Altar calls

[jlujan69]

I'm wondering if your church does "altar calls", and if so, how is it done. At mine, after every service, all are called to bow their heads and close their eyes. Then the pastor takes a few minutes to talk about salvation and repentence. Then, "with every head bowed and every eye closed", people are encouraged to raise their hand if they want to "get right with God". Then, they're invited down to the front where an altar worker is there to lead them in a prayer. Of course, with those who come down, it's assumed that they're sincere. After this, information is taken from the new convert so follow-up can take place. So, how do you all do yours?

 

[rural_preacher]

I only offer an "invitation" in my Sunday morning service. At the close of my message, I make a direct application of the material to the listeners. I encourage them to respond by allowing the HS to make the necessary changes in their heart. I explain that I will be standing in front during the closing song and that I will be happy to speak with anyone who wants to come forward to make their decision public. I encourage them to let the HS change them whether they come forward or not. I don't need people to walk the aisle in order to feel like I've accomplished something. I simply trust that God will empower my preaching and that He will use it for His purposes in the lives of the people.

I always encourage my congregation to let God change them every Sunday. We should be different when we walk out than when we walked in. Worship should always be about letting God change us to be more like Christ.


--

 

[TwinCrier]

Ours goes pretty much the same way. Many people go down simply to pray at the alter while others may go up to the pastor to say they want to become members, be baptised or get saved.

 

[WashedClean]

I always encourage my congregation to let God change them every Sunday. We should be different when we walk out than when we walked in. Worship should always be about letting God change us to be more like Christ.

Can I come to your church?? LOL

 

[Gwenyfur]

Ours is the same...as the congregation sings the pastor waits. We're a small church and the altar is open for prayer as well as the work of the Holy Spirit. Some come for salvation, some for rededication and other for baptism. but most just to pray at the altar. A few times we've been asked afterward to come forward and pray with one in particular. Last month we prayed with a young man who left for Iraq, another time for a girl trying to quit smoking (she's since quit).

I admit to there being times that while playing the piano, I get sidetracked in prayer. I'm always grateful that God gave me the ability to play, pray and cry all at the same time!

 

[Laserman]

Hi,

My Only question is where in the scripture are we told to do anything like the " Altar Call" and all the modern "tools" that go along with it? I'm not in favor with altar Calls. I don't think they are scriptural. Nothing wrong with Rural Preachers approach though. The Holy Spirit changes people's hearts, not walking the isles and praying at an altar for men to see.

Barry

 

[Sevryn45]

This is what I think of "Altar Calls"

5“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

By the way what kind of fundamentalist would do such a thing as an "Altar Call"?
In my opinion totally unnecessary.

 

[Peculiarone]

My church doesn't do an alter call... I wish they would. Cause it hurts me to see unsaved souls, souls that might need help leave out of the church without giving their lives to Christ or without receiving a prayer or SOMETHING.

 

[Lutherrunner]

My church doesn't do an alter call... I wish they would. Cause it hurts me to see unsaved souls, souls that might need help leave out of the church without giving their lives to Christ or without receiving a prayer or SOMETHING.

How do you know they didn't?

 

[Peculiarone]

Well I'm just saying.. even giving the mere OPPORTUNITY for these souls to come to HIM is essential.

 

[Gwenyfur]

I understand about the hypocritical prayers that often happen in some churhes. But I do support altar calls or as we refer to it..."invitation". Some who are moved toward God, but don't understand entirely what they're to do to turn their lives over to Jesus and be saved. It's a time for an older christian to sit and counsel with them, pray with them and for them. If they decide to accept Jesus we get their name and addy and do a follow up visit, gift them a Bible and some study tools to get them started ... and of course invite them back...

There's more to altar calls and invitations than just walking the aisle....

Just 2 cents

 

[rural_preacher]

I agree.

Invitations are also for more than just salvation decisions. In fact, I think of that as a secondary reason for invitations. The invitation time is more for "family members"...Christians. A time to come forward to make a decision public for the purpose of being held accountable by the congregation for that decision. A decision made in the heart that is kept private is likely one that will not last. We are to submit one to another and I believe that includes making our spiritual decisions public in the church so that we are accountable to the body.


--

 

[Lutherrunner]

A decision made in the heart that is kept private is likely one that will not last.
--

then it wasn't a "real" decision.....and it really "wasn't" made in the heart....

