Bow Your Head and Close Your Eyes

"Bow your head and close your eyes... Every head bowed and every eye closed..."  When I hear a pastor or evangelist say these words I know what he's fixing to do.  He's fixing to take a poll.  It's going to be an anonymous poll because everybody will have their heads bowed and eyes closed.

The poll will go something like this... "How many of you people out there are lost and going to hell? Will you please raise your hands so I can pray for you?"  He will pause a second or two and declare, "I see that hand...  And that hand...  And that one too..."

Then he will move on to the next question.  "How many of you people out there are sinners in need of repentance? You need to rededicate your life and and get right with God. Will you please raise your hands so I can pray for you?" He will pause a second or two and declare, "I see that hand...  And that hand...  And that one too..."

And he will continue the poll by asking,  "How many of you people out there are Baptists and you've never moved your church membership. You live in this community and your membership is in Kentucky. Will you please raise your hands so I can pray for you?" Then he will pause for a second or two and I'll hear nothing.  He'll ask the question again.  Still no response.  By then I'll know that either there's no one present who hails from Kentucky, or there just aren't any sinful Baptists who need to move their church letter.

Then he'll say something like, How many of you people out there have lost friends or relatives who are going to hell?  Will you please raise your hands so I can pray for you and your lost  friend or relative?" He will pause a second or two and declare, "I see that hand...  And that hand...  And that one... And that one... And that one... And that one... And that one... And all of those others too"  By now I know who's going to win the poll, though I'll never know the exact results.

Then he'll flex into a different part of the poll. He will say something like, "With every head bowed and every eye closed, I'm going to make a request that only God and I will know. I want every one of you lost people who are going to hell to simply look up at me and then close your eyes again.  I won't say anything. I'll just know that you want me to pray for you. Will you please look up at me and then close your eyes again? Only God and I will know you are concerned about your soul and don't want to go to hell." A long silence will ensue. Since I've never opened my eyes during this part and since I can't see the front of the heads in front of me and wouldn't dare to open my eyes and look back, I don't know what results are.

After he finishes the poll, he will make a plea by saying, "With every head bowed and every eye closed, I'm going to ask those of you who raised your hands to step out into the aisle and come forward. You asked me to pray for you and I did. God knows that I did. Don't refuse to allow God to answer my prayer.  Brother Musician, will you begin singing "Just as I Am" while these people make their decisions for the Lord?" Then will launch into a nice long prayer while Bro. Musician is singing. By then we have singing and praying going on simultaneously.

I've never been able to ascertain the final outcome of that those polls. Especially the ones when nobody responds. Because I had my head bowed and my eyes closed....

-- David Flick

 (This article was written for  BaptistLife.Com Discussion Forums)