altar calls?

[Saint_Rita]

Does your church do weekly altar calls?

What is the purpose?

Do people just go up for Salvation?

Do they offer it to those who are Saved and need to get right with the Lord again?

How about those who are struggling internally and need extra prayer?

Just curious.

 

[BigNorsk]

We don't do the sacrament of the altar call in my congregation.

Marv

 

[DeaconDean]

Does your church do weekly altar calls?

Well, I am ashamed to say that we do at my church.

What is the purpose?

Well, there is a bit of history behind that also. Actually, the idea of "altar calls" is a realitively new thing. It only began back in the 1800's. And actually, it was started by a "quack" named Charles Finney. And it was only instituted as a way to booster membership in the church.

Do people just go up for Salvation?

That is the "commom" belief. But, can a person not be saved sitting in their pew also?

Do they offer it to those who are Saved and need to get right with the Lord again?

Yes.

How about those who are struggling internally and need extra prayer?

Yes.

Just curious.

No problem.

God Bless

Till all are one.

 

[NorrinRadd]

Well, I am ashamed to say that we do at my church.

...

Well, there is a bit of history behind that also. Actually, the idea of "altar calls" is a realitively new thing. It only began back in the 1800's. And actually, it was started by a "quack" named Charles Finney. And it was only instituted as a way to booster membership in the church.

...

That is the "commom" belief. But, can a person not be saved sitting in their pew also? ...

I always thought it was a modern replacement for immediate baptism upon conversion.

 

[Rhamiel]

BigNorsk

We don't do the sacrament of the altar call in my congregation.

interesting pun, I always thought the alter call was treated like a sacrement in some places, especialy when it they call up not only those who have not excepted the Lordship of Christ but also those who have fallen away and wish to return to him, almost reminded me of the Sacrement of Reconciliation

 

[desmalia]

I attend a Baptist church these days. They don't do the standard alter call. But I've noticed lately they do basically the same thing, just in a slightly different way. The pastor preaches. Usually it's a pretty good sermon. But then towards the end he rushes through because he's out of time. And the very end includes a little talk about being saved or rededicating your life. Then during the prayer he asks for a show of hands of any who have been saved or rededicated their lives. And then he mentions there is a prayer room behind the sanctuary for anyone who wants someone to pray with them or talk with them. There is a real battle in the church between the "seeker sensitive" crowd and the ones who want the meat of the Gospel preached. So this little addition to the service is very concerning to me.

I find that alter calls are most often very manipulative. I've seen them at Christian concerts even, and they really frustrated me because they were completely based on emotion, not usually any actual change in a person. There's a kind of guilt trip if you don't raise your hand or go to the front.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

Does your church do weekly altar calls?

No, we don't. It doesn't seem to be part of our tradition. (Assemblies of God)

How about those who are struggling internally and need extra prayer?

We do have a weekly prayer service (Wednesday evening). We also tend to pray for people at the drop of a hat, and we include prayer cards in the weekly bulletin, so people can easily, even anonymously if they want, make their prayer needs known.

 

[Sockroteez]

At my former Church (Baptist) the Pastor did an 'Invitation to Accept Christ' at the end of every service. Everyone was asked to bow their heads, and anyone who wanted to accept Christ was asked to raise their hand in the sight of only the Pastor. I thought it better than 'Altar calls' as it gave people a less 'emotionally charged' experience of walking the aisle and having people clap, etc... One of the issues that I have with many contemporary Churches is the push for a 'Born Again Experience'; this is then followed by the teaching of 'Once Saved Always Saved' which leads to believing that a one time experience has effectively landed you in the 'Kingdom'. (I recognize that some, such as the Pentacostals, do not adhere to OSAS)

My entry into the Church had nothing to do with a 'Church'. I heard about Jesus' life, death, burial, resurrection and future judgment at a Dunkin Donuts. Two friends of mine also believed, and we were discipled by the gentleman who shared Christ with us for several months before I stepped into a Church building. I can't name a specific time or day that I was 'Saved', nor did I speak in tongues or get 'Slain in the Spirit' or any such thing. I believed in Jesus much in the same simplicity which Paul speaks of in 1 Corinth. 15. Then it was only after I started attending Church(es) that the problems and confusion began. 1 Corinth. 1 became real in my own life. Some followed this teaching, some another... So what had been a simple and pure Faith in God through Christ became theological debate and picking out what was 'wrong' with this and that Church or Denomination. You see, dogma began replacing God. I don't think many people realize just how subtle and deceptive this transformation can be. Doctrine can easily change forms... such as from a 'roadmap' to keep you from heretical wanderings, into a 'hammer' to bash those who don't agree with your opinions. In light of this, I believe that many 'opinions' and 'teachings of men' have become such dogmas and doctrines when they really should not be. I always thought that preachers picked on the Pharisees a little too much when they should have been listening to Jesus' words and checking themselves. The Pharisees thought they were in the right, and Jesus even said that they would have had no sin if He hadn't come. The Church of Jesus Christ should beware that they are not in the proverbial shoes of the Pharisees.

