by miss marigold
Being a Christian for a couple of decades gives you a fair share of awkward church and chapel moments. You fall asleep, you laugh when the minister unwittingly uses a sexual innuendo, or in my case, you remain stone-faced while everyone around you becomes intoxicated with the Holy Spirit. This became an issue during my Christian school years and its Spiritual Life Weeks. Basically, a special speaker would conduct chapel services and afternoon/night worship sessions and prayer meetings. While I enjoyed the general spiritual buzz, I always dreaded the imminent Friday morning altar call and consequent sob session.
At one point, I responded to altar calls, both spiritually and literally. When I was six, I accepted Christ. A few years later, when the speaker asked who would like to renew their faith, I approached the front and fell down on my knees along with everyone else. The speaker laid his hands on the heads of those who accepted Christ for the first time, we praised, we cried, we gave each other bear hugs, it was great. After about the fourth of fifth time, though, I couldn't do it anymore. After going through so many "break ups" and "renewals" with God, the altar call felt less like a personal revival and more like an orchestrated emotional breakdown. The collective weeping and exclamations of "PRAISE JESUS" made my school look like a huge cult. I'd watch as the chairs began losing their occupants - and soon enough, it looked like the only people around me were the self-proclaimed atheists and agnostics, many of whom were rebelling against their de facto status as "pet projects" of those wanting to win over more people to Jesus ASAP. Guilt and awkwardness overpowered me - I was a Christian, so why wasn't I up there? Wait, what if the teachers thought I wasn't a Christian anymore? I was already saved, so I didn't need to accept Christ again, but my faith will never perfect, so I could always use some renewing...so how come I'm not going up there...?? Am I too proud? Am I dead inside?
For the longest time, I couldn't admit that I don't like altar calls out of fear that others would label me a heathen or something. At the same time, I felt guilty for not wanting to do "the Christian thing." I especially did not like it when the speaker would ask us to close our eyes and raise our hands if we wanted to reconnect with Jesus. What is this, voting for the class president with secret ballots? Sure, I felt *something* during those altar calls, but that was guilt. It was not the Holy Spirit's compelling by any means - let me know if you disagree, but I don't think God guilt-trips us into doing His will. I don't like to think that He would manipulate me that way; rather, my experience with altar calls let me know that if I went up, it'd be for the wrong reasons. I'd be like a Pharisee - just doing it so everyone could see I was a Christian.
I'm sure altar calls click with a lot of people, but something about them doesn't bounce off me well. They're just not my style. Why do I need to raise my hand (while everyone supposedly closes their eyes) to prove I'm a Christian? If God can read our hearts, why would He need to see that? I especially cautioned against the spiritual high ensuing from the end of Spiritual Life Week; there's nothing really wrong with altar calls, but by depending on them when I was younger, I established a revolving door relationship with God. I always walked in or out of it, but never really went forward. I based my allegiance to Him on emotional highs and lows instead of continual discipline and dedication.
It's been about four years since I last witnessed an altar call - would I participate in one now? I don't know. If I feel spiritually compelled to go forward and renew my faith in front of everyone, I will. At this point, however, I would rather focus on developing qualities that actually challenge my naturally impatient character. It's one thing to bow prostrate when I'm already filled with the Spirit and on the verge of tears. It's another thing to forgive my roommate because she attempted to set a ten-minute time slot for when I could shower last night.
How do you feel about altar calls? What has your experience with them (or similar practices) been like?
Comments (36)
I stopped participating in them after I went to Summer RAMP one year. I've grown so distant that really, I just... don't respond. Maybe I don't have the desire. I just watch everyone else.
I can see where you are coming from...but I see altar calls as a public confession. For example, one may want to openly admit that they haven't been walking with the Lord as they should and they go up to get hands laid on them.There's nothing wrong with altar calls as long as one is completely sincere in going up. It also depends on what the call is, you know? For example whoever is making the altar call may have recieved an urging from the Lord to ask the congregation if someone had problems with their kidneys. In that case, I think altar calls are very useful and effective. Then that person can get the laying on of hands. Sometimes I do think it is an issue of pride that people don't go up. But if one knows that the "altar caller" is referring to him, then he should go up. If not then that person is missing their blessing/healing.
