The Altar Call

[Matthias]

The altar call (method? technique? tool?) is common in some churches, unknown in others. This afternoon I watched the linked video on the subject. (Which was prompted by a comment I read on the forum earlier in the day.)

The presenter begins the video by warning his audience that what he is going to discuss might trigger some of his viewers. It didn’t trigger me but I can see how it might trigger some. The topic can be discussed without watching the video.

I was raised Southern Baptist. Altar calls were a standard feature of every Sunday morning service, and after years of attending church with my grandparents, one day I responded to an altar call. Decades later I attended a Bible college and took courses which included pastoral ministry. I graduated with a Bachelor degree in theology without ever so much as hearing altar calls even mentioned in passing. I’ve never been comfortable with altar calls and I never used them.

The altar call. I invite my readers to talk about it.

 

[Matthias]

What is the origin of the altar call?

“It is generally recognized that the altar call was invented by a Presbyterian evangelist named Charles G. Finney who lived from 1792-1875. Finney referred to the altar call as coming to the anxious seat or to the inquiry room and began using it in his evangelistic services in about 1820. Did the churches do it all wrong in the matter of evangelism until Finney came along in 1820 with his new system? How were people saved during the 1800 years of Christian history before the advent of Charles G. Finney? Evangelist D.L. Moody took Finney’s altar call and refined it and in turn it was passed on to its modern champion, Billy Graham.

In a paper he wrote called ‘The Christian,’ Billy Graham defends his use of the invitation system by resorting, not to the scriptures but to psychology when he says concerning the invitation, ‘Many psychologists would say it is psychologically sound.’ Biblical practices do not need the endorsement of psychology! There is absolutely no biblical authority for this practice! Yet today virtually all evangelists and pastors and churches use the altar call or invitation system.”

(Laurence A. Justice, “Why We Don’t Use The Altar Call”)

Victory Baptist Church

An independent Sovereign Grace Baptist church in Kansas City, Missouri. We believe in the doctrines of God's sovereign grace: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace and Perseverance of the Saints.

www.victorybaptist.us

 

[Rockerduck]

I agree with the nonuse of alter calls, but they also used it also for people to come forward and join the church. Then the pastor would turn around ask the congregants for their approval to join. It is a public commitment to join the church. I have seen and saw modern churches not using the alter call. It is strange, but I know a particular well-known pastor who is not a Christian and doesn't do alter calls. How could he lead someone to Christ? During 1800's, the great revival began, big time. People received the Holy Spirit in the pews while the Preacher was preaching, remember those pastors were stoically conservative and didn't know what was happening. Some were speaking in tongues. The Pentecostal movement started at that time. The Lord was doing a mighty work. Jesus words were put in Red in bible to represent the Blood of Jesus. Everybody went to church. Charles Finney brought the alter call up in meetings to bring order, for those receiving the Holy Spirit in the pews and nowhere to go. He was rejected but, yes, DL Moody advocated it.

 

[Simple Dan]

Tozer wrote a fine book on this subject entitled, I Call it Heresy.
Quite the departure from his usual subject matter, and on point.

I also grew up Baptist, and watched my mother rededicate her life to Christ at least a half a dozen times growing up, without any noticeable change of lifestyle. I walked that same aisle as a young boy with no lasting effect, only years later to truly surrender my life to Christ at the side of my bed with many tears and pleadings for mercy.

On a related note, Johnathan Edwards also wrote a fine book entitled The Religious Affections in which he laments the lack of "true religion" in the time that followed the revivals of the 1700's in which he played a key role.

 

[Matthias]

Tozer wrote a fine book on this subject entitled, I Call it Heresy.
Quite the departure from his usual subject matter, and on point.

I also grew up Baptist, and watched my mother rededicate her life to Christ at least a half a dozen times growing up, without any noticeable change of lifestyle. I walked that same aisle as a young boy with no lasting effect, only years later to truly surrender my life to Christ at the side of my bed with many tears and pleadings for mercy.

On a related note, Johnathan Edwards also wrote a fine book entitled The Religious Affections in which he laments the lack of "true religion" in the time that followed the revivals of the 1700's in which he played a key role.

Welcome to the forum.

I haven’t read that particular book by Tozer and don’t have a copy of it in my personal library. I appreciate you bringing it to my attention. I‘m going to have to deal with it sooner or later with a close family member and it’s been weighing heavily on my spirit for almost a week now. I’ll look into obtaining a copy.

