SivartM Posted March 23, 2010 Posted March 23, 2010 Is anyone else annoyed by altar calls? Walk up front or you don't love Jesus!!!! Quote "Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde�Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets." - Jesus
Liz Posted March 23, 2010 Posted March 23, 2010 LOL SivartM!!! Yeah, we had a pastor once that did it every Sabbath, and wouldn't close the service until every one "heeded the call". We were quick learners and it didn't take us long to figure this out, so by the third Sabbath when he did his "call" the whole congregation stood up and moved to the front so we could have closing prayer. Quote For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Mat. 16:26Please, support the JDRF and help find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. Please, support the March of Dimes.
karl Posted March 23, 2010 Posted March 23, 2010 Is anyone else annoyed by altar calls? I appreciate the opportunity to publicly stand up for Jesus. I'm sure if it were every week it would wear out some of the significance. I don't appreciate preachers hammering those who do not respond. I think they need to go home and reflect on why they didn't respond. One of my favorite altar calls was at a Baptist church. I came in at the end of a revival service (to practice with the worship team for the following Sunday) and the preacher said "If you love Jesus, stand up." So I stood up. "If you have anything you desire of the Lord raise your hands." I raised my hands. "Come down here to the altar and make your wants and wishes known." I went down to the altar and prayed for all my friends in that church to become Adventists. The revivalist and the church regular pastor came on either side of me and started shouting, "Give him what he's asking for, Lord." My best friend (guitarist in the band) has become an Adventist since then and I'm still working on the bassist and the drummer. It was really a great altar call. Quote
Moderators Bravus Posted March 23, 2010 Moderators Posted March 23, 2010 I dislike manipulative altar calls just like I dislike manipulative movies. If the church uses the lighting, the music, the preaching and everything else, including peer pressure, to manipulate me into an emotional decision... well, it just feels to me as though they don't have a lot of faith in the persuasiveness of their teaching and the power of the Holy Spirit to convict. I don't think the Spirit needs a (coercive) helping hand... Quote Truth is important
Outta Here Posted March 23, 2010 Posted March 23, 2010 I dislike all altar calls. As a rather private person, I feel that my relationship with God is a private matter. I dislike public altar calls, baptisms, dedications and weddings. To me, those are personal events to be shared with only family and the closest of friends. YMMV Quote
Members phkrause Posted March 23, 2010 Members Posted March 23, 2010 Is anyone else annoyed by altar calls? Walk up front or you don't love Jesus!!!! I'm not annoyed by them, just dislike them for reasons including the one you mentioned. I used to feel guilty when others went up to the front or stood up, but got over that. But I will say that the older I've gotten and the closer to Jesus I don't feel guilty and maybe someday will go to front because I want to go and not out of guilt. pk Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Moderators lazarus Posted March 23, 2010 Moderators Posted March 23, 2010 I make them on a regular basis. It's one of the ways that I , as a Pastor, lead people to make decisions for Jesus. There are other ways but it is as effective as any other. It's Biblical to make some kind of call to invite people publicly to give their hearts to God/Jesus. Some calls are manipulative and counter productive and others are led by the Spirit and done well. Joshua 24:1. 1 Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God...... ....14 "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." 16 Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! Acts 2: 37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38. Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." 40. With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Quote Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence. Einstein
Moderators lazarus Posted March 23, 2010 Moderators Posted March 23, 2010 The churches that don't have altar calls typically don't have many or any baptisms, They don't grow (if they do it's biological). It's not simply because they don't have calls but it's because they are not focused on mission. Quote Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence. Einstein
SivartM Posted March 23, 2010 Author Posted March 23, 2010 But... the Bible doesn't have altar calls. Calls, but not altar calls. Every week at my church when we pray we're invited to "come up to the altar to present your special requests to God". Apparently He is tied to the altar and can't hear those of us who don't see the point. :( Quote "Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde�Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets." - Jesus
Moderators lazarus Posted March 23, 2010 Moderators Posted March 23, 2010 The altar is only the place where the preacher/teacher/evangelist would present his message. In the Bible it could be a gate, hill, rock, river, house or even a desert. If you made the call in a mall you could call it a Dunkin Doughnuts call. Quote Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence. Einstein
SivartM Posted March 23, 2010 Author Posted March 23, 2010 The vibes I get from altar calls is that somehow the front of the church is "holy ground" (or holier at least than the rest of the "sanctuary"), and we must go there to be with God. Why can't you dedicate yourself to God where you're sitting? And not put on a show for everyone? The corollary of "walk up front and dedicate yourself to God" is that "if you don't walk up front there is something wrong with you spiritually". I never have any desire to walk twenty sacred steps forward and put myself on parade, but just sitting there I feel like a bad Christian. Quote "Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde�Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets." - Jesus
Moderators lazarus Posted March 23, 2010 Moderators Posted March 23, 2010 The vibes I get from altar calls is that somehow the front of the church is "holy ground" (or holier at least than the rest of the "sanctuary"), and we must go there to be with God. It is weird how we as SDA's still cling to the church as the sanctuary since our big key doctrine is that the sanctuary is in heaven. For me the front of the church, where I preach, and where the praise team leads etc. is a convenient gathering place for collective prayer, re dedication, etc. Quote: Why can't you dedicate yourself to God where you're sitting? You can, no one is stopping you. Quote: I never have any desire to walk twenty sacred steps forward and put myself on parade, but just sitting there I feel like a bad Christian. On parade? Interesting choice of words. Don't feel bad. I didn't go up for an altar call before I got baptized. Let go of the guilt.....rejoice for those who feel led to come forward. Isn't this about your feelings rather than the altar call itself. Quote Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence. Einstein
karl Posted March 23, 2010 Posted March 23, 2010 Isn't this about your feelings rather than the altar call itself. Good point, lazerus, but there is a lot of emphasis here on the subjective. What does the church do FOR me? If it makes me feel guilty, that is a good thing. I AM guilty, but the world tries to make me think I'm OK. Church is not supposed to reinforce the teachings of the world. Quote
Moderators John317 Posted March 23, 2010 Moderators Posted March 23, 2010 I completely agree with you, Lazarus. Quote John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
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