The origin of the Altar Call...

[briareos]

You gave me good advice and so what other advice do I seek? Move on?

pulease.... you are the one trivializing and dismissing... you move on.

 

[Pal Handy]

You gave me good advice and so what other advice do I seek? move on?

please.... you are the one trivializing and dismissing... you move on.

Has it been established that anyone is saying we absolutely need such a practice?

If not, it looks from here like there's some straining to find a reason to fault altar calls.

+1

 

[briareos]

*Claps

 

[Pal Handy]

Mark 9
Jesus Forbids Sectarianism

38 Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher,
we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name,
and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”


39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle
in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.

40 For he who is not against us is on our side.

41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name,
because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

 

[briareos]

Has it been established that anyone is saying we absolutely need such a practice?

If not, it looks from here like there's some straining to find a reason to fault altar calls.

My friend,

I noted Charles Finney's usage of it (who seems to have thought it was required or should be) and I disagree with that. I do not think I am opposing any such a person here and it is not my intent to find fault in the Altar Call, I have always been around the Altar Call but I do disagree with what Finney did with it and I do not think it is a very wise or good practice. I do not think it is wrong or evil and I am not pressing to find either in it.

 

[briareos]

Mark 9
Jesus Forbids Sectarianism

38 Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us
casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”
39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can
soon afterward speak evil of Me.
40 For he who is not against us is on our side.
41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name,
because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

If all you intend to do is oppose my ideas I recommend you find something better to do with your time.

 

[Pal Handy]

If all you intend to do is oppose my ideas I recommend you find something better to do with your time.

Proverbs 13:10
By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.

 

[briareos]

Peace be with you Pal

Godbless you.

 

[Pal Handy]

Peace be with you Pal

Godbless you.

All I am saying is to lift up Christ and do not look at what others are doing
but find your place in God.

God has a way of making our theology look very foolish when He calls us to
accomplish His purposes and plans through ways that the world thinks is foolishness.

Alter calls are very foolish to those who scoff but to those who find Christ at the alter call,
it is God working in their lives in a very personal and real way to save them and bring them close to Himself.

1 Corinthians 1:18
[ Christ the Power and Wisdom of God ]
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

I am the king of being religious and looking at all that is wrong
with Christians, ministries and the methods of others and so I know
what I am talking about when I tell you to take your eyes off others and
to get before God and beg Him to remove the pride from your life so
you will be of some value to God and His purposes.


God bless you and may God lead you into His purposes and plans for ministry.

 

[briareos]

Friend,

I can only assure you this...

My objection to what Finney did is because of my love and affection and regard of Jesus Christ and I have no desire to point anyone out or to expose anyone's wrongs and I take no enjoyment in that and that this does not concern how I feel about the worlds perception of the gospel or how I want people to perceive me.

 

[Pal Handy]

Friend,

I can only assure you this...

My objection to what Finney did is because of my love and affection and regard of Jesus Christ and I have no desire to point anyone out or to expose anyone's wrongs and I take no enjoyment in that and that this does not concern how I feel about the worlds perception of the gospel or how I want people to perceive me.

Using Jesus's name in your defense of you critism of a man of God
doesn't make me think that you understand the call of Christ on
your life and His instruction to you that you find your way in Him and
not to forbid anyone who in His name, calls men to salvation.

Christ is the one we please.
Christ gave Finney a world wide ministry so I must believe
that He approved of Finney's call to men to repent and receive Christ. (the gospel)

Your time and effort would be better spent in doing the work of Christ
rather than commenting on others who actually did the work of Christ.

I would not have even made this effort to explain all this to you
if I thought you were the type of person who was more interested
in being right than your are in pleasing Christ and following Him.

Don't be offended because I mean you no harm but I am
mearly showing you what it took me a lifetime to learn
so that you will be further ahead of me when I was your age.

May God bless you...

 

[Pal Handy]

How to Preach Without Converting Anybody - Charles Finney - YouTube

 

[Pal Handy]

Why was Charles Finney so powerfully used by God? - YouTube

 

[briareos]

You do not seem to comprehend that I am not concerning myself with Finney.

He made a mistake, he got something wrong and I don't agree with something he did I have given him no further thought and I have no reason to think of him anymore and other than this one thing he doesn't enter into my mind at all.

If you like what Finney did, that's great, I don't think anything of him. I disagree with one thing he did and I clearly showed why.

I have never ever ever met anyone who I did not have some disagreement with and it simply doesn't matter to me.

 

[briareos]

Your time and effort would be better spent in doing the work of Christ
rather than commenting on others who actually did the work of Christ.

That is uncalled for.

 

[Pal Handy]

You do not seem to comprehend that I am not concerning myself with Finney.
He made a mistake, he got something wrong and I don't agree with something he did I have given him no further thought and I have no reason to think of him anymore and other than this one thing he doesn't enter into my mind at all.

The alter call is a great way to get people to make a decision for Christ and
the Holy Spirit backs up the alter call in that many are saved after the gospel is preached
and people are given an opportunity to receive the gift of God of salvation through Christ.

Do as you think best but don't disparage others who have given their whole
lives to God in Christ and who preach the gospel.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a minister of Christ extending
the offer of salvation to those who hear the gospel, even in an alter call.

 

[briareos]

I disagree that it's great and I am not disparaging him. It is fine that we disagree.

 

[CounselorForChrist]

I disagree that it's great and I am not disparaging him. It is fine that we disagree.

Lets all agree to disagree. lol ^.^

In the end I don't see anything wrong with the alter call really. But its something I could take or leave.

 

[briareos]

Now that I can agree with

 

[Pal Handy]

I was saved at an alter call.
I remember the struggle within me to not walk that isle during the
invitation but the Holy Spirit urged me forward and oh what joy flood
my soul when I left the fear of man behind and publicly accepted
Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior.

The Holy Spirit was there at the alter call and I believe that God
uses these seemingly foolish events to reach many and bring
them into His kingdom.

God caused a donkey to speak, a fish to swallow a man and deposit him on dry land three
days later, God caused a man to build a ship in the middle of dry land, God caused a man
who stuttered to lead an enslaved people out of bondage and God used a lamb led to the
slaughter to save the souls of all who would set aside their pride and believe in God's word
to them, no matter how foolish it appears to the world.

God used an alter call to save my soul, even if it does appear foolish.

1 Corinthians 1:27
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise,
and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;