 

[Sockroteez]

I find that alter calls are most often very manipulative. I've seen them at Christian concerts even, and they really frustrated me because they were completely based on emotion, not usually any actual change in a person. There's a kind of guilt trip if you don't raise your hand or go to the front.

Agreed 100%...

 

[NorrinRadd]

No, we don't. It doesn't seem to be part of our tradition. (Assemblies of God) ...

Hmm.... The Pentecostal church I used to attend was chartered under the "Independent" Assemblies of God -- distinct from the "regular" AG -- but I always assumed most of the traditions were similar. At the end of each service, we had a "Close your eyes... Now anyone who wants to make Jesus Lord of your lives, raise your hand" and a "Come on down to the altar if you want someone to pray with you or lay hands on you."

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

Hmm.... The Pentecostal church I used to attend was chartered under the "Independent" Assemblies of God -- distinct from the "regular" AG -- but I always assumed most of the traditions were similar. At the end of each service, we had a "Close your eyes... Now anyone who wants to make Jesus Lord of your lives, raise your hand" and a "Come on down to the altar if you want someone to pray with you or lay hands on you."

I have no experience with any AG congregation other than my present one, but I've never seen anything like that at mine, not in that style anyway. We do them in a more low key, individualized way, as people become part of our community.

 

[icedtea]

I have no church, but in many, there was a call to come up for prayer afterwards. I loved that.

 

[nzguy]

Ya we do it.. altho no one actually has to come up and pray with the Pastor or worship leader or a particular person.. the Pastor or person doing the sermon presents the gospel, and then says if you want to ask Christ into your life you can now as we bow our heads and pray. The Pastor or person doing the preaching also normally asks us to think about the sermon and what people need to say to God in response to it.

That is from our little independent, fundamentalist baptist church in Christchurch, New Zealand.

This call is also not for those saved.. because we believe that once you have asked Christ in once.. it doesn't need to be ever done again.. (altho if you aren't sure, there is no harm in doing it again)..

since the first time Christ comes in from the call to Him.. He seals you with His Holy Spirit, guaranteeing eternal life and forgiving all sin past, present and future.

So we do have the call.. but there is no re-commitment prayer or prayer for those who think they have lost their salvation.

1 Peter 3:

18 ¶ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

1Jo 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Joh 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.


1Jo 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

from NZguy

 

[Nadiine]

I attend a Baptist church these days. They don't do the standard alter call. But I've noticed lately they do basically the same thing, just in a slightly different way. The pastor preaches. Usually it's a pretty good sermon. But then towards the end he rushes through because he's out of time. And the very end includes a little talk about being saved or rededicating your life. Then during the prayer he asks for a show of hands of any who have been saved or rededicated their lives. And then he mentions there is a prayer room behind the sanctuary for anyone who wants someone to pray with them or talk with them. There is a real battle in the church between the "seeker sensitive" crowd and the ones who want the meat of the Gospel preached. So this little addition to the service is very concerning to me.

I find that alter calls are most often very manipulative. I've seen them at Christian concerts even, and they really frustrated me because they were completely based on emotion, not usually any actual change in a person. There's a kind of guilt trip if you don't raise your hand or go to the front.

My concern would be what example we have in the Bible for alter calls.

Speaking of guilt - I'll add pressure.... how about how a Pastor feels when NOBODY goes forward...

I think they can produce some guilt in us, but I also think they can produce Godly conviction for those of us who aren't 'right' with the Lord personally, or the unsaved if they've been considering salvation.

So I think it can have a positive or negative effect depending on the sermon, the Holy Spirit's calling/sifting or a person's spiritual condition.

Our churches have mostly offered prayer for people if they want to go forward after the service. They have prayer partners (often people involved w/ the church) up front for anyone who wants to go up after the service.
The church I currently attend doesn't do alter calls at all - he's also in a rush at the end of his sermon becuz he always goes too long (I still say that's becuz of all the announcments they go thru & too many songs lol) -

I think it takes alot of time to offer alter calls too. It's a little uncomfy to have to sit thru 3 stanza's of a hymn WAITING for people to go forward
*checks watch*

 

[cubanito]

I have formally left my previous local PCA because of liberalism, and am "looking around." I probably should take the matter further, but for now I am praying to make a decision on wether to pursue the matter up "the chain of command" or just let my clearly spoken objections stay at the local level. I really have prayed very little, which is an admission of guilt. I have resentments and anger about the situation which are not altogether wholesome. You put your money and time, then the liberals take over, a very typical situation these days, I'm afraid.

