Altar Calls

Kate

No, we view baptism as an outward and visible sign of inward and spiritual grace.

As for becoming members, any one can ask to be a member in the church conference (which is held monthly). At that time they will relate their experience of grace (what happened in private). Sometimes a person desiring baptism will relate their experience to the pastor, who will bring it up for them, if they are especially shy. (Some of the ladies would tend to fall into this category). If the church sees an decent and orderly walk then they will be accepted as a candidate for baptism. Then we go to the river behind the church and baptise them.

Hope it helps.

 

Yes, Yes, Yes. Every major decision I have made since becoming a Christian, I have made at the altar. On the other hand, the times I didn't go to the altar because I figured I would take care of it later, usually never got around to taking care of it. I believe it is important to give people an opportunity to respond to the Holy Spirit as He is dealing with them.

I have been in services where there were more than one speaker and only have one altar call at the end of the second preacher when I really needed one at the end of the first, but did'nt really feel the urgency at the end of the second.

Yes! Yes! Yes! I believe it is very important to have altar calls.

It keeps the church on fire to see people walk the aisles. Don't be a dead head! Have altar calls.

James

 

Actually, as someone pointed out, the response time is just like an altar call, except in the way I handle it and phrase it.

If I were starting a church, I'd not have it, due to the abuses and misconceptions. Spurgeon did just fine without them, as did Whitefield, Lloyd-Jones, et.al. The church saw numerous people come to Christ without them prior to the 19th century. But there are ways to better handle it, and that's what I've tried to do.

 

Our Church has altar calls. The pastor pleads with the lost at every service to come forward.

Must admit that most of those that "come forward" end up "backsliding". Most never show any fruit whatsoever.

I question whether or not the altar call is needed, but I'm not the pastor and I respect his dicision.

 

I know what a wicked thing "altar calls" are. Among other things my own dad was persuaded to "the altar" in the meeting house of a Baptist church in my hometown during a "revival meeting" which was held in cooperation with pentecostals, Lutherans, and Salvation Army people. The man who came and whispered in his ear to come to "the altar" was a Baptist of that church. Another man joined him, a Lutheran "priest", and they both laid hands on dad and "prayed" in loud voice. I was most vexed and agitated within as I watched that spectacle take place. Dad's face was no different when came back to the pew. I was restless. After the service was over I asked the Baptist what happened at the altar. He answered cheerfully; "Listen, your dad gave his life to Jesus". It did but increase my restlessness and uneasiness.

And it did not take long for me to see dad had been tricked into one of those false conversions so common in that church and in my country in general. As time went by he also himself began to suspect all was not right, and in due time I had to confront him and tell him he was no genuine Christian. He could accept that without a quarrel. I also had to beg his forgiveness as it was me who had invited him with me to that meeting. It hurts to this day when thinking about dad having to come to be a false professor. It would have been better for him to remain a normal heathen man.

The altar call system is lawlessness and abomination before God. Christ the Lord did not command it, the apostles did not command it nor practice it. The NT penmen had no regard for any other altar than the true Altar, Jesus Christ. Myself cannot do but condemn the altar call practice, and will never say anything good about it, so help my God.

Harald

 

i too am not for altar calls. when a person is blessed by the Word of God, he lives it, with or without altar calls! and that's it!

saying "amen", "that's right", or simply nodding is perfectly fine, though, but not to be taken as having any spiritual significance. it's simply for the congragation.

 

Dr. Bob...

Sue

 

You know Narrow, a lot of people who claim to be saved end up "backsliding" or never showing any fruit whether they go to the altar or not. It is not WHERE you get saved; it is the condition of your heart WHEN you get saved.


Sue

 

Aki; Saying "amen" etc., may not have any spiritual significance. But saying "amen" to a preacher is like saying "sic 'em" to a dog.

Sue

 

Our church has them. I think they are good for professions of faith, desire to be baptised, and church joining. However, I absolutely can not stand it when the alter call goes on and on...the preacher is saying "come, I know there are more." I then start feeling guilty--well maybe I should go up for this our that-- however, I have come to realize it is my desire to please MAN, not the Lord. Or in a service where they ask you to raise you hand if this or that. What is the point? The Lord knows my heart. I feel its just the pastor wanting to re-affirm that God worked through him - or sadly, that he, himself, delivered a soul quaking message. I was recently went to a service and the speaker went on and on at the alter call for those to be saved. Thats great...but he kept saying--maybe you thought you were saved but today the Lord laid it on you heart you were not --come if you were living the Christian life but really don't have Jesus in your heart-- along those lines. After about seriously 10 minutes, I realized that this was really ridiculous. Its great if one gets saved at the alter, but they certainly do not have to come forward just to please the pastor and man. The message was great : plan of salvation, but that alter call.........

 

My Church has alter calls every service, my Pastor Dr.Don Green has been pastoring that same church for almost 45 years I believe, says he never remembers a service going by were he didn't have one. And for the dear brother that thinks alter calls are an abomination, not alter calls at every church do poeple come and lay hands on you, it is not that way at mine. And some thing unique about the way in which my Pastor does invitations is that he will never ask you to raise your hand if you need to be saved or so on, he will just say you want to do busniness with God come forward, he dont want to talk any one into it, except the spirit draw them they will not come. And just this sunday an older couple got born again. Last sunday night a teenage girl for saved. Poeple all the time are getting saved at our church. And we arent pushen noone of that easy believism junk either, Repent and Believe the Gospel. Get filled with Gods Holy Spirit and go after souls!!!

Joshua
Luke1:75

 

Amen Joshua! Preach it!

Sue

 

My church uses them. I don't when I preach and I never will. People are not tricked into the kingdom. Btw, I thought our altar is the one that Christ died upon. Why do we erect altars? The church is not the same thing as a temple. Christ fulfilled all that.

I find it amazing that churches like 1st Baptist of Hammond boasts thousands and thousands of conversions. Well, if all that were true, the midwest would be entirely christian.

 

NO, at least in the 20 odd years I've been a member.

For similar reasoning as that expressed by Jeff Weaver.

Regards
Bob

 

AN
nd we don't have an "Alter" in our church. we have a Lectern, we have a pulpit, we have a table we usually use to put the communion things on, but no alter.

Regards
Bob

 

I belong to a fairly new church, we don't have altar calls. I have often felt that I needed to go forward and pray after a message. I never have because I was never invited forward. I think that altar calls are a wonderful thing as long as you use them for yourself and God and not for man. The need is there for altar calls and I think they are a blessing when used properly.

Tammy

 

Bob; We have the same things you do in the front of our church. We have no "altar" per se (no railing or whatever). But, we still go forward and kneel on the steps or in front of the first pew and pray and receive counseling, if needed. Maybe I should have called it a "coming forward time".

Sue

 

I agree with you Tammy. We have altar calls without an altar; but we are still invited to come forward and it has been a blessing to me many times over the years to do just that.

Sue

 

In my experience, one should never say "never".

In fact, my pastor preached a sermon on "Never say Never".