joy that comes
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from daily living with Christ. They fail to
pray privately for forgiveness, and then feel that they should
ask for the prayers of the church. They should be taught to seek
God’s help, guidance, and forgiveness daily. If they did, they
would not feel the need to be “restored.”
The
prayers of the church are appropriate for any Christian at any
time. But if an individual Christian substitutes “the prayers
of the church” for repentance or for his private prayers, he
robs himself of God’s blessings.”
***********************
The
above, written by Coy D. Roper and published in the Firm
Foundation Nov. 9, 1965, caught my attention as I was checking a
highly erroneous article on the Holy Spirit, by Arlie Hoover.
(One which the F.F. never corrected. ) Well, out of the lion
came forth honey.
I
had been considering writing an article on the misuse of “coming
forward” but felt this deserved repeating, so “moved over”
for bro. Roper.
With
“responses” so scarce, it seems ridiculous to say anything
that may discourage them; but we aim for the heart, that the
external response may have meaning before God. Neither baptism
nor repentance-and-confession must be allowed to degenerate into
a “form of godliness” that “denies the power thereof.”
(2 Tim. 3:5) It is God who forgives, through Christ, and not
through “the church.”
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