Altar Calls

[Rev55]

I wonder what would have happened if Billy Graham,did not do alter calls.

People would have been saved in their seats on a serious note. I have heard people say they think the moment you take that step to walk down the isle you are saved because you know you need Jesus and are repenting. I don't think I agree with it. What do you think?

 

[pilgrim42]

I wonder what would have happened if Billy Graham,did not do alter calls.

Here is a Wikipedia on the crusades:


Since his ministry began in 1947, Graham conducted more than 400 crusades in 185 countries and territories on six continents. The first Billy Graham Crusade, held September 13–21, 1947, in the Civic Auditorium in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was attended by 6,000 people. Graham was 29 years old. He called them crusades, after the medieval Christian forces who conquered Jerusalem. He would rent a large venue, such as a stadium, park, or street. As the sessions became larger, he arranged a group of up to 5,000 people to sing in a choir. He would preach the gospel and invite people to come forward (a practice begun by Dwight L. Moody). Such people were called inquirers and were given the chance to speak one-on-one with a counselor, to clarify questions and pray together. The inquirers were often given a copy of the Gospel of John or a Bible study booklet. In Moscow, in 1992, one-quarter of the 155,000 people in Graham's audience went forward at his call.[8] During his crusades, he has frequently used the altar call song, "Just As I Am".[21]

Graham was offered a five-year, $5 million contract from NBC to appear on television opposite Arthur Godfrey, but he turned it down in favor of continuing his touring revivals because of his prearranged commitments.[12] Graham had missions in London, which lasted 12 weeks, and a New York City mission in Madison Square Garden in 1957, which ran nightly for 16 weeks.

Wow almost 40,000 in Moscow,but thats old fashioned or unnecessary.

A lot of evangelist have done well in implementing the altar call. Billy Graham would be one of those. It is simple and to the point. I had a friend who was saved at home by watching Billy Graham. Obviously, many of the people who come forward never make it to their first church service. Many churches see very little increase in their rolls after a crusade. Its probably safe to say that many people responded to Jesus invitations too, but how many fell by the wayside?
Millions of people in Africa have responded to Reinhart Bontke's invitations and it has influenced the African nations.

Should we continue with the altar calls or invitations? I think so. Maybe we just need to maximize our efforts a little more. Maybe we would see better results if we had a better follow-up system in place after the invitation. Seekers need to know what saying "Yes" to Jesus is going to entail. We need to make disciples, not duds.

Ken

 

[JM]

Kudos on the giant picture.

Are you stating that all men are sinners and need a savior,due to their sin nature?

Or are some people born with out this predisposition free from evil,the special people?

Or has God predestined people to salvation,thus there is no choice of who will be saved?

Was Christ death even necessary?

Oh and as to the giant straw man,when you post Calvinism as your reference or authority I would not consider a reply on the background of the writer a straw man.

Here is a Wikipedia on lane from his statement of faith from his website.
Three Forms of Unity is a collective name for the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort, and the Heidelberg Catechism, which reflect the doctrinal concerns of Continental Calvinism and are accepted as official statements of doctrine by many of the Reformed churches.

So you spew it and don't expect to get wet,but Im sure the handsome straw man gives your position credibility.

Greetings and salutations new faith.

Kudos on the giant picture.

Thank you, I do appreciate it.

Are you stating that all men are sinners and need a savior, due to their sin nature?

Yes.

Or are some people born with out this predisposition free from evil, the special people?

All are sinners and deserve the eternal fires of hell for their sins against God.

Or has God predestined people to salvation, thus

All things are found in the eternal decree of God including salvation.

there is no choice of who will be saved?

We, like Lydia in Acts 16, must have God regenerate us to believe.

Was Christ death even necessary?

Absolutely. Do you think otherwise?

Oh and as to the giant straw man,

Yes?

when you post Calvinism as your reference or authority

Ahh, no. I did not do that. We both believe we are Biblicists, using scripture to settle disputes, I would not reference Calvin unless (as he often does) explain things better than I. I was a Calvinist from reading scripture, not Calvin, I did not read Calvin or Calvinist works until people started calling what I believed ‘calvinism.’