 

[Matthias]

A pdf of Tozer’s book (I Call It Heresy is available online and can be read at no cost: https://cciog.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/I-Call-it-a-Heresy-A.W.-Tozer.pdf

 

[Simple Dan]

Welcome to the forum.

I haven’t read that particular book by Tozer and don’t have a copy of it in my personal library. I appreciate you bringing it to my attention. I‘m going to have to deal with it sooner or later with a close family member and it’s been weighing heavily on my spirit for almost a week now. I’ll look into obtaining a copy.

Read it, and if the Lord OK's the transaction, pass it along. But keep in mind, that your family member could read a hundred books on the subject, if you are not faithful to plow up that fallow ground of their heart through fervent effectual prayer, you might as well have handed them a copy of the Rolling Stone.

 

[Matthias]

Read it, and if the Lord OK's the transaction, pass it along. But keep in mind, that your family member could read a hundred books on the subject, if you are not faithful to plow up that fallow ground of their heart through fervent effectual prayer, you might as well have handed them a copy of the Rolling Stone.

The family member is presently seven years old and being pressed for a commitment at a Baptist church. The parents are indifferent about altar calls, seeing no problem with it. I’m the child’s grandfather, and he’s been speaking to all of us about it.

 

[rvmb]

Read it, and if the Lord OK's the transaction, pass it along. But keep in mind, that your family member could read a hundred books on the subject, if you are not faithful to plow up that fallow ground of their heart through fervent effectual prayer, you might as well have handed them a copy of the Rolling Stone.

The family member is presently seven years old and being pressed for a commitment at a Baptist church.

Ouch, has the 7yo reached the 'age of accountability ?
Do they genuinely understand the consequences of rejecting the Gospel >> Eph 1:13, 1 Cor 15:1-4.
I am UNAWARE of anything in the Bible that teaches GOD will eternally condemn a person who is incapable of understanding the Gospel.

 

[Simple Dan]

The family member is presently seven years old and being pressed for a commitment at a Baptist church. The parents are indifferent about altar calls, seeing no problem with it. I’m the child’s grandfather, and he’s been speaking to all of us about it.

That's a tough one. I was pressed into that same altar call at ten. Hopefully you passed along your love for reading to your children. Give em the book, and maybe a couple firm whacks to the back of the head.

 

[Matthias]

Ouch, has the 7yo reached the 'age of accountability ?

It’s an “interesting” development; similar to what happened to me as a child. I was the boy’s age in 1964 and my grandparents took me to church with them every week. The altar call pressure was on me every Sunday morning. One Sunday my grandparents asked me of I would like to be baptized and I told them that I I did. They were thrilled! but said they would discuss it with my parents. My parents were agnostic. When my grandparents and I sat down to discuss it with my parents it didn’t go well. My parents said that I wasn’t old enough to make a decision and - to this day - I still remember my grandfather, who was a deacon in the church, quoting Matthew 18:6 to them. I was sent to my room, my grandparents were sent out of the house, and we soon moved to another city, hundreds of miles away from my grandparents. I seldom saw them after that, perhaps once or twice a year, and never went to church with them again until I was twenty years old and had moved on my own back to the city where my grandparents lived. It was at this later time that I responded to an altar call at the church and was baptized.

I didn’t need my parents permission or approval. I informed them what I was going to do. My mother asked if I would like for she and my father to be there for my baptism. I told her no, and we never spoke about it again.

This is the source of my discomfort with altar calls.

Do they genuinely understand the consequences of rejecting the Gospel >> Eph 1:13, 1 Cor 15:1-4.

I’m a retired pastor and the parents have heard me preach on the matter.

I am UNAWARE of anything in the Bible that teaches GOD will eternally condemn a person who is incapable of understanding the Gospel.

Acts 8:12 is the biblical model that I followed in ministry. An intelligent reception of the gospel is necessary, otherwise what are we doing besides getting people wet?

 

[soberxp]

I feel great and have a strong sense of participation.

 

[Matthias]

That's a tough one. I was pressed into that same altar call at ten.

It’s troubling to me when adults are subjected to that kind of psychological manipulation - that word may get me into hot water with some folks but that’s how I honestly view it, even with the knowledge that it is being applied with good intention - but it really bothers me when children are subjected to it.

Hopefully you passed along your love for reading to your children.

I have.

Give em the book, and maybe a couple firm whacks to the back of the head.

lol

 

[Matthias]

I feel great and have a strong sense of participation.

I assume you responded to an altar call. I appreciate you sharing your perspective. It needs to be part of the conversation. Surely there are a great number of people who have and are very comfortable with it.