Bottom Line: I believe if you feel an urging from the Lord to go up or you know you need prayer for a specific thing, don't hold back! Just be sincere and don't live a wordly life anymore after you've been prayed for. That's the thing...I believe somewhere in the bible Jesus said something to the effect of "go and sin no more." So after we've repented we need to turn from our wicked ways and just walk in Him.
Great blog, a real thought provoking entry btw :)
You might be interested in a book entitled My Faith So Far by Patton Dodd; it details some similar scenarios and questions connected with experiences at Oral Roberts University.
Yeah, I agree with you on this. I have seen a few altar calls like that. I do think there should be an opportunity for people to respond to the Lord in some way. I have seen where people will go forward, but then go to meet with people in private rooms for prayer or if they want to discuss salvation and things like that.
You have echoed my experience as well having grown up in a conservative Mennonite church. I see in Scripture that it is God that calls us and gives us the faith to respond to that call, not some pastor using emotions to manipulate my guilty conscience. If I respond because i "feel" an emotional pressure to "be right with God" and it isn't truly something that God is impressing upon me, I will go through the next few days or even months based on how i "feel" and then feeling like I need to "perform". Of course, it doesn't take long until I need to make another trip down the aisle... When I finally understood God's part and my part in salvation, I was and am able to rest in His grace and forgiveness.
I really liked what 'desperateformySavior said in his comment above.."Maybe instead of altar calls we should have
cross calls........come up get a cross and carry it...die on it if need
by. Where is the cost of discipleship these days?".... Cross-bearing and death to self are much more difficult than a trip down the aisle.
For me if there was no altar call I would not be alive or the person that I am today. Not everyone has an opportunity to give their life to Jesus, not everyone asks someone to do this. For me hearing the Pastor up the front asking those who would like to have Jesus come into their heart was the only way I would have responded. In a safe environment with people around who must be like minded was a good combination for me to go up the front.
Question where did you make a decision to change your life for Jesus was it at an altar call?
Would you personally ask someone if they would like to make Jesus the center of their life?
The good thing is that everyone is allowed to have their own opinion and that God loves all us no matter what we think or say. He wants all of us to freely come to him and have a relationship with him and for some it will be as a direct result of an altar call and for others through some other means.
Whatever way his desire is for us to meet with him and that was the best thing I ever did. So even though it may not be for you how exciting that it is the way for others. Have a blessed day.
Julia
As a born again Christian for over 35+ years, I have seen alter calls that made people feel okay, and some were rather strange. I have just borrowed a post from a person from a year ago that explains my views on altar calls, and why they are needed.
"Do you attend a church that doesn't give people a chance to receive Christ?
Daily Devotional
Date: 01/08/07 - 538 days ago.
Category: SALVATION
How Many Pastors Never Give an Invitation to Accept Jesus
(Ezekiel 33:8; 2 Corinthians 6:2; James 4:14; John 14:6)
How many pastors NEVER give those they preach to an invitation to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior? Today, I must address what to me is the biggest problem in the church today, since it goes to the root of the churches greatest responsibility and that is to bring the lost to faith in Jesus Christ. I realize the church is to spiritually feed its members, to equip the saints for service, to be a place where Believers can find fellowship with other Believers, and where most followers of Christ serve Him. However, without question the most important job of the church is to reach out to the lost and hurting and to help lead people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of their sins, and God's free gift of everlasting life through faith in His Son Jesus Christ!
This is a message that has been percolating for several years now, and finally reached the boiling point in the past week during the various services held in memory of President Gerald Ford. While those memorial services for President Ford led me to finally bring this word to you, its genesis was in the daily contact I have with thousands and thousands of people all over this nation and around the world, the first hand knowledge I have of tens of thousands of churches, and the spiritual malpractice well over 50% of pastors commit each and every Sunday.
