Comments on: The Altar … to Call or Not to Call

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:23:51 +0000

On the day of Judgment, there will be plenty of individuals condemned who made “altar calls” (or parotted “the sinners prayer”). Churches shouldn’t focus on that one specific act, but rather should work with their congregation to make sure that they are walking faithfully DAILY with the Lord, not just at one specific moment during a church service.
My $.02

By: Pastor Scott Bradley

Pastor Scott Bradley — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:05:27 +0000

If ever a great evangelistic sermon is preached there is nothing wrong with calling people at that moment to follow Christ. As Baptists, however, we must make sure that we instill in our people that coming forward is not your public profession of faith. Our baptism is. See what Peter had to say about it in 1 Peter 3:21. He calls baptism a profession, or pledge, of a good conscience towards God.

By: Itching Ears Pt. 6 If We Wouldn’t Have Had An Altar Call, If We Wouldn’t Have Witnessed To This Person They Wouldn’t Have Come To Christ. True Or False? « Ministry of Reconciliation

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:07:58 +0000

[...] Salvation at 1:35 pm by Debbie Kaufman Geoff Baggett did a wonderful job of posting on the altar call, I’d like to briefly look at this from another angle. I have been hearing this phrase that I [...]

By: Geoff Baggett

Geoff Baggett — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:14:39 +0000

Steve,

Thanks for the input. I’ve read about your church in the B&R. I think many of our approaches are very similar. I just re-connected with Carlton a while back. Pretty cool…

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 02:04:12 +0000

Hey Geoff. We too are a church plant and we have done much the same as you are doing since we planted in 2000 in N.W. TN, and have around 400 who have indicated receiving Christ and around 250 of them following in baptism. We offer an “invitation” at the end of each service but again, not to come forward but instead to indicate same on a connection card and then we have a Fresh Start team with packets with a Bible and other materials we package and have available for them after each service. It gives our team a chance to meet the person and they have a chance to put a face and name on someone who may be calling them within a couple of days. Then we try and have, if at all possible, an encourager to call them and keep a check on their progress for the first six months of their journey. It is working great (not perfect but great). I lead them in prayer at them end of each service, stressing the points of repentance, forgiveness, and following Christ in a daily walk and talk. To each his or her own, but it works great for us!

By: Rob Ayers

Rob Ayers — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:53:00 +0000

No doubt Bill (#76). In my argument above you rarely (if ever – my memory may be fleeting here, so give me due correction if needed) that the word I spoke was “invitation” not “altar call.” Close to 90% of all Baptist churches do not have altars because of our forefathers insistence that Christ was our altar, and not some fleeting symbol as found in the liturgical church. The symbolism of the altar aside, the invitation is just as it is: an opportunity for those to publicly confess their decisions for Christ or seek public affirmation of their decisions, or public help for their needs. No more – no less.

Rob

P.S. – Geoff – a thread that just keeps giving!

By: Bill Poore

Bill Poore — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:58:29 +0000

If you will take a Strong’s concordance and study,in context,each time you find the word “altar” from Gen.to Rev.and then compare what you have learned with the modern day “altar call,”you will be informed and hopefully inspired to point men to Christ and not an imaginary altar at the front of the church.

By: david eaton

david eaton — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:28:23 +0000

I didn’t read through everything so apologies if this is redundant.

The fact that something can be manipulated doesn’t mean that it’s bad, it does mean that you need to be careful. Billy Graham strategically places counselors all over a stadium so people can see others walking to the front. They announce that, though, and say that counselors are coming forward and invite people to join them. They are making it easier for those who want to come forward to get out of their seats, but they are open.

I’ve been to Christian concerts and events and heard the organizer tell people, “if no one comes forward after a little time get a couple of people to come and prime the pump.” That wasn’t very honest. In fact, last summer I predicted the seat locations of the “decisions” to be made at a Christian concert…oddly they all came from the section of seats likely given out by the promoter…as if they were supposed to.

A second thing, the decision to join the church or profess Jesus as Savior isn’t the appropriate decision for most in our services. A more intentional “time of response” to the service for all a way that has been used in a couple of churches with which I have been associated. One used decision cards. Professing Christ and coming for baptism or membership were responses, but so were some other things that were tailored to the message that day. It turned the “invitation” to a “time of commitment” for all present.

The methods of the revivalist traditions of 50 years ago may not be appropriate in our current settings and we should recognize that. Giving people the opportunity to respond to what the Spirit is doing needs to be an important part of our worship, whatever the means, and whatever the Spirit is doing.

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:45:47 +0000

Lee: You raise a good point. One of my objections to the altar call is any attempt to make the “decision” moment coincide with an altar walk. The music is playing, you’re standing at the front, people are standing and watching, it is difficult to hear sometimes. I would much rather people made whatever “decision” they are going to make in their seats, at home, or in counseling. Once that is done, I have no problem at all having them come up and make their decision known, perhaps the following week.

By: Lee Peoples

Lee Peoples — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:29:22 +0000

Great topic. This is one that I have read on, prayed about and still I am searching for what is best. I also read the nine marks article it was great.

First and foremost as it has been said the goal is for people to be called to repent of their sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

That is something that must be done, always calling for people to repent and believe. Now I like the card idea, I like the pray at your sit idea, and I like the come foward idea.

Here is how I do it. We do not use a card at my church (maybe soon), sometimes I lead in a prayer and sometimes I call for people to come and talk with me down front or sometimes I tell people to go to the back and we have a staff member there to talk with them. I like to mix it up so it is never the same.

If someone comes foward I pray with them talk to them briefly and then tell them at the end of the service to go to my office were a deacon or staff member or myself talks with them. At this point I do not present them to the congregation to get saved.

Also at the end of every service I tell people if they want to come and talk that I will be down front and I would be happy to talk with them.

There are some practical questions like presenting for church membership, etc. with the come down front part.

There is also some language that I use that I think it is important. “I am not trying to get you to move to a part of the room, I want you to go to Jesus today.” “Do what God is telling you to do.” “If you are comfortable praying at your sit that is fine, respond in the manner that your are comfortable in.”

I am not perfect in this area and still learning.

Any comments let me know