Should a Christian warn his church

On the altar call issue, I always give one with the added line that the Lord always instructed one to build an altar in a specific place. Also I add that the Lord may also require the public example of humility, not humiliation mind you, on the part of the individual.

Not everyone will, or even can, approach the altar is my reasoning. Some are just too nervous and shy to come before the entire congregation to "make things right with the Lord". Sometimes it is necessary to have a one on one talk with the individual to help them pray. I've found this concept to work rather well. Some just simply won't go forward to the altar. Of course I offer my time to meet with anyone after the service privately, but let me note that in the area of the opposite sex, I always bring my wife, also I try to evaluate and bring an "assistant" in some cases. If this is considered reform, then so be it. I just felt led of the Lord when I saw this in my study of the altar in reference to the "closet" of prayer.


Any "problem" or complaint should be at least brought to a deacon, who in turn can evauluate whether or not to take it to the pastor, of course this all depends on church size, etc. (Our pastor made us all deacons, technically, we don't really have any.)

Every church needs preaching, whether it's to the choir or not! Me personally, I don't grasp that "concept" of those who say,"You're preaching to the choir!". We all need preaching! We all need the devil preached out of us!

On the part about discipleship, yes, all churches are to train disciples to witness and evangelize, too many lay this responsibility on the pastor who is already overloaded taking care of the House of God, except those who run businesses and build houses and the such, in their "spare" time, if you know what I mean.

I hope this helps, but by all means, go to your pastor! I mean it!

In Christ,

Brother Ricky

 

Our altar is always open at FBC Villa Rica! In fact, a few months ago, the back door opened and a wayward son walked right to the front, during announcements, fell on his face at the altar and began to cry. Deacons and other men of the church went forward, laid hands on him and began to pray. At the end of the service, he confessed his sins and asked the church to pray for him and his family while he overcame alcohol addiction.

I do not care for this new 'discipling' that is going on locally. We visited a church when we first moved to town and on our second week and at that church, were asked to remain with the congregation for a few minutes after the service. A young MARRIED couple was called forward and confessed that they had had sex before marriage and the girl was pregnant. A member of that church told me that they now will stand up at the end of the service and if someone feels their brother is not living right, will call that person before the church and tell them what they perceive to be his sin. This is a Baptist church!

As for seeing error in the church, the pastor should be the one spoken to or your deacon if assigned one. However, I would search scripture and be sure there is a real problem before going on feelings or likes and dislikes.

Again, I think altar calls are appropriate and necessary! AND... if my pastor stops preaching an evangelical message, stops giving altar calls... and depends on our almost 1,000 members to 'save 'em' and bring them to church.... I'll find a new church!

Diane

 

There is scriptural indication that unbelievers were allowed/invited/whatever into the early church...

1 corinthians 14
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

Luke 14:
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

HankD

 

As for me I have maintained and will maintain that altar call is a manmade invention, and possibly of the devil ultimately. No altar call defender can find any back up for it from the NT. Sooner one could furnish evidence for baby sprinkling, which is also heretical practice. Churches which do not repent of having altar calls manifest themselves as being synagogues of Satan.


Harald

 

Oh Pulleeeeeeeze! Harald, you should not be so quick to condemn Christians or churches because they do not agree with your doctrine. There is nothing 'satanic' about our IFB church. We do not have an altar per se, but we have invitations to come forward at the end of each service and I hope we will always continue to do so. Why give the plan of salvation during a sermon and not give a response time for people to get saved???


Sue

 

I do believe in altar calls, because this is how we bring sinners to God. I do think it is a private thing and should be by choice. I have never went forward, except to request baptism. When I need to get "right" with God I pray in my seat.
I found a church that I really love, but the altar call is very strange, and makes me uncomfortable. My daughter is not saved. Each week the pastor has all saved people raise their hands (no heads bowed). Then he has us bow our heads. He approaches the unsaved ones and speaks to them, but not softly. Everyone can hear what he says, and can tell who he is talking to. My daughter is shy, and she has gotten so she is on the verge of tears when we leave. I think this is counter productive, even though I want her to be saved more than anything. Altar call should be an invitation to God, not a demand.

 

You're right, Christine. It is very counterproductive. It will drive more people away than bring in.
Any pastor who has to resort to that kind of practice should go to that altar himself.
The Holy Spirit is the One who urges us to come forward.

 

Then why have preaching at all? Just have two hours of Bible study.

Do you not invite others to your church? Or is it a "members only" club?

 

Didn't have an altar call on Sunday Night

Pastor felt the need to apologize, even people grounded in the Word get influenced by tradition and culture!

It can be OK if its not overdone, 16 verses of Just as I am with a begging, pleading, or even berating yeller at the pulpit about does me in, I am so glad I haven't been under that for a while.

In our church it is made clear that there is nothing magical or mystical about walking an aisle, but some people feel the need to make decisions that way. The key is really personal accountability, friendship with other believers who know you well enough to encourage and admonish you and keep you on track, not the "fear factor" of walking the aisle, the results of those decisions at least in my life have not been as long lasting as I had been lead to believe. I need someone to just keep track of where I am at, and sometimes smack me upside the head with a 2x4, the last thing I "need" is to walk an aisle

 

It seems to me some people are pathetically ignorant regarding altar calls. Take time and investigate as to when they began to appear, historically. They never were a part of the faith once delivered, Jude 3. Those "churches" that have altar calls are obviously into manmade practices, and could care less for a "thus saith the Lord". You altar call proponents show me a church of the NT which had altar calls!

Secondly, the local Baptist congregation is either an assembly of Christ or a synagogue of the Adversary, there is no in between according to God's holy word. The purpose of an assembly of Christ as a body of Christ is to build up disciples of Christ in the faith. The NT to my knowledge nowhere teaches that unbelievers are to be dragged "to church" for the purpose of "get saved". Read 2John 9-11 and learn that the inspired apostle taught quite contrary to some of you.

1 Corinthians 14 addresses "prophesying", which today is called preaching, and this was according to Paul for the believers in the local assembly, for their edification, encouragement, consolation.

But if any be ignorant let him remain deprived of understanding!(1Cor. 14:38)


Harald

 

Hmmm...We are to go out into the world and spread the Gospel....compel them to come.....But....

We don't want any unbelievers in our church. Get saved first!!

Yeah, that's the ticket.

 

Our church does have an altar in the and it is open at anytime. Some people will be at the altar before services and sometimes during preaching or singing. It is not just used for invitation. Yes, the altar is man made like any other of the OT altars where and it is used for God. It is a sacrifice to kneel down at an altar. We can pray anywhere at anytime but there is just something special about an altar prayer. Altar is mentioned many times in the bible and is found in both the old and new testiments. Even Jesus prayed at an altar. We do have altar calls but just for the ones who want to come. Before we take the Lord supper we always have one.

If you have any kind of problem the pastor should be the first to know. ~Sheila~