The Old-time Alter Call

After singing, and before the prayer that starts the preaching service, every Primitive Baptist church that I've ever been to will ask if there is anyone in need of prayers, and tell the church who it is and what is the problem. Then whomever delivers the opening prayer will typically mention, or at least try to, those who were set apart as needing a special blessing.

Of course, we're Old Baptists, so that might be why we retain this "old time" practice.

 

BTW, there was no alternative in the 2nd question for someone who voted "yes" on the 1s question.

 

The "old time altar call" is only about 200 years old. Thats about 1/10th of church history. If you want it, great, but there is no special virtue in having one or not.

 

Can be found in pretty much any Arminian church!

 

What I don't understand is why some many partake in a practice that has no precedent in scripture. I even know people who think that churches who don't have them have gone liberal. We must ask, where has God required this of us? Short answer---- He hasn't, we simply substitute the traditions of men for the commandments of God.

...Ah, the allurement of Rome.

 

Those churches are following the teaching of Acts 2:21

"All that call on the name of the Lord shall be saved".

It is one thing to decide that you wish to be baptised, it is another to call on God for Salvation which is exactly what happens at an Altar Call!

 

Greetings,

why do they call it an altar call? Do baptist churches have altars? If so, what do they sacrifice on them, since an altar by definition is a table for sacrifice. Just curious about the terminology.

peace

 

see my article on the Atlar Call as it has filled the original role of Baptism
http://members.aol.com/etb700/baptism.html

 

from http://members.aol.com/etb700/baptism.html

"Calvinist groups are now questioning the conversion of many in the Southern Baptist Convention and the rest of evangelicalism, because apparently, they say, people are trusting in coming down to an altar and praying a "sinner's prayer", but are not producing the "fruits" of regeneration, and thus appear to be "tares" made comfortable on the road to Hell."

They even question their own salvation. I have met quite a number who have a hope so salvation. Certainly not in agreement with 1 John 5:11-13. If any Baptist has read Spurgeon he would remind us that what a person does after making a decision is directly related to how they were prepared beforehand. Too often people are told to make a decision to keep out of hell and not about counting the cost too.

 

TP said:Greetings,

why do they call it an altar call? Do baptist churches have altars? If so, what do they sacrifice on them, since an altar by definition is a table for sacrifice. Just curious about the terminology.
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Tam says:

I don't know why they call it an alter call, but when I read the question, this is what came to mind.

An alter is where we sacrifice our lives to Jesus. When we surrender and ask him to save us, we say here I am Lord, I give my life to you.

It also "alters" OUR life when we give our hearts and lives to Him for we will never be the same!!

So whether alter, invitation, gospel call, etc., there ought to be one every time theres preaching at the church.

I was at a church once and gave an alter call and a woman who had been "professing" to be a Christian for a long L O N G time came forward and asked Jesus into her heart.

You see, we may "think" everyone there is saved, but Jesus "knows".

Thats why we ought to always ask!!

Praise His Holy name!!




Tam

 

I am not against altar calls per se, as long as we don't consider the ritual of going forward, repeating a prayer, etc. to save or have value. Some people think people are saved just because they follow a traditional ritual. In a lot of evangelical churches, going forward and repeating a prayer has become a ritual like this.

You can go up to the front and get a guarantee of salvation from a lot of preachers, without having faith in Christ. All you have to do with repeat the words after the preacher and 'ask Jesus into your heart' and the preacher will tell you, "Don't let the Devil tell you that you aren't saved.'

Then, on the way home, if the Holy Spirit tells the unbeliever to repent, he can recall the preacher's advice and assume that it is the Devil trying to tell him that he isn't saved.

We need to keep in mind that there is no 'altar call' in the Bible. There is repentance, confession, and baptism. There is no 'asking Jesus into your heart' to be saved in scripture, though Christ is to reign in our hearts as a _result_ of our salvation.


tamborine lady,

What is the difference if someone professes Christ sitting in a pew or up at an altar?

 

I just saw this thread, so I don't want to repeat much that has already been observed.

For those who want an "altar call" or even doubt the Christianity of those who do not practice it in their churches, please answer the following questions:

1. What is the biblical precedent for an altar call? Where do we find the church in the apostolic age practicing it? Please don't include admonitions to repent and believe such as Peter's at Pentecost. There was no coming forward, no show of hands, etc. I do not practice an altar call, but I always admonish my congregation to repent and believe. They are well able to do that where they sit.

2. As correctly observed above, the altar call is only about 200 years old. Was the church in error for not practicing it the previous almost 1800 years? How were people converted for 9/10 of church history?

I'm not asking for bombs to be thrown---just cool, calm, collected, canonical reasoning.

Blessings,
Bill

 

Music4Him,

Thanks for your reply.

I think we agree that Jesus presented the parable in Luke 18 to show the hypocrisy of self-righteousness. I agree with you that we do pray in church, and probably not enough. I do not see, however, what this has to do with an altar call, except to warn people against "going forward" out of self-righteousness.

Once again, if the altar call is necessary in a worship service, was the church derelict in its practice for 1800 years? It is a matter of historical fact that it wasn't practiced until, at the earliest, the closing years of the 18th century and then popularized by men such as Charles Finney.

Because most believers know little about church history, they just assume that the altar call has always been practiced by Bible-believing churches. That is why it's called an "old time" practice, though it's only a couple of centuries old.

Of course, if the Bible mandates the practice, it doesn't matter whether the church practiced it or not. The practice would be right because of scriptural authority.

Let's keep thinking through this issue.

Blessings,
Bill

 

Acts-2-37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

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I think that was the first alter call. But it doesn't mean you are any more saved than you would be if you sat in the pew and did it!

However Jesus said: Luke 9-26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

And I think that is why a lot of churches have you come up front and then pray. It is an open acknowledgement of you accepting Jesus as your savior.

Peace,

Tam

 

Nothing here give me any indication as to why an altar call is importnat. Why does anyone have to come forward in front of the church to do anything? 'Cause good ole Chuck Finney thought it was a good idea.

If a church wants to use it, great, no problem, more power to you. However, the is NOTHING in the Word of God which even implies it is necessary even of benefit.