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Invitation time observation
- Thread starter J.C.
- Start date
We do not have a public "altar call" after the preaching, but preaching by its very nature demands action and response.
Find the abuse of the system so widespread, even among baptists who otherwise despise finneyesque techniques, that allowing the individual response sans manipulation and pressure to return greater results.
Find the abuse of the system so widespread, even among baptists who otherwise despise finneyesque techniques, that allowing the individual response sans manipulation and pressure to return greater results.
C.S. Murphy
New Member
I once attended Revival at a Methodist church. The speaker closed the service by saying let's all stand and sing, after singing one stanza he stopped and said " I am sure that as we stand and sing God recognizes that we wish to draw closer to Him" That was it, nothing else. I was so hurt, he had preached a good message and those people needed to know how to be saved, they needed an opportunity. I agree with Dr. Bob that some wrongly use the alter call but just because they do does not mean that we should abandon the practice.
Murph
Murph
I Am Blessed 24
Active Member
Murph: I agree. We have an altar call every service. One time a man came under conviction during the sermon and went forward to be saved. Our Pastor stopped the service and prayed with the man and he did get saved.
Pastor said, "I will stop the service ANYTIME for someone to get saved. The Holy Spirit is running this service---not me."
PastorBa: I agree with what you said about people preparing to leave or actually walking out during an altar call. It can quench the Holy Spirit and it certainly says something to me, and I believe it says something to a lost man, if a Christian, who is supposed to be praying during this time, cannot even wait five minutes for the Holy Spirit to work.
Satan will use any distraction he can to stop someone from getting saved.
Blessings,
Sue
Pastor said, "I will stop the service ANYTIME for someone to get saved. The Holy Spirit is running this service---not me."
PastorBa: I agree with what you said about people preparing to leave or actually walking out during an altar call. It can quench the Holy Spirit and it certainly says something to me, and I believe it says something to a lost man, if a Christian, who is supposed to be praying during this time, cannot even wait five minutes for the Holy Spirit to work.
Satan will use any distraction he can to stop someone from getting saved.
Blessings,
Sue
My whole purpose behind posting this thread was this well-stated point.
Sometimes we aren't aware of the distractions we might make to a Holy-Spirit-convicted lost person. Realizing that this happens in my church sometimes, if this happens elsewhere and is brought to the church's attention and people try to remain focused on the pastors invitation and they don't inadvertantly derail the Holy Spirit's working in someones life, that would be super! Sorry for the long sentence.
A Church can solve this problem by having the offertory after the altar call. People can get ready to leave, close their Bibles, get money for the offering and this is not distracting except to the people who want to hear the pianist or organist
It also gives time for the counselors to counsel anyone who came forth during the invitation.
I agree with the person who said why should all churches stop this practice because some abuse it.
It is a beautiful day here in Oklahoma...A day that the Lord hath made. We pray that we do God's Will each and every day.
I Am Blessed 24
Active Member
I agree Betty. That is the way we do it at our church and it HAS cut down a lot on distractions.
However, you will always have the few who want to be first in line at their favorite restaurant before the other churches get out.
Those people get up in the middle of the altar call and hand one of the ushers standing at the back of the church their offering.
We have another beautiful day here too,
Sue
However, you will always have the few who want to be first in line at their favorite restaurant before the other churches get out.
Those people get up in the middle of the altar call and hand one of the ushers standing at the back of the church their offering.
We have another beautiful day here too,
Sue
Our pastor stopped taking up offerings except for special missionary or other special offerings. Instead we now just place any offerings in an enclosed, unmarked container in the back of the auditorium. He did this so visitors would not feel as if they were expected to give when they came.
G
G
Daniel David
New Member
It should be stopped because it is an unbiblical practice. That is why. It is manipulative method which Paul condemns (1 Cor. 2:1-5). If the only reason to use it is because God can use it, then we could justify all kinds of things. That only proves that God is sovereign.
This thread has nothing to do with calvinism.
Here is a question for you all, would that person still have "gotten saved" if the altar call wasn't there? The answer is yes, but do you believe it?
Gib
Active Member
Our church does have an altar call each Sunday Morning. Our pastor is always sure to say that the invitation is never really over. Many of the decisions made have been done so with a sit down with the pastor, deacon, teacher or other.
We have a ministry time and intercessory prayer during our service. It's not really a time for the lost to come down and be saved, though they could. It's a time for people to pray for the sick, our nation, burdens, ect. We have many who will come with their families to the altar (or steps) for a time of prayer. Others pray right where they are.
Many people are saved and then come to the altar later to make a public profession. Some people may come to the altar to pray to make a profession that they are serious about their need. Who knows?
We have a ministry time and intercessory prayer during our service. It's not really a time for the lost to come down and be saved, though they could. It's a time for people to pray for the sick, our nation, burdens, ect. We have many who will come with their families to the altar (or steps) for a time of prayer. Others pray right where they are.
Many people are saved and then come to the altar later to make a public profession. Some people may come to the altar to pray to make a profession that they are serious about their need. Who knows?
PTW,
I ask these questions with genuine curiosity.
Why do you consider a pastor inviting people in the congregation to come to an altar and pray if they feel led of the Holy Spirit "manipulating"?
Would you still consider it manipulation if, for instance, he shared the Gospel (by opening his Bible and reading it) in the back yard over a fence with his neighbor and he says, "hey buddy, based on what I have read, would you like to confess that Jesus is Lord and ask for his forgiveness (I'm paraphrasing here)"?
Is a pastor supposed to just open the Bible, read from it then sit down? Any other word he says outside of the scripture might be considered as him trying to pursuade or manipulate that person into making a decision for Christ.
I ask these questions with genuine curiosity.
Why do you consider a pastor inviting people in the congregation to come to an altar and pray if they feel led of the Holy Spirit "manipulating"?
Would you still consider it manipulation if, for instance, he shared the Gospel (by opening his Bible and reading it) in the back yard over a fence with his neighbor and he says, "hey buddy, based on what I have read, would you like to confess that Jesus is Lord and ask for his forgiveness (I'm paraphrasing here)"?
Is a pastor supposed to just open the Bible, read from it then sit down? Any other word he says outside of the scripture might be considered as him trying to pursuade or manipulate that person into making a decision for Christ.
I look forward to your answer. Thanks.
I Am Blessed 24
Active Member
PTW: How can ANYTHING be unbiblical that brings a person to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ?
Sue
Daniel David
New Member
PTW: How can ANYTHING be unbiblical that brings a person to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ?
Sue </font>[/QUOTE]Sue, it doesn't. The invitation never saved anyone. If the person really did get saved, it is because of the preaching of the word, his repentance, and subsequent belief in Christ.
I asked before, would the person get saved if no invitation was given? The answer is yes.
I agree Preach that the invitation does not save a person and that the person may be saved without the invitation, but I think "maybe" might be a better answer to your question.
The invitation may give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to work on a person that might just leave the service confused and not saved.
I agree with you. The invitation does not save a person. The invitation gives a person the opportunity to confess before men that he has accepted Jesus as his Savior; it gives the opportunity for further guidance if needed. Others have discussed that their churches give this opportunity in different ways.