Another queston for those who like answering questions

[2win]

Well, I don't see in scripture anyone riding in automobiles to a worship service; neither do I see in scripture them having electricity, or airconditioning in a any place where they gathered to worship.Computers to argue with? I don't think so.

 

[jamantc]

Lol

 

[2win]

I wonder how many babies are born knowing how to walk, and talk already? I didn't get saved by answering an alter call, I got saved at home alone with my Bible, and the Holy Spirit; however I have witnessed many people coming forward at alter calls, and confessing Jesus Christ as Lord, and Savior. The Lord uses different ways to bring lost sinners to Him. Yes I think many people are ashamed that they are sinners comming to be saved; an alter call, with heads bowed, and eyes closed lets a person feel free to come forward; then after experience with the Lord, I think most people gladly anounce publicly that they are a sinner saved by grace; you gotta learn to crawl, before you can learn to walk.

 

[iambren]

I'm in a weird position--I was raised Pentecostal AG for the first 28 years of my life. Then due to some church squabbles I landed up at a PCUSA church,then went to a seminary and became a Calvinist. So the beginning emphasized the immanence of God,the latter the transcendence of God. Both are beautiful aspects of the nature of God but I miss the experience of God in our midst,the reality that He is here...now. An altar call would fall into that present moving,at the same time I know that a lot of emotion walking down the aisle can evaporate later.

 

[least]

It seems to me that the issue of giving an altar call falls under the category of method and not message. To be sure, the message must never be compromised while giving such a call! To say that because a practice is not found in Scripture makes it un-Scriptural is not entirely accurate, as our friends who have mentioned pianos and air conditions have noted. By the way, Sunday Schools aren’t necessarily in there either, and yet it has proven to be a great method of teaching God’s Word.

Is it a stretch to find the principle of the altar call in the Bible? Obviously, such a label is nowhere to be found; however, the principle is, if in giving the call we are calling people to come to Christ. Scripture is full of Christ giving invitations for people to come to him. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11:28). “Let the little children come to me…” (Mt. 19:14). “Let the one who is thirsty come…” (Rev. 22:17). Consider the passage in Luke 14:15-35. Jesus told a parable about a king who had prepared a banquet and those he had invited gave excuses as to why they could not attend. He then tells his servants, “Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled” (italics mine). In other words, do whatever is necessary to get people to come to my banquet.

Is this not the same concept of what is known as an altar call? But it may be said that coming down the aisle does not save a person, and that is absolutely correct! I would find it hard to believe that any Pastor worth his weight in mustard seed would think otherwise. To the contrary, it is a method of inviting folks to come to Christ. Now, back to the passage in Luke—in verses 25-35, after heralding his invitation in seed-scattering fashion, Jesus defines what coming to him is all about: forsaking everything (even family) in order to follow him. “Count the cost,” he says, and if the cross is too heavy to bear set it down and walk away.

So then, the altar call should be seen only as a method of calling people to come to Christ. It is not the only method and it is certainly not something that must be done. But countless Christians have started their journey by stepping out in faith in response to an altar call. Is it Scriptural? Not necessarily, but neither is it un-Scriptural. Remember, it is a method, not a message that competes with the Gospel of Christ, in whom alone salvation is found. I hope that I have at least opened up a perspective that is biblical in nature, but if we cannot agree in this, let us always agree in the saving grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to him be all glory and honor!

 

[Rev55]

some notes i made to do a lesson on Alters/Chanukah

Altars


This church feels that an altar call is against scripture because the bible doesnt teach the altar call, they referance that pentecost makes no mention of an altar call(not only reference) yet 3000 were saved.


It is generally recognized that the altar call was invented by a Presbyterian evangelist named Charles G. Finney who lived from 1792-1875. Finney referred to the altar call as coming to the anxious seat or to the inquiry room and began using it in his evangelistic services in about 1820. Did the churches do it all wrong in the matter of evangelism until Finney came along in 1820 with his new system? How were people saved during the 1800 years of Christian history before the advent of Charles G. Finney? Evangelist D.L. Moody took Finney’s altar call and refined it and in turn it was passed on to its modern champion, Billy Graham.
In a paper he wrote called "The Christian," Billy Graham defends his use of the invitation system by resorting, not to the scriptures but to psychology when he says concerning the invitation, "Many psychologists would say it is psychologically sound." Biblical practices do not need the endorsement of psychology! There is absolutely no biblical authority for this practice! Yet today virtually all evangelists and pastors and churches use the altar call or invitation system.
So why do we have an altar call?



Genesis8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar
Genesis12:7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.


Genesis26:24 And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.” 25 So he built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.






The alter is (by my understanding anyways) a place for remembrance When i look at the alter at my church I remember where I prayed and God answers. I was saved in the Parsonage of the church my parents attend you dont alters to be saved or for anything else they just remind of of what God has done. As we can see in the verses I provided they were to commemorate God doing something.

 

[Skala]

If the altar call is so scriptural, why did it take almost 1800 years to show up in the church? If it were so scriptural, would not the apostles themselves given altar calls? Just asking. Not even Jonathon Edwards, George Whitfield, or John Wesley (to name a short few) would give an altar call, stating it wasn't necessary and a few stating it wasn't scriptural.

No one said it was scriptural

I, for one, abhor the altar call.

 

[now faith]

I wonder what Paul did after giving a sermon?

One account a young man fell from a loft,glad we do not practice that today.

Is it possible not to give credit for anyone inventing alter calls?

What would you logically assume would happen after a sermon?

Or would people during the sermon rush to the pulpit and grab Paul and repent at his feet before the sermon could be finished?

What about the sermon on the mount?

Some look at the alter call as a play on the emotions at the right time,but what is not considered is God's timing Preaching the Word and the move of the Holy Ghost.