I would not consider a reply on the background of the writer a straw man.

Not sure what to make of that statement. If you would explain it a little further I would be glad to respond.

Here is a Wikipedia on lane from his statement of faith from his website. Three Forms of Unity is a collective name for the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort, and the Heidelberg Catechism, which reflect the doctrinal concerns of Continental Calvinism and are accepted as official statements of doctrine by many of the Reformed churches.

You listed historic confessions of Protestantism, well done.

So you spew it

Now, now, let’s not allow this convo to become nasty.

and don't expect to get wet, but Im sure the handsome straw man gives your position credibility.

The thoughts in your post are a little disjointed. Again, I’ll respond if you offer a few sentences to clarify your point.

Yours in the Lord,


jm

 

[Heisluv]

What about the altar call being a public profession of faith? If a public profession of faith is not needed, then should a believer be baptized? I believe that a person's profession of faith needs to be made public. Does the Bible not speak on this?

 

[now faith]

People would have been saved in their seats on a serious note. I have heard people say they think the moment you take that step to walk down the isle you are saved because you know you need Jesus and are repenting. I don't think I agree with it. What do you think?

No I do not agree,due to so many holding on pews.

Some are drawn to salvation by the Holy Spirit,it would be a shame to just say have a safe Sunday your dismissed.

 

[Rev55]

No I do not agree,due to so many holding on pews.

Some are drawn to salvation by the Holy Spirit,it would be a shame to just say have a safe Sunday your dismissed.

I was disagreeing with the idea I have heard and mentioned in my post. I am with you I believe it is important to have a time for response to whatever God is telling you to do. When I preach I give a time to respond if it's salvation or simply praising God I feel that time should be given for that after all it's God's time not ours.

 

[dies-l]

A few years ago, my wife and I co-led our church's young adult ministry. One summer we had a camping trip, and we had a young man who was not active in the church tag along. This young man had been involved in youth when he was younger, but had strayed from the church and had developed an alcohol addiction. During a conversation that I had with him, I addressed his need for Jesus. He responded that that was not a problem, because he had already accepted Jesus, and then he proceeded to describe an altar call situation where he had prayed to accept Jesus. Unfortunately, he saw no disconnect between his current situation and his previous decision to follow Jesus.

That I think is the moment that I became thoroughly convinced that altar calls do more harm than good, in that they generate a false sense of salvation but very often are evidence of nothing more than an emotional response to an emotionally evocative sermon, but ultimately leave the person no less empty than they began.

 

[now faith]

I was disagreeing with the idea I have heard and mentioned in my post. I am with you I believe it is important to have a time for response to whatever God is telling you to do. When I preach I give a time to respond if it's salvation or simply praising God I feel that time should be given for that after all it's God's time not ours.

I know Preacher Amen.

I am bailing on this thread,the concept is not with in my understanding,after being raised in a Baptist Church and watching many put off the old and put on life eternal.

I simply cannot fathom no alter call.

This is my main problem with Joel Olstine ,maybe when the show ends they do but I haven't witnessed one on TV.

God Bless

 

[now faith]

A lot of evangelist have done well in implementing the altar call. Billy Graham would be one of those. It is simple and to the point. I had a friend who was saved at home by watching Billy Graham. Obviously, many of the people who come forward never make it to their first church service. Many churches see very little increase in their rolls after a crusade. Its probably safe to say that many people responded to Jesus invitations too, but how many fell by the wayside?
Millions of people in Africa have responded to Reinhart Bontke's invitations and it has influenced the African nations.

Should we continue with the altar calls or invitations? I think so. Maybe we just need to maximize our efforts a little more. Maybe we would see better results if we had a better follow-up system in place after the invitation. Seekers need to know what saying "Yes" to Jesus is going to entail. We need to make disciples, not duds.

Ken

Not to wonder off topic but this may apply.

WE NEED MORE REVIVALS,JOIN TOGETHER WITH OTHER CHURCHES RENT A PARKING LOT BRING IN SINGERS EVANGELIST AND SOME GOOD TEACHERS.

