Ask for the sale

I have in time been in a few sales positions, from selling Bibles for Southwestern just out of high school to hotel management - and a lot of in between. The instruction in most sales positions is "Ask for the sale." In other words, the deal needs to be closed before anything can be counted in the positive category. The asking needs to be done in a positive way, like "How many could I put you down for?" I recently called a local radio fund raiser and the station representative recognizing my name as the one calling responded, "Welcome to the $1,000 donation line!" Well, that was more than over the top. I brought him down a few hundred. He still made the sale. ha.

As for this ChuckOonreligion, it needs to relate to religion what I am going to say, and it does. Christians need to ask for the sale when presenting the Christ to others who have not yet made that commitment. I remember as a youngster growing up in a country church how we had "gospel meetings" about once a year (they would last for two weeks back then) and that was the time people came to accept Jesus and be baptized. It seems that was the time ask for the sale happened back in that country church. Likely, as I look back, at the rest of the time we were mostly just keeping house. The main thrust in bringing in converts was left to the gospel meeting, when a "big name" preacher would be brought in. Well, that is the way it was. Probably that way in a lot of other churches, too -- even now.

I have been reading Memoirs of Alexander Campbell, published in the late 19th century. One of the interesting aspects of that read was how in their work back then in trying to get the message of God right, continuing what was called the reformation that really began with Martin Luther, Calvin and others, they discussed and formed opinions based on a new understanding of the word of God. Some called it Restoration, which meant to take it back to exactly what was formed after the resurrection of Jesus and his ascension to the right hand of God. One Walter Scott is mentioned as finally determining a process for presenting the biblical view and then making an ask for the sale in such a way that folks would be prompted to come down front, confess Christ and submit to biblical baptism (on the order as given by Jesus in Matt. 28:18-20).
As I read that part, I remembered the forceful presentations of my childhood days and how those preachers had something right in asking for the sale.

That leads me to think that perhaps we are not asking in the same way. Sometimes we are not asking at all. The message is great and seems to me, and as is evidenced in the New Testament, that when the story is told properly most people will respond positively. Acts 2 in the New Testament is a prime example of this. Peter preached the truth in such a way that the hearers were convince so that they were cut to the heart! Imagine that. That cutting prompting them to ask, "What shall we do?" Peter responded, "repent and be baptised," and they did, about 3,000. That was demonstrative of asking for the sale. It was like what Walter Scott was trying to do, and he did, with a lot of great results. His way prompted others to do it the same say, perhaps even Alexander Campbell.

Asking for the sale is so important if we have something to sell. And we do. It is Jesus the Christ and salvation through Him. We should learn to ask for the sale better and in such a way that folks will readily respond, having been filled with the message through the prodding of the Holy Spirit.