SHOULD WE USE ALTAR CALLS IN OUR EVANGELISM?

[Scott R. Newman]

Does the Bible give a biblical mandate for altar calls? Is it irrelevant whether you came forward at an altar-call or not in terms of whether you have actually received Christ or not?However, it is not at all irrelevant whether your faith personally displays the qualities and characteristics of true saving faith.

I think there are serious dangers that modern Christians should be especially and particularly aware of concerning altar calls. Here are just 6 of them:

1. Individuals can be easily led to believe that their trip down the proverbial aisle during an "altar call" is somehow equal to salvation. The public act of 'going forward' can be so intimately associated with the genuine act of faith...that confusion results.

People begin to believe that they are "saved" by this act alone...rather than by Christ.

2. Requiring a public act at the point of salvation can lead a person to think they have 'done something' to 'get' salvation...which compromises the doctrine of grace.

3. Altar calls can lead to an over emphasis on the public response or the public aspect of 'decisions' . But a public decision for Christ is not always a reliable indicator of true conversion. In fact usually, its quite the opposite.

History has shown that public decisions frequently prove to be quite unreliable as barometers of genuine conversions. And scripture itself teaches that the fruits of true conversion will only be evident in the life of a believer over time.

4. Altar calls can eclipse the real cause of conversion. The real cause is not the 'decision' or the 'appeal' , or the 'walking down the aisle', nor the 'sinners prayer' nor the 'felt' emotion of the moment as emotional soft music is playing in the background.

True conversion is caused by the HOLY SPIRIT, who draws some by His Spirit to believe as the Gospel is proclaimed. And that will happen whether or not an altar call is given.

5. Some churches think they are 'evangelistic' merely because they use 'altar calls' . But in reality, many churches are being lulled into a evangelistic 'passivity' where their only attempts at evangelism as a church (or as individuals) are the altar calls at the end of each service. Many of which is so diluted and unbiblical in their presentation of the whole Gospel, that they are consistently fruitless...regardless of how many people 'come forward' and 'appear' to 'receive' Christ.

6. The historical record is undisputable, altar calls have produced 'considerable mischief'. Gospel presentations have grown increasingly diluted, much shorter and less complete, false conversions have become epidemic in the modern church, and God's truth and way are being maligned as a result.

And countless thousands have been and continued to be led into an emotion without a clear understanding of just what they are doing. As a result:

FALSE CONVERSIONS HAVE ABOUNDED!

Remember: The bottom line of all this is that a conversion to Christ is best made when a person has a clear eyed, grasp of exactly what they are doing. Emotions can be fleeting, so it should be our goal to persuade the mind and the heart by way of an accurate complete and Holy Spirit led and empowered presentation of the truth of the entire Gospel.

IT IS NOT OUR GOAL TO MERELY PRODUCE AN EMOTIONAL RESPONSE! We seek CLEAR, CERTAIN, SPIRIT PRODUCED decisions for Christ. With or without ALTAR CALLS.

[Scott R. Newman]

I think the whole concept of modern day
"Altar Calls" must be reexamined. We must clearly present the
unadulterated Gospel. We must call men, women and children to repentance
and faith in Christ. That is what we are called to do. What we are not
called to do is manipulate people emotionally with enticing words or
man's wisdom. What we are not called to do is deliver well rehearsed
sales pitches. What we are not called to do is manipulate people
emotionally by playing the right music, the right chords on the piano,
or singing the right song in the right tone and level of emotion. What
we are not called to do is rationalize people into making a
self-centered logical decision. We are simply to preach, proclaim, and
declare the Law which establishes the Holiness of God and the sinfulness
of man and his guilt and condemnation and state of death. We are simply
to preach, proclaim, and declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is
establishes Christ alone as Savior and source of Righteousness for His
Elect. The Holy Spirit draws men, whether down and isle to and "Altar"
or to one's knees in front of a toilet. As a matter of fact, the true
"Altar" that we are called to is the Altar of the Cross where we as
sinners behold the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world,
the very same Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. That is
the "Altar" all are called to where it is only by the Holy Spirit that
one will see their total and utter depravity in sin and humble themself
and submit to God through Christ whom God ordained to be the only
suitable sacrifice for the sin of God's Elect. God The Holy Spirit does
the drawing of the heart. We do the preaching of the message. How
glorious indeed.

[Eric Hancock]

That is what I wanted to hear..The ministry is beyound the four walls,,People say that they want to be like Christ.wl then they need to use the streets as there alter,this is why I asked should they be ready before the alter

[Eric Hancock]

Is the alter call for the church only?? You see I do what you all do as well, But I truly believe that some was ready Before they get to the church,,And Evangelist if God told you to bring them in ,,then do it

[Evangelist Delores White]

Rev. Luckett,
I started to type something and God said to me, "It is not enough just to bring them to me but to also help them." All I can say is you are right. When I go out and preach in anothers house and ask them to come I step back and turn it back into the hands of the Shepherd of the house but I did not take the time out to make sure that the soul or baby was left with the things they need to be equipped. Wow that thing has brought tears to my eyes

[Eric Hancock]

I have to agree with Scott
It should start before the Church,,Even for someone just joinning the church they heard of Yahshua/Jesus probally from someone else..Now we all know the duties of the Clergy but I still say it starts within a person must be lead by the Spirit of God/Yah, not man!!Good point Scott

[Scott R. Newman]

Should we be bringing those who are still dead in their sin into the church? Or should we meet them and teach them where they are, even disciple them in their homes first before bringing the "Jezebel" spirit into the sanctuary?

[Evangelist Delores White]

Can anyone explain what it is an evangelist does? Is it not that an evangelist comes to preach to, tear up the rough ground, restore, compel to come to Christ? If this is to be true then they have done their job but it does not stop there. If you have asked someone to come to your church (Pastors) and an evangelist has asked after hearing the word and the word has found you and you are ready to give your life to God come now. They have done their job. At that point it tis he leader of that church and its members that should get involved and teach.
Let us look at the women of Samaria in St. John 4, we all know the story but I would like you to look at 4:28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 4:29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 4:30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. We must learn to stay in our calling.

[Eric Hancock]

THIS IS WHAT I MEANT BY SPIRITUAL EXPERTISE

[Eric Hancock]

Everything you just posted is related to relationship or pleading for one

[Scott R. Newman]

Psa 43:1 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: Oh deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.
Psa 43:2 For thou art the God of my strength; why hast thou cast me off? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Psa 43:3 Oh send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me: Let them bring me unto thy holy hill, And to thy tabernacles.
Psa 43:4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, Unto God my exceeding joy; And upon the harp will I praise thee, O God, my God

How do we go to the altar today in living out the truth's of the New Testament?

Mat 23:19 Ye blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? Is it that furniture down in the front of the church that sanctifies?

Who is the true Altar and where is it found?

Heb 13:10 We have an altar from which those priests who are servants in the Tent may not take food.
Heb 13:11 For the bodies of the beasts whose blood is taken into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned outside the circle of the tents.
Heb 13:12 For this reason Jesus was put to death outside the walls, so that he might make the people holy by his blood.
Heb 13:13 Let us then go out to him outside the circle of the tents, taking his shame on ourselves.
Heb 13:14 For here we have no fixed resting-place, but our search is for the one which is to come.