Altar calls.. yes or know

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Are you in favor of altar calls?

  • Yes

    Votes: 7 63.6%

  • No

    Votes: 3 27.3%

  • Don't care

    Votes: 1 9.1%
  • Total voters
    11
L

lighthousejohn

Guest
#1
#1
The church my wife attends does not have altar calls. The pastor told me this was because he is tired of people making "false" professions of faith. I have always had an altar call inmy services. Many people come forward for prayer or to pray at the altar. Some come forward to proclaim God's call on their life for ministry or to ask the congregation for prayer about something in their lives. Their are many reasons that people respond to an altar call.


The most oft stated reason I have heard for not having one is because the pastor does not want to "embarass" anyone.


Here is the question, Are you in favor of having an altar call or not and why?

In Christ,
jOHN
 
M

Mulehide

Guest
#2
#2
When I am in a service and God speaks to me, I like to be able to take care of it right then. Often times if I wait I will forget or the conviction is not as strong. So, while it is true that many make false professions, I firmly believe many many more make true decisions for Christ.
 
M

machew

Guest
#3
#3
It is not up to him whether or not people should publicly come up to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It is God that draws people to Him. By not allowing any to come up because of a few potentials fakes, he eliminates an opportunity for people who legitimately want to come to the Lord. Even if 5 out of 6 people who come up were fake, it was worth it just for the one! Sometimes in our zeal to protect from error, we do more harm than good.
 
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K

Kuroko

Guest
#4
#4
Well there's a difference between letting people come and speak at the alter about things they feel and calling people at random to speak before the church.

If there is something somebody wishes to share I believe they have a right to share it, a giving service would let any person who is in need of others help ask others for it, in the form of prayer or otherwise.

I don't think it should be mandatory that people do stand up before the alter but I think people should be allowed to stand before it if they wish to.
 
Sharp

Sharp

Senior Member
#5
May 5, 2009
2,565
19
38
#5
Altar calls are a joke.

What's the point of them?

The guy just wants to look good.

You could also say "see me after the service if you want to be saved or want prayer", instead of trying to guilt people out of their seats and make those who don't get up feel awkward and sinful.
 
pickles

pickles

Senior Member
#6
Apr 20, 2009
14,479
182
63
#6
Sharp said:
Altar calls are a joke.

What's the point of them?

The guy just wants to look good.

You could also say "see me after the service if you want to be saved or want prayer", instead of trying to guilt people out of their seats and make those who don't get up feel awkward and sinful.
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Ouch Sharp, for many the altar calls can be an affermation of their acceptance of Jesus into their hearts.
Although for many they can be uncomfortable, I believe that all kinds of witness are important and should be done to glorify God.
One can easly choose a church that goes with their comfort leval, wether for or against alter calls.
I will always stand for any witness to the glory of God Our Father.
But I understand your feelings in this.
Smiles and God bless, pickles
 
Sharp

Sharp

Senior Member
#7
May 5, 2009
2,565
19
38
#7
Sorry if I offended you pickles. :)

Its just my opnion that the pastors who initiate altar calls do so for their own glory, to boast about how many people they managed to convince to come forward and how holy their church looks, and how advanced their evangelism skills are.

I'm firmly against pretense. And I don't see one reason at all for an altar call to happen.

Its a very divisive mechanism. It separates the in-crowd from the out-crowd. The confident from the shy. It also has what I call the sheep effect, where people simply follow others towards the front because they don't want to be the only person still sitting down. So they stand there at the front thinking what am I doing here.

If people are being convinced that going forward at an altar call is a necessary way of showing their public devotion to Jesus, then I think they are a bit confused.
 
MahogonySnail

MahogonySnail

Banned
#8
Jan 8, 2009
7,576
23
0
#8
Nothign wrong with altar calls. Christians are supposed to have public confessions of their faith. It is one way to do it, the more that are watching the better.
 
