Posted: 11/14/2009 1:32:45 PM EDT
|
What is the purpose of an altar call where they get up and say a "sinners prayer?" If its not necessary, why do it? What purpose does it serve? I have met people that claim to have been saved by an altar call and that it was needed so they can do a just one time instance of confessing before men. Just one time is all that was needed they say to be saved and the altar call is the work that did it. Well that seems to be the opinion of those I have asked in the past. Cant a pastor preach and tell folks how to be saved with out the altar call? FWIW I dont think it a terrible heresy or a heresy at all. I just think its not good to have people reflect on a work they done to reassure their salvation. i always thought the confessing the Lord before men was a routine thing, not a one time deal in front of the congregation. Also note I am farrrr from a good Christain. Some times I wonder if I am at all. I just ask because I have been getting back into my faith and I have been questioning some practices I have seen. Like I said, I dont think the altar cal is horrible, I just dont see it as biblical or having a purpose other than letting the preacher know he got some results. |
|
Depends on the denomination. Youll never see it in the Epicopal or Anglican church. None of the Catholic Churches I've gone to have had it. Every Baptist church I've attended has, None of the Luther or Presbyterian churches have. Some of the "Non-dom's ie: Community churches do, but not in every city or state.
Every Denomination and every church in it is different. All depends on what city and state you are in and what they have done in the past or want to do in the future. If at any church I've attended something felt a little "funny" to me (Doctrine, dogma, satement of faith or a sermon that I would be embaressed for my children to hear) then I kept looking. |
|
Quoted:
Depends on the denomination. Youll never see it in the Epicopal or Anglican church. None of the Catolic Churches I've gone to have had it. Every Baptist church I've attended has, None of the Luther or Presbyterian churches have. Some of the "Non-dom's ie: Community churches do, but not in every city or state. Every Denomination and every church in it is different. All depends on what city and state you are in and what they have done in the past or want to do in the future. If at any church I've attended something felt a little "funny" to me (Doctrine, dogma, satement of faith or a sermon that I would be embaressed for my children to hear) then I kept looking. It is a public profession and yet still a private confession to God. It is not required for salvation. In reality it is a step of good faith that you are willing to make a public effort to get closer to God and not demand he come to you privately. One should not be ashamed of their salvation. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Depends on the denomination. Youll never see it in the Epicopal or Anglican church. None of the Catolic Churches I've gone to have had it. Every Baptist church I've attended has, None of the Luther or Presbyterian churches have. Some of the "Non-dom's ie: Community churches do, but not in every city or state. Every Denomination and every church in it is different. All depends on what city and state you are in and what they have done in the past or want to do in the future. If at any church I've attended something felt a little "funny" to me (Doctrine, dogma, satement of faith or a sermon that I would be embaressed for my children to hear) then I kept looking. It is a public profession and yet still a private confession to God. It is not required for salvation. In reality it is a step of good faith that you are willing to make a public effort to get closer to God and not demand he come to you privately. One should not be ashamed of their salvation. I hope that you didn't misunderstand that I am. Regardless, many people here may read this and think that all churches do this, which isn't the case. |
|
It is a call to action, a good thing - which in practice can be done like "closing the sale" , a bad thing
As with anything, its how its used. In reality, people prolly actually come to faith in Christ BEFORE (if only moments before) they go forward at an altar call. Regeneration happens at the moment you actually place faith for your life and eterity in Christ. So in reality, people typically respond to the altar call immediately AFTER the moment of salvation. Of course, the reponse to an altar call IS NOT any guarantee salvation has occurred. And as such, many people who have responded to altar calls think they are saved, when they have not as yet placed their faith n Christ. |
|
Quoted:
I always just saw it as the the opening of a door that might otherwise be missed. If someone not saved was sitting in the pews and wanted to take the next step but didn't know how or when, or even what to do, they didn't have to wonder or worry about it. I grew up in a Southern Baptist church and the alter call was always presented like this. It was done to make sure that anyone who was not saved and wanted to give their life to Christ would be given direction on exactly how to do it. There were always "prayer partners" at the alter for anyone who wanted to pray with someone. Of course, that was always optional. |
|
Quoted: I almost used that exactly analogy, but decided against it because I didn't want the negative connotation of the "sales" side of it to tarnish the image. But it is very much like that on some level. Get it done before they can go home and "think on it." It is a call to action, a good thing - which in practice can be done like "closing the sale" , a bad thing As with anything, its how its used. In reality, people prolly actually come to faith in Christ BEFORE (if only moments before) they go forward at an altar call. Regeneration happens at the moment you actually place faith for your life and eterity in Christ. So in reality, people typically respond to the altar call immediately AFTER the moment of salvation. Of course, the reponse to an altar call IS NOT any guarantee salvation has occurred. And as such, many people who have responded to altar calls think they are saved, when they have not as yet placed their faith n Christ. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Depends on the denomination. Youll never see it in the Epicopal or Anglican church. None of the Catolic Churches I've gone to have had it. Every Baptist church I've attended has, None of the Luther or Presbyterian churches have. Some of the "Non-dom's ie: Community churches do, but not in every city or state. Every Denomination and every church in it is different. All depends on what city and state you are in and what they have done in the past or want to do in the future. If at any church I've attended something felt a little "funny" to me (Doctrine, dogma, satement of faith or a sermon that I would be embaressed for my children to hear) then I kept looking. It is a public profession and yet still a private confession to God. It is not required for salvation. In reality it is a step of good faith that you are willing to make a public effort to get closer to God and not demand he come to you privately. One should not be ashamed of their salvation. I hope that you didn't misunderstand that I am. Regardless, many people here may read this and think that all churches do this, which isn't the case. Oh, no no, I did not miss read what you posted. What you highlighted was a tag onto my previous thought of "meeting God in the middle" and not being ashamed doing so. I have heard stuff from the pulpit that directly contradicts scripture and I feel exactly the same as you, that if I hear bad doctrine in a service it strikes me as something that I would not want to have my family hear too. I don't really know how to describe it, it is like embarrassment, shame, pity and being offended all rolled up into one but it is not me being ashamed of my faith and that is how I read your post that you were not ashamed of your faith but "put off" by the sermon. My church does do the alter calls but it is not every service or sometimes it is very short. |
| it is a chance for a person that has heard the gospel and if the Lord is dealing with there heart to be saved they can come up front during the alter call and allow someone to show them in Gods word how to accept the Lord as there saviour. and also for Christians like my self to go talk to the Lord and get right or just really pray for something or someone. |
|
The altar call was a further development of the arch-heretic Charles Finney's anxious bench. It seems to have morphed into a tool for those ministers who believe in decisional regeneration.
I would wonder why any church even remotely related to Protestantism would be referrencing an Old Testament object used in the Temple as something to be used in the New Testament church. I believe to be a form of Judizing. |
I think it's tied to the "soul-winner" mentality that places a lot of emphasis on the saving, but not the aftercare, at least that's how it was in the Baptist church I grew up in. Now when I visit (rarely) they sing 12-13 refrains from "Just as I am" and everyone turns and stares at me. 
|