- Mar 13, 2018
- 105
- 110
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
This is by far one of the most overused systems in the Christian church today.
People who don't normally come to church are either at the end of their rope or invited by a friend or loved one to attend a church service. What happens next is a synopsis of pretty much every church service across North America.
People who don't normally come to church are either at the end of their rope or invited by a friend or loved one to attend a church service. What happens next is a synopsis of pretty much every church service across North America.
- A welcome song is sung while people great one another, and visitors.
- Announcements are given to let the members know what the up coming events are or what is coming up.
- The worship service begins with roughly 4 songs.
- Tithes and Offerings are taken.
- A Special song sung by a church member.
- The message from the Pastor, lasting no more than 30 mins.
- The call for Salvation is given, a call to receive Christ into one's heart.
- The sinner's prayer is said and the sinner is welcomed into the family of God.
- Closing prayer given and then were dismissed.
Your service may me slightly different when it comes to how worship (singing) is done but it sums up every service.
Well, what's wrong with that? Let's start with the issue of having a set program?
The issue isn't so much having order as it is having a scheduled order. You might be thinking, what's the difference? The difference between the two is simple. A scheduled order places the leadership as in control of the service. This is what we will do, with very little room for change. In other words "we've never done it any other way before". Now to the first statement. Order in a service is simple. It means to be absolutely respectful when coming into fellowship with the Most Holy One of Israel. He is the reason we gather (the ONLY reason we gather), it's all about Him and what He needs us to know from the Word of God. God's Word is Divinely Inspired (God breathed). When we come into what we have deemed as "God's House" we are gathered in one accord to worship God in Spirit and in Truth.
You see what has happened over the last 100 years is a watering down of how the Word of God is preached. People in the body of Christ have become complacent in their walk with God. Unaware of their need to be forgiven of sins.
Not until the end of the 1700's (during the time of the Second Great Awakening) at "camp meetings" that altar calls even used. Evangelists such as George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, and John and Charles Wesley never gave altar calls and yet God used these men in a mighty way to bring the Gospel of Saving Grace to light. So who started this method known as "the invitation to the altar"? His name was Charles Finney (1792-1875), an ordained Presbyterian minister.
Finney's way of being able to preach the Gospel to those who needed it most was by regularly calling them to the front of the congregation to sit on an "anxious bench." It was there, they would receive prayer and be preached to directly. Finney believed
because of Christ's death on the cross salvation had been made possible for all. Human depravity was "a voluntary attitude of the mind," not a nature one was born with. This is why there was so much persuasion to repent and trust Christ from Finney's messages.
Interestingly He (like many even today) were/are convinced that they could produce revival by using the right methods, and to make sure that the altar call be used because it "was necessary to bring [sinners] out from among the mass of the ungodly to a public renunciation of their sinful ways." The scary thing about Finney's approach is how it seems he was, "the altar call was a very persuasive tool to move the human will." Finney also believed that sinners need to change their hearts before they could be saved. This however isn't what Scripture teaches. Just listen to what happened with Cornelius in Acts 10:24-43
34 Then Peter began to speak: “Now I really understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, 35 but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him. 36 He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all. 37 You know the events[g] that took place throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil, because God was with Him. 39 We ourselves are witnesses of everything He did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, yet they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree. 40 God raised up this man on the third day and permitted Him to be seen, 41 not by all the people, but by us, witnesses appointed beforehand by God, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to solemnly testify that He is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about Him that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins.”
Here is the first evidence of the Gentiles not just coming to saving Faith in Christ but receiving the Holy Spirit.
Where was the altar call? There was no need for one. The message was presented, period.
So what's actually wrong with altar calls?
The problem is it's mostly manipulation. How, you might be wondering. This is what typically can be found at countless denominations around North America. After the close of the message the Pastor closes the Bible and say something like this:
Well, what's wrong with that? Let's start with the issue of having a set program?
The issue isn't so much having order as it is having a scheduled order. You might be thinking, what's the difference? The difference between the two is simple. A scheduled order places the leadership as in control of the service. This is what we will do, with very little room for change. In other words "we've never done it any other way before". Now to the first statement. Order in a service is simple. It means to be absolutely respectful when coming into fellowship with the Most Holy One of Israel. He is the reason we gather (the ONLY reason we gather), it's all about Him and what He needs us to know from the Word of God. God's Word is Divinely Inspired (God breathed). When we come into what we have deemed as "God's House" we are gathered in one accord to worship God in Spirit and in Truth.
You see what has happened over the last 100 years is a watering down of how the Word of God is preached. People in the body of Christ have become complacent in their walk with God. Unaware of their need to be forgiven of sins.
Not until the end of the 1700's (during the time of the Second Great Awakening) at "camp meetings" that altar calls even used. Evangelists such as George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, and John and Charles Wesley never gave altar calls and yet God used these men in a mighty way to bring the Gospel of Saving Grace to light. So who started this method known as "the invitation to the altar"? His name was Charles Finney (1792-1875), an ordained Presbyterian minister.