Having started my public ministry in the great city of Chicago in 1992, I studied in great detail the life and ministry of D.L. Moody. One of my great honors early in my ministry was to preach on several occasions to the students at the Moody Bible Institute and preach a mid-week service at the great Moody Memorial Church. One of the events that greatly impacted the life and ministry of Moody was the night of the Chicago fire. It was Sunday night, October 8, 1871, and as Moody finished his sermon, he told the crowd who had gathered to hear him preach to evaluate their relationship with Christ and return next week to make their decisions for Him. That crowd never gathered since during the night the building they were meeting in was consumed by the fire and it would be months before they would find a new place to hold their services.
Moody would never again make the grievous mistake of sending those who came to hear him preach home without giving them an invitation to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The Bible proclaims that TODAY is the day of salvation. The Bible teaches that tomorrow is promised to NONE of us. Moody was haunted by the question, how many people who would have been moved by the Holy Sprit to walk the aisle and give their life to Christ on that infamous October night, never did so and died in their sins, lost for all eternity?
Dwight L. Moody would not even recognize the vast majority of "pastors" today. Men, and now women, who preach a watered down message, using secular books for their references rather than the Bible. "Pastors" who stand in the pulpits of America and refuse to even deal with sin since it might offend people. The ones who make a mockery of Christ by condoning, accepting, and even glorifying gross sins like homosexuality and the slaughter of innocent babies. And what I am certain would break Moody's heart, "pastors" who preach Sunday after Sunday and NEVER give an invitation for those they are preaching to, to accept Jesus as their Savior by faith.
During the first 3 yrs of my public ministry, I preached in over 500 churches all over the nation. All types of denominations, racial and ethnic make-ups, churches with thousands and churches with less than 20. It was during those years I had my first insight into how many churches rarely, if ever gave those who gathered on Sunday an opportunity to accept Jesus as their Savior by faith. Over these past 7 1/2 years of Liveprayer, in dealing with literally tens of thousands of people first hand, thousands upon thousands of churches all over this country and around the world, I would not hesitate to estimate that in well over 50% of churches, those who gather are NEVER given the invitation to ask Jesus into their heart and life by faith and become born again...NEVER!
I remember watching much of the memorial services held at various churches for President Reagan back in June of 2004, and then just this past week, watching all of the various memorial series held for President Ford. I heard one "pastor" after another speaking, waiting for just one, just one, to at least have the guts to tell those listening what Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." There was one who actually did cite that passage, but had the audacity to leave off, "No one comes to the Father except through me," I am sure afraid of offending someone in the audience. How offended will those people be when they die without Jesus and are spending eternity in hell because some gutless "pastor" refused to tell them the Truth?
I gave up hope long ago on seeing even one of these "pastors" with the world watching on these special occasions, actually doing what God has called them to do and sharing the Gospel. Simply telling the people that if you die without Jesus you will be lost for all eternity. My goodness, you have the "pastor" of the largest church in the nation who goes on television often and actually brags that he doesn't talk about sin and refuses to answer the most basic question of the Christian faith which is that faith in Jesus is the ONLY way men can be saved and those who choose to reject Him will be in hell. These men dishonor Christ and the Bible clearly says those who have taken on the mantle of leadership will be held to a much higher standard. God will hold them accountable one day.
This problem in the pastorate has all unfolded over the past 40 years. Most of the mainline denominations began to require their pastors to have a seminary education, but they did not state which seminaries. As the nation began to rebel against all authority in the mid '60s, that included rebelling against God and the Truth of His Word. Liberal seminaries popped up that denied the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture. Men no longer needed to be "called" by God, simply complete the required education. I am convinced there is a percentage, larger than you night think, of "pastors" in this nation who are not even saved!
Once you reject the authority of the Bible, it opened the door to women "pastors," "pastors" who condone sins like homosexually and abortion, "pastors" who quoted secular books as well as books used by the false religions of the world more than the Bible, "pastors" who refuse to deal with sin, and "pastors" who have never given an altar call or led a lost soul to faith in Christ in their life!
You also have "pastors" like Joel Osteen who have never even been to Bible college! It is no wonder he has no grasp of theology. He majored in broadcasting in college and ran his father's television ministry until taking over as "pastor" after his father's death. Being a pastor is not like running the family business. You can't simply wake up one day and decide to be a pastor, though sadly many do. Let me ask you a question. Would you want someone operating on your heart who has never been to medical school, but simply woke up one day and decided they wanted to be a heart surgeon? OF COURSE NOT! Yet people put their eternal souls in the hands of "pastors" every day who have never even taken a Bible college class!