BUILD BRIDGES ACROSS DENOMINATIONS AND BRING YOUR LOCAL PEOPLE THE GOSPEL

TEAR DOWN STUPID WALLS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.


I bet many of you might not realize the word church was not in the K.J. it was added after org. Translation by a Catholic Bishop.

But that would be new thread forgive off topic.

 

[Heisluv]

Not to wonder off topic but this may apply.

WE NEED MORE REVIVALS,JOIN TOGETHER WITH OTHER CHURCHES RENT A PARKING LOT BRING IN SINGERS EVANGELIST AND SOME GOOD TEACHERS.

BUILD BRIDGES ACROSS DENOMINATIONS AND BRING YOUR LOCAL PEOPLE THE GOSPEL

TEAR DOWN STUPID WALLS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.


I bet many of you might not realize the word church was not in the K.J. it was added after org. Translation by a Catholic Bishop.

But that would be new thread forgive off topic.

I look forward to the thread!

 

[Johnnz]

A bit of history. The Altar-Call - Invented by 17th-century Methodists and popularized by Charles Finney (1792-1872).

It was baptism that set Christians apart from society in NT times, along with their radically different lifestyle and refusal to participate in Roman cultic practices.


John
NZ

 

[Skala]

Should altar calls be continued?:

Absolutely not. We are saved by putting faith in Jesus Christ, not by changing geographical locations.

You can be saved by remaining in your seat.

 

[now faith]

Absolutely not. We are saved by putting faith in Jesus Christ, not by changing geographical locations.

You can be saved by remaining in your seat.

And sit still or a nice crack across the knuckles for you.

 

[Rev55]

Absolutely not. We are saved by putting faith in Jesus Christ, not by changing geographical locations.

You can be saved by remaining in your seat.

I do agree changing locations doesn't save anyone however why should we stop altar calls?
I have never been in a service where the altar call ment I must go to the altar. It's a time of response if one man walks to the front and prays for salvation he is not more saved than the man that stayed in his seat. Stay in your seat if you want or go to the front, as long as you do what you feel lead to do what's it matter?

 

[dies-l]

I do agree changing locations doesn't save anyone however why should we stop altar calls?
I have never been in a service where the altar call ment I must go to the altar. It's a time of response if one man walks to the front and prays for salvation he is not more saved than the man that stayed in his seat. Stay in your seat if you want or go to the front, as long as you do what you feel lead to do what's it matter?

It's not so much the alter call that I see a problem with. It's the emotionally coercive gospel that nearly always accompanies them that I would disagree with.

 

[Rev55]

It's not so much the alter call that I see a problem with. It's the emotionally coercive gospel that nearly always accompanies them that I would disagree with.

I agree, I've heard of church's that dim the lights at the altar call, it's all to add to the emotional response. I believe in giving someone the facts of the gospel and salvation. Coercive bible beating has no place in Christianity. So then is this thread about altar calls or the misuse of altar calls just to make it look like the church is winning souls and gaining numbers?

 

[dies-l]

I agree, I've heard of church's that dim the lights at the altar call, it's all to add to the emotional response. I believe in giving someone the facts of the gospel and salvation. Coercive bible beating has no place in Christianity. So then is this thread about altar calls or the misuse of altar calls just to make it look like the church is winning souls and gaining numbers?

Alter calls, by their nature, are emotionally coercive. That is the whole point of an alter call.

 

[now faith]

Alter calls, by their nature, are emotionally coercive. That is the whole point of an alter call.

Well guess no need for Evangelism,to contrive.

And emotional responses to God are just unnecessary outburst.

We should sort out things sitting in a chair,would a moment of silence be OK or also coercive.

Well Churches like that do a great job with funerals,but not many getting saved.

 

[JM]

Well guess no need for Evangelism,to contrive.

And emotional responses to God are just unnecessary outburst.

We should sort out things sitting in a chair,would a moment of silence be OK or also coercive.

Well Churches like that do a great job with funerals,but not many getting saved.

Haha, what?

 

[Heisluv]

Alter calls, by their nature, are emotionally coercive. That is the whole point of an alter call.

So, do you believe that if someone makes a public profession of faith during an altar call that is never sincere?