In The Invitation System, a small read of 44 pgs where the author Dr. Ian H. Murray gives a biblical review of altar calls in evangelism today. He presents a critique of the bad theology in the man-made invitation system. It comes from a pragmatic view of present evangelism where numbers are more important than true conversions.

I would challenge the Christian reader to read this work and hope one would understand that altar calls, the “sinner’s prayer,” are not found in the text of the bible. Discipleship, however, is and it will cost you (Luke 14:25-35) and this is not user friendly in an age we don’t want to pay a price for anything, especially salvation (Titus 1:16; Jude 3-4).

Almost all who claim to be Christians are agreed on the need for evangelism. However, evangelicals are still distinguished by their authoritative proclamation of man’s state in sin, necessitating a personal response to Christ in repentance and faith. As distinct from vaguer conceptions, evangelicals believe in the new birth of individuals. In recent years, however, the pattern in which such conversions are most frequently expected to occur has been linked with the practice of calling people to the front during an evangelistic service. This is ‘the invitation system’ characteristic of modern mass evangelism.

In the controversy arising from the promotion of the Invitation System three main reasons have been put forward in its defense; the argument from Scripture, the “psychological argument” which asserts the helpfulness of a public response to the individual, and a general argument as to its evangelistic effectiveness. In this booklet Iain Murray, himself an evangelistic minister, examines the validity of these arguments and whether they can satisfactorily answer counter-arguments from Scripture and experience.

In the conclusion, after reading this book the invitation system is a crime against God and man. It is not that leading people in the sinner’s prayer is in error as I do it myself but we must be careful to confirm people as saved unless there has been a time of discipleship and confirmed fruit of the spirit which in turn lead to obedience in baptism. There are enumerable amount of people who think that because I signed a magic card in a magic room or I came down to say a magic that I have decided to be a Christian. In the reformed tradition we know that salvation is none other than a work of God (John 6:44). This book is wonderfully written and well informed on the subject. It isn’t very long at all and can be read in one sitting but loaded with discerning wisdom. I know it can and has opened the eyes of many people. It comes highly recommended. The fall out rate of those who have made decisions according to Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron in their book The Way of the Master is at the rate of 84-97 percent. Some believe we need better follow-up. However, “following-up” with a false convert is like putting a stillborn baby into intensive care. ( )