I have never attended a local assembly with routine altar call, but on the last 2 services before I left my former place, something like it was done. Not exactly, just a note that elders would remain up near the pulpit to pray and talk w anybody that had personal problems. I found that addition a positive thing, I did not go up because my concerns are quite public, and nothing new could be added, IMO.

JR

 

[desmalia]

I have no church, but in many, there was a call to come up for prayer afterwards. I loved that.

Welcome back!!!

My concern would be what example we have in the Bible for alter calls.

Excellent point.

Speaking of guilt - I'll add pressure.... how about how a Pastor feels when NOBODY goes forward...

I know! And most, if not all good pastors do have a lot of emotion attached to every sermon they preach.

I think they can produce some guilt in us, but I also think they can produce Godly conviction for those of us who aren't 'right' with the Lord personally, or the unsaved if they've been considering salvation.

So I think it can have a positive or negative effect depending on the sermon, the Holy Spirit's calling/sifting or a person's spiritual condition.

Yes.... but a good solid sermon will shine both light and love, conviction and comfort. They will challenge the heart of the believer in a very real way as the Spirit of truth pierces right through. I've always found the most powerful church sermons to be the ones directed to the saved, not the unsaved. And I've more often seen the unsaved moved by those same sermons than by alter calls.

Please note I'm not saying that missionary preaching is bad or anything. It's absolutely wonderful in the right setting. But within a church setting, the body needs to be nurtured with the meat of the word, not treated like a mission field in constant need of saving.

The church I currently attend doesn't do alter calls at all - he's also in a rush at the end of his sermon becuz he always goes too long (I still say that's becuz of all the announcments they go thru & too many songs lol) -

Arrrgggg, I know! Ours has that problem too. They spend an hour or more on announcements, singing, and various multimedia presentations or skits or whatever. Then the pastor gets a TIMED period of 20 minutes to rush through the sermon. I so wish they'd cut through the fluff and let him really preach! Or at least let him run long and finish the actual sermon. People can leave if they want. But my guess is that most would stay. Of course that gets complicated when there are two services in a row on Sunday mornings.

I think it takes alot of time to offer alter calls too. It's a little uncomfy to have to sit thru 3 stanza's of a hymn WAITING for people to go forward
*checks watch*

Ah, if only we sang hymns in our church... (but that's a topic for another thread, hehe)

 

[synger]

No, we don't have altar calls. We believe, teach, and confess that God calls us to Him, rather than us making a decision for Him. It's a different way of coming to the same conclusion.

 

[No Swansong]

Not my current Church but I am not opposed to them in any way. However the Churches I attended utilized altar calls for much more than those who wished to make a public confession of Christ.

 

[PastorJim]

Does your church do weekly altar calls?

What is the purpose?

Do people just go up for Salvation?

Do they offer it to those who are Saved and need to get right with the Lord again?

How about those who are struggling internally and need extra prayer?

Just curious.

We don't do the "...and now, with every head bowed and every eye closed, repeat this prayer after me..." thing, if that's what you mean, but we do offer people an opportunity to come up and pray or ask for prayer.

 

[PastorJim]

My concern would be what example we have in the Bible for alter calls.

Speaking of guilt - I'll add pressure.... how about how a Pastor feels when NOBODY goes forward...

I do a lot of evangelistic preaching and I can think of a couple of times when there was no reaction whatsoever (no positive reaction, anyway). Didn't bother me a bit. God just called me to present the Gospel. Everything after that is up to Him.

On the other hand, I was sharing the Gospel with a young girl one day and she didn't respond to it in any way, but a man who overheard us sought me out later and asked me how he could be saved. That was several months ago and he's now planted in a local Bible-believing church and is growing more and more everytime I see him.

So most preachers understand that just because there doesn't appear to be anything going on on the surface, there's always something going on behind the scenes. God has promised us that His word will not return void.

I think they can produce some guilt in us, but I also think they can produce Godly conviction for those of us who aren't 'right' with the Lord personally, or the unsaved if they've been considering salvation.

I understand what you mean, but it is never the preacher that brings about conviction. That's always the Holy Spirit's job.