 

[rural_preacher]

then it wasn't a "real" decision.....and it really "wasn't" made in the heart....

You are suggesting that every decision that every person makes is held to without wavering. I disagree. Many times people make decisions - whether spiritual, vocational, etc. - with every intention of sticking with their decision, but then they waver...they are led astray by one thing or another. Paul bears witness to this reality in the spiritual realm in Romans 7:21-25.

It is much more likely that a person will stick to a decision with greater determination if they make that decision public. A decision made privately is doomed to failure. A decision made public places one under the accountability of the Body and that is a commitment not merely a decision. Fear of "going public" with your decision suggests that you are afraid of submission and accountability and you want an easy "out" if you change your mind. That is why God commands us to submit one to another.

In fact, a sign of being filled with the Spirit is our willingness to submit to one another in the fear of God (Ephesians 5:21).


--

 

[jlujan69]

This is what I think of "Altar Calls"

[/color]

By the way what kind of fundamentalist would do such a thing as an "Altar Call"?
In my opinion totally unnecessary.

I'm trying to make the connection between the passages you cited and altar calls. Jesus was referring to those people who are not interested in pleasing God, but rather they want the adoration of others, so they go out in the streets and make a lot of noise. As Jesus said, "they have their reward already", meaning the attention of men.

 

[Sketcher]

My church doesn't do full altar calls very often, but what we do have every week is an invitation to meet with one of the pastors or elders for prayer after the service. They stand in the front, ready to greet and pray with anyone who comes up rather than leave.

 

[Wilfred of Ivanhoe]

My church does not perform an alter call, but the minister does encourage anyone who does not know Jesus as their savior to turn to Him now, for now is the acceptable day of salvation. He also encourages anyone who has questions to visit with him after church. He does a wonderful job of speaking with everyone, especially visitors, before they leave.

 

[CoffeeSwirls]

If you recall, the curtain seperating the Holy of Holies and the Holy place in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom when Jesus gave up His spirit. No longer are we separated from God. No longer do we have to have a priest to speak on our behalf. Besides, what is an altar doing in a church? We have a Lord's Table, but no altar.

Getting people to respond to the call of a man (raise a hand, come forward, etc) is nothing more than getting someone to jump through your hoops. It is the equivalent of re-stitching the curtain seperating Man from God.

 

[brad_religion]

I'm wondering if your church does "altar calls", and if so, how is it done. At mine, after every service, all are called to bow their heads and close their eyes. Then the pastor takes a few minutes to talk about salvation and repentence. Then, "with every head bowed and every eye closed", people are encouraged to raise their hand if they want to "get right with God". Then, they're invited down to the front where an altar worker is there to lead them in a prayer. Of course, with those who come down, it's assumed that they're sincere. After this, information is taken from the new convert so follow-up can take place. So, how do you all do yours?

Well, I have been to churches that do those things which I find to be completely unscriptural and antichrist. The "altar call" is a remaining heresy of Charles Finney, the damned heretic. The sinner's prayer is also an unbiblical apostate teaching not found in scripture. But does it make sense for them to say "every head bowed and every eye closed" when they "offer" salvation and the audience participation of raising a hand? Doesn't telling the whole church to close their eyes and bow their heads showing that the new "convert" should be ASHAMED of their new faith in Christ? I mean, if they are ashamed of him in front of other christians, what makes these morons think they won't be ashamed of Jesus in front of unbelievers? The altar call is a lame attempt to give credit to man's work rather than the inward work of the Holy Spirit.

 

[jlujan69]

Well, I have been to churches that do those things which I find to be completely unscriptural and antichrist. The "altar call" is a remaining heresy of Charles Finney, the damned heretic. The sinner's prayer is also an unbiblical apostate teaching not found in scripture. But does it make sense for them to say "every head bowed and every eye closed" when they "offer" salvation and the audience participation of raising a hand? Doesn't telling the whole church to close their eyes and bow their heads showing that the new "convert" should be ASHAMED of their new faith in Christ? I mean, if they are ashamed of him in front of other christians, what makes these morons think they won't be ashamed of Jesus in front of unbelievers? The altar call is a lame attempt to give credit to man's work rather than the inward work of the Holy Spirit.

Wow! You sure said a mouthful!!............... Uh, I guess you don't like altar calls much, huh??