 

[Simple Dan]

It’s troubling to me when adults are subjected to that kind of psychological manipulation - that word may get me into hot water with some folks but that’s how I honestly view it, even with the knowledge that it is being applied with good intention - but it really bothers me when children are subjected to it.




I have.



lol

It's definitely manipulation. And unfortunately gives many of those who succumb to it a false sense of security.

 

[rvmb]

It’s an “interesting” development; similar to what happened to me as a child. I was the boy’s age in 1964 and my grandparents took me to church with them every week. The altar call pressure was on me every Sunday morning. One Sunday my grandparents asked me of I would like to be baptized and I told them that I I did. They were thrilled! but said they would discuss it with my parents. My parents were agnostic. When my grandparents and I sat down to discuss it with my parents it didn’t go well. My parents said that I wasn’t old enough to make a decision and - to this day - I still remember my grandfather, who was a deacon in the church, quoting Matthew 18:6 to them. I was sent to my room, my grandparents were sent out of the house, and we soon moved to another city, hundreds of miles away from my grandparents. I seldom saw them after that, perhaps once or twice a year, and never went to church with them again until I was twenty years old and had moved on my own back to the city where my grandparents lived. It was at this later time that I responded to an altar call at the church and was baptized.

I didn’t need my parents permission or approval. I informed them what I was going to do. My mother asked if I would like for she and my father to be there for my baptism. I told her no, and we never spoke about it again.

This is the source of my discomfort with altar calls.



I’m a retired pastor and the parents have heard me preach on the matter.



Acts 8:12 is the biblical model that I followed in ministry. An intelligent reception of the gospel is necessary, otherwise what are we doing besides getting people wet?

Acts 8:12 was before Christ Acts 9:15 commissioned Paul as Apostle (Rom 11:13) & Minister (Rom 15:16) to the Gentiles and now every believer - Gal 3:28, 1 Cor 12:13, Col 3:11
At the time of Acts 8:12 the unique Gospel that applies today Eph 1:13, 1 Cor 15:1-4 was unknown to the 12.
Only Paul was ever taught it by Christ - Gal 1:11-12, Gal 2:6 - added nothing to me.
Do you accept that for believers 'today' that Paul's teachings over-rides any "contradiction/s" between himself & the 12 ?

 

[Matthias]

Acts 8:12 was before Christ Acts 9:15 commissioned Paul as Apostle (Rom 11:13) & Minister (Rom 15:16) to the Gentiles and now every believer - Gal 3:28, 1 Cor 12:13, Col 3:11
At the time of Acts 8:12 the unique Gospel that applies today Eph 1:13, 1 Cor 15:1-4 was unknown to the 12.
Only Paul was ever taught it by Christ - Gal 1:11-12, Gal 2:6 - added nothing to me.
Do you accept that for believers 'today' that Paul's teachings over-rides any "contradiction/s" between himself & the 12 ?

Thanks but I’d rather the thread not go in that direction. (There are numerous threads on that issue and my view is posted in several of them.) I would really like to stay focused on altar calls. What do you think about them?

The timing of this family issue is, I think, more than just coincidental.

 

[rvmb]

I assume you responded to an altar call. I appreciate you sharing your perspective. It needs to be part of the conversation. Surely there are a great number of people who have and are very comfortable with it.

""I assume you responded to an altar call.""
For me it was not a response but an urge I had during a Bible Study session based on watching others do the same during messages.
I've since learned that ALTAR CALL is a tradition of men and not a Salvation requirement based on the teachings of Christ THROUGH Paul.
Eph 1:13, 1 Cor 15:1-4 is how we are saved today which was uniquely taught to Paul by Christ ALONE - Gal 1:11-12

 

[rvmb]

Thanks but I’d rather the thread not go in that direction. I would really like to stay focused on altar calls. What do you think about them?

The timing of this family issue is, I think, more than just coincidental.

""I would really like to stay focused on altar calls. What do you think about them?""
If Christ THROUGH Paul taught it as a JUSTIFICATION requirement TODAY then who can possible argue against Him?
Are there Pauline verses that teach that ?
Eph 1:13, 1 Cor 15:1-4 is how we are saved today which was uniquely taught to Paul by Christ ALONE - Gal 1:11-12

 

[Chihuahua]

Is that when you get struck by the spirit and shout out rapidly "tie and untie my bow tie" or "should have bought a Honda"
I think officially it is called glossolalia, but whatever two women do behind closes doors is not my business.