Sharp

Sharp

Senior Member
#9
May 5, 2009
2,565
19
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#9
MahogonySnail said:
Nothign wrong with altar calls. Christians are supposed to have public confessions of their faith. It is one way to do it, the more that are watching the better.
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Isn't that what baptism is for?

I just don't see how walking a few steps towards the front of a church and standing there is a public confession of our faith.

Maybe if someone was to go into a crowded area and preach the gospel with a megaphone, that would be a public confession of faith, and might actually be useful.
 
L

livingbygrace

Banned
#10
Dec 19, 2009
2,723
7
0
#10
This reminds me of the church of my childhood where every week without fail there was an alter call. On the basis that the alter call cannot in any way hurt the service, but in some cases it can definately benefit people, I would say it should be continued, but not neccessarily every week as something that is done out of routine.
Rather I would suggest that it should be left to the ministers discretion, then if he feels prompted by the Spirit to make an alter call he should, but only if he feels led to. A Spirit filled minister is the best judge of this for his church I would say
 
phil36

phil36

Senior Member
#11
Feb 12, 2009
8,260
2,111
113
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#11
I ticked, first of all, I don't care, Meaning I didn't mind. However, now that I have had a cup of coffee and fully awake. I agree with Sharp. It is God who draws men. not an emotional ridding demand from the pulpit.

Phil
 
MahogonySnail

MahogonySnail

Banned
#12
Jan 8, 2009
7,576
23
0
#12
Isn't that what baptism is for?

I just don't see how walking a few steps towards the front of a church and standing there is a public confession of our faith.

Maybe if someone was to go into a crowded area and preach the gospel with a megaphone, that would be a public confession of faith, and might actually be useful.
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There are many public confessions of faith. I don't know if you've actualy been in a church which has altar calls, but normally it is not many people getting up the front so they are not left in their seats alone as you suggested, but only a handful go up and most are too afraid to go up. So yes it is a step of faith and conquering fear of man to get up the front. If you want to be a christian and too afraid to stand up the front in front of people with your back to them, who are supposed to be loving and good family members in Christ, then God help you. I think the embarrassment factor is a non-issue. Why would we be embarrassed ?
 
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lighthousejohn

Guest
#13
#13
MahogonySnail said:
There are many public confessions of faith. I don't know if you've actualy been in a church which has altar calls, but normally it is not many people getting up the front so they are not left in their seats alone as you suggested, but only a handful go up and most are too afraid to go up. So yes it is a step of faith and conquering fear of man to get up the front. If you want to be a christian and too afraid to stand up the front in front of people with your back to them, who are supposed to be loving and good family members in Christ, then God help you. I think the embarrassment factor is a non-issue. Why would we be embarrassed ?
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Mahogany,

I am in comoplete agreement with you. I have only seen one "altar rush" where almost evryone in the church came forward and that was because the Holy Spirit laid a heavy conviction of pride on the church as a whole. Generally only a handful of people come forward for whatever reasons.


In Christ,
John
 
1

1still_waters

Guest
#14
#14
To many an altar call is just as rote and empty as a catechism or responsive reading based on the church calendar.

It's all about operating in the Spirit. If the Spirit is asking for an altar call, then do it. My name isn't VW, so I may be stealing his thunder here, but if the church was more tuned in to the Spirit, we wouldn't have to argue over which methods to use, because we'd already know which to use.
 
F

forgivenandloved

Guest
#15
#15
I disagree with the pastor. Though there are some that make fake professions of faith, there are some that do make true professions of faith. I mean its better to have 50 make a fake profession and have one that makes a true one than not have an alter call and no one make a profession of faith. Really it isn't his deal who makes true professions or not God will deal with that. I like alter calls cause its a time to be real with God and also pray for others.
 
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pickles

pickles

Senior Member
#16
Apr 20, 2009
14,479
182
63
#16
Sharp said:
Sorry if I offended you pickles. :)

Its just my opnion that the pastors who initiate altar calls do so for their own glory, to boast about how many people they managed to convince to come forward and how holy their church looks, and how advanced their evangelism skills are.

I'm firmly against pretense. And I don't see one reason at all for an altar call to happen.