Listen, I am not saying you have to have the alphabet following your name to be qualified to pastor a church. However, if you have truly been called, God will guide you to the formal theological training you need to at least properly preach and teach His Word. There is so much more that goes into it, but you have to have at least a basic theological education from a legitimate Bible school that holds the Bible to be God's inspired inerrant Word, representing Absolute Truth, and our final authority in all matters.
Anyone who answers the call of God to preach His Word has the fundamental responsibility of preaching the Gospel and leading the lost to faith in Jesus Christ. A pastor who ends a service without giving an invitation to accept Christ to those he is preaching to is committing spiritual malpractice, and as one of God's watchmen, God WILL hold them accountable for those who die and spend eternity in hell because they refused to tell them how to be saved!
I love you and care about you so much. I am going to make a very bold statement right now. If you are going to a church where you rarely, or even worse, never, hear your pastor give people the invitation to ask Christ into their hearts and lives, you need to confront your pastor why not. There is NO reason not to. It is his job. In fact, it is probably the most basic and fundamental part of his job. If he did nothing else but that, he would be fulfilling God's calling on his life. You need to hear his explanation for why he refuses to obey God, and then you need do pray if that is really the church God wants you and your family to be part of.
Also, the next time you are in church, look around you. Look at the people around you and ask yourself how many of those people are NOT Believers, who have never given their heart and life to Christ by faith. Ask yourself how many of those people will die and spend eternity in hell for their rejection of Christ. Pray for them to hear the Gospel clearly presented. Pray for them to allow the Holy Sprit to open their heart to God's love for them. Pray for them to surrender their life to Christ by faith and be saved
Lastly, if your pastor is one of these pastors who never gives an invitation at the end of his service, forward this Devotional to him, or her, and pray they come under conviction. I already know I am going to take TONS of heat for this message. That is OK. I have to be obedient to God. I am almost certain you have NEVER heard a message like this before and never will again. People are too afraid to say what needs to be said. I can't stay silent because the eternal souls of men are at stake.
Those God has called and given the honor to preach, can be used by Him to bring many lost souls to faith in Jesus Christ. That won't happen by accident, it won't happen by putting on a great performance, it won't happen by tricking them, and it won't happen because you made them feel good. The only way a person will get saved is if you love them enough to share with them the simplicity of the Gospel They need to admit they are a sinner and need a Savior and that Christ's loves them unconditionally and wants to have an eternal relationship with them.
It is the job of ALL Believers in Christ to share the Gospel with the lost. However, there is NO EXCUSE for any pastor to hold any type of service and not give those who attend the opportunity to ask Christ into their heart and life by faith and be saved!"
I whole-heartedly agree!! My sister and I always kind of laugh because it seems as though every time our Pastor does that "raise your hand for Jesus" thing, he ALWAYS says "I see that hand" and it makes us wonder if that many people are really raising their hands, or if he's just saying that to make us think that a lot of people are, so we should too.
I can identify with some of what you've said. I agree that it's more about developing Christlike qualities over time than going in and out and in and out the revolving door.
Boy here we go again! I grew up in a family of Irish Catholic alcoholics. Did not go to church for several years. So I ended up in a non-denominational protestant church when I did go.... I had never even heard of an altar call. But I knew that God was 'calling' me to go forward! I did and something happened. A public confirmation of a heartfelt decision. I changed instantly. Before I reached the altar I had 200# of weight lifted off of me. Really! I literally felt something lift off me.
Now of course, I know that God met me on the way to that altar and by the time I got there, nobody needed to pray with me..... I was smiling from ear to ear with a Joy that I KNEW God not only existed, but He was now inside me.
My church has an altar call at the end of every service. Guess who is now waiting down there to pray with anyone who wants to?
If you do anything because of guilt, including serving in a church, it is for the wrong reason. And if you are going down to the altar over and over, you have a gross misunderstanding of why and what you are doing it for. But when you answer God's prompting, lookout!