Finney's way of being able to preach the Gospel to those who needed it most was by regularly calling them to the front of the congregation to sit on an "anxious bench." It was there, they would receive prayer and be preached to directly. Finney believed
because of Christ's death on the cross salvation had been made possible for all. Human depravity was "a voluntary attitude of the mind," not a nature one was born with. This is why there was so much persuasion to repent and trust Christ from Finney's messages.
Interestingly He (like many even today) were/are convinced that they could produce revival by using the right methods, and to make sure that the altar call be used because it "was necessary to bring [sinners] out from among the mass of the ungodly to a public renunciation of their sinful ways." The scary thing about Finney's approach is how it seems he was, "the altar call was a very persuasive tool to move the human will." Finney also believed that sinners need to change their hearts before they could be saved. This however isn't what Scripture teaches. Just listen to what happened with Cornelius in Acts 10:24-43
34 Then Peter began to speak: “Now I really understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, 35 but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him. 36 He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all. 37 You know the events[g] that took place throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil, because God was with Him. 39 We ourselves are witnesses of everything He did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, yet they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree. 40 God raised up this man on the third day and permitted Him to be seen, 41 not by all the people, but by us, witnesses appointed beforehand by God, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to solemnly testify that He is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about Him that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins.”
Here is the first evidence of the Gentiles not just coming to saving Faith in Christ but receiving the Holy Spirit.
Where was the altar call? There was no need for one. The message was presented, period.
So what's actually wrong with altar calls?
The problem is it's mostly manipulation. How, you might be wondering. This is what typically can be found at countless denominations around North America. After the close of the message the Pastor closes the Bible and say something like this:
"The Holy Spirit bids you come. The congregation, praying, hoping, expectant, bids you come. On the first note of the first stanza, come down one of these stairways, down one of these aisles. May angels attend you. May the Holy Spirit of God encourage you. May the presence of Jesus walk by your side as you come, while we stand and while we sing."
Then in good fashion we sing some of the most persuasive songs to beg the sinner to come to the altar:
"Just As I Am", "Without Him", "Come Just as You Are" or "Room At The Cross".
Once again you might be thinking, "how then do sinner's get saved unless we invite them". Are you ready? They will be saved just like every Christian was saved for roughly eighteen-plus centuries before the invitation system was ever heard of.
The Old Testament calls to repentance:
Joel 2:12 “And even now,” declares Yahweh, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, and weeping, and wailing.”
Amos 5:1 Hear this word that I am going to intone over you as a lament, O house of Israel!
Job 36:10 He sounds a warning in their ears and orders them to repent of their evil.
Pro 1:23 Repent when I reprove — I will pour out my spirit to you, I will make my words known to you.
What is most interesting with Proverbs is what is said later on...
28 Then they will call me, but I won’t answer; they will seek me earnestly, but they won’t find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of Adonai, 30 they refused my counsel and despised my reproof. 31 So they will bear the consequences of their own way and be overfilled with their own schemes. 32 For the aimless wandering of the thoughtless will kill them, and the smug overconfidence of fools will destroy them; 33 but those who pay attention to me will live securely, untroubled by fear of misfortune.”
"Just As I Am", "Without Him", "Come Just as You Are" or "Room At The Cross".
Once again you might be thinking, "how then do sinner's get saved unless we invite them". Are you ready? They will be saved just like every Christian was saved for roughly eighteen-plus centuries before the invitation system was ever heard of.
The Old Testament calls to repentance:
Joel 2:12 “And even now,” declares Yahweh, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, and weeping, and wailing.”
Amos 5:1 Hear this word that I am going to intone over you as a lament, O house of Israel!
Job 36:10 He sounds a warning in their ears and orders them to repent of their evil.
Pro 1:23 Repent when I reprove — I will pour out my spirit to you, I will make my words known to you.
What is most interesting with Proverbs is what is said later on...
28 Then they will call me, but I won’t answer; they will seek me earnestly, but they won’t find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of Adonai, 30 they refused my counsel and despised my reproof. 31 So they will bear the consequences of their own way and be overfilled with their own schemes. 32 For the aimless wandering of the thoughtless will kill them, and the smug overconfidence of fools will destroy them; 33 but those who pay attention to me will live securely, untroubled by fear of misfortune.”
Mark 1:15 seems to make it easy to understand what Salvation is. It says “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the Gospel.
Simple enough right? Repent and believe.
This same proclamation made over and over again in the Word of God.
We must get away from this method called the "altar call". Preach the Gospel message. Teach those who are . believers by being a living example.
The Godly men who fear the Lord should exhort those younger men and help them to grow in the ways of the Lord, not letting them fall into the temptation of all this world has to offer.
The Godly women need to teach the younger women how to act and present themselves, in a pure and modest way that is please before the Lord.
The young people should hear the words of wisdom from their elders and to test it to see if it be scriptural.
A rebuke is given because its done out of love. It's to help bring reconciliation between family.
The whole story (The Bible) tells us of this. God who took on flesh, came among His creation, walked among them, taught them, touched them, healed them, rebuked them, forgave them. The Perfect Pure Spotless Lamb of God who was (as it says in Isaiah 55) was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
No one seeks God, no one comes to God (unless God calls him), so bidding a sinner to come to the cross by using man's methods will not create the outward appearance of a sinner who has been saved by grace.
Romans 3:10-17
10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” 14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know.”