Its a very divisive mechanism. It separates the in-crowd from the out-crowd. The confident from the shy. It also has what I call the sheep effect, where people simply follow others towards the front because they don't want to be the only person still sitting down. So they stand there at the front thinking what am I doing here.

If people are being convinced that going forward at an altar call is a necessary way of showing their public devotion to Jesus, then I think they are a bit confused.
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Hi sharp, no worries. I wasnt offended. You see, Im not big on alter calls myself. For some though, it is a physical first step in faith. Each of us is different in Jesus. But, I see more and more people reacting or stopping good things , simply because one or another might abuse or offend.
We have to keep in mind that satan wants to rob all of us of that which glorifies God.
We all as brothers and sisters in Jesus need to see this, and not allow the grubby little devil to rob any of that which can bless his children and glorify God Our Father. :D
God bless, pickles
 
loveschild

loveschild

Banned
#17
May 21, 2009
3,955
25
0
#17
If you act ashamed of God he will be ashamed of you. The altar is a Holy place. The Lord is calling all people to go to the altar saved or unsaved. There is healing at the altar of God. Yes he can go to you seat and heal you. But you are to proclaim to the world that you belong to God. Everyone should be going to the altar always. The ones who have been at the church the longest should be showing the new comers to go to the altar. The Lord says it doesn't matter how you feel. Go to the altar. If you have the big Holy Ghost feeling or not go to the altar. People are wondering why they aren't being healed. They are wondering why the Lord isn't helping them with their problems. Lots of it is because they have to much pride and won't go to the altar. Therefore they have made themselves god.
Any preacher who isn't doing altar calls will held accountable for any lost souls because of this. Anyone sitting in a church knowing the church is doing things agaisnt Gods will also will held accountable.
The Lord wants souls in heaven. Anyone making excuses as to why they don't bother trying to bring a person to the Lord is being run by demons.
We are hear to bring souls to the Lord and we will be held accountable.
 
Sharp

Sharp

Senior Member
#18
May 5, 2009
2,565
19
38
#18
MahogonySnail said:
There are many public confessions of faith. I don't know if you've actualy been in a church which has altar calls, but normally it is not many people getting up the front so they are not left in their seats alone as you suggested, but only a handful go up and most are too afraid to go up. So yes it is a step of faith and conquering fear of man to get up the front. If you want to be a christian and too afraid to stand up the front in front of people with your back to them, who are supposed to be loving and good family members in Christ, then God help you. I think the embarrassment factor is a non-issue. Why would we be embarrassed ?
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I guess I'm just not seeing how being involved in an altar call is a public confession of faith. I'm not seeing how it really proves anything, or how it shows anything to anyone at all. I guess I'm just not seeing a reason for them.

Why should the strength of my faith depend on my willingness to get up out of my seat for no reason and go to the altar. I've seen altar calls happen. I stayed firmly in my seat, not having a compelling reason to get up out of it. What would have happened if I did though. Would people have thought, wow he's a great Christian?
 
Sharp

Sharp

Senior Member
#19
May 5, 2009
2,565
19
38
#19
loveschild said:
If you act ashamed of God he will be ashamed of you. The altar is a Holy place. The Lord is calling all people to go to the altar saved or unsaved.
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Are you saying it is actually God who is calling people to stand at the front of their churches? And that if a person doesn't get up for an altar call they are ashamed of God?

I really think sometimes we need to question the concepts that our churches are saying we should believe in. Does the bible mention altar calls? No. Where were altar calls in the first 1800 years of Christianity? Nowhere.
 
MahogonySnail

MahogonySnail

Banned
#20
Jan 8, 2009
7,576
23
0
#20
Sharp it depends how you see it. Maybe an altar call is not enough, or too much, for some to make a public confession of faith. I never made a public confession of faith at infant baptism that was my parents. Let's just say a person can make it a public confession of faith if they want to. I don't think public confessions is a once only thing, say at baptism, it can be done in many ways multiple times.
 
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