Posted on 10/27/2014 7:40:10 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The altar call is an appeal in which the speaker invites attendees to come forward as a way of acknowledging their decision to follow Christ. Many consider Charles Finney (1792-1875) to be the founder of the altar call even though early Methodist used a similar approach known as the "mourners bench."
I have had the privilege of working on the field at large stadium events where altar calls have been given, and I have also offered many appeals to come forward as well, primarily in the early years of my ministry.
Let me begin by saying that anytime we give an honest appeal for a person to turn to God, it's a good thing. But in our zeal to "get people into the kingdom," we sometimes run the risk of offering false assurance. This is a very real danger in the church today. Many come forward after a sermon, but do they change? Often, it's the "I'll give Jesus a try" attitude, rather than a broken heart desperately seeking a Savior — the American gospel versus the true gospel.
The success rate of genuine conversions at crusades hovers between 5% to 15%. Some may argue, "But seeds are planted." Yes, seed are planted, but are they seeds of salvation or seeds of false assurance? I have great respect for men such as Billy Graham and Greg Laurie, and for the mass crusades that draw thousands to hear the gospel. I wish that there were more. I'm not challenging this type of ministry...I'm challenging the "overall" approach to altar calls.
Genuine faith produces genuine fruit; yet, many times, we assure people of salvation minus the fruit. As long as a hand was raised or a prayer was said, we're good with God. But the Bible actually says something different. Biblical repentance involves turning from sin and turning to God—it's a condition of the heart that produces fruit.
In Acts 3:19, we read that new believers didn't simply pray and "try Jesus," they saw their need for a Savior: "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out..." The condition of our heart (not a prayer, a raised hand, or a step forward) secures our redemption — do we recognize sin and repent, or do we willingly continue on the same pre-salvation course?
Unfortunately, it's not until after a genuine conversion experience that many realize that they were never saved to begin with—they had religion but not a relationship; they said a prayer but the heart never changed. Titus 1:16 and James 2:14 both conclude that many people "say" that they know God, but deny Him by their lifestyle.
Numerous times when I've counseled people about their need for a Savior, I've heard, "Oh, I did that already. I'm good." My question is, "Did what?" True repentance produces genuine fruit—a transformed life, a love for God and His Word, sincere humility, selfless love, true repentance, and so on.
Granted, it's not about perfection, but direction. Is the direction of your heart toward God, or toward the world? "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15 KJV).
Sadly, we may be desensitizing our generation to the gospel by offering false assurance. I offer an example because it is a common occurrence. Some time ago, a man raised his hand in response to my message. After the service, I asked if he wanted to be baptized. He said, "I'm not ready for that. I don't want to get that serious." I later found that he continued in a very destructive lifestyle and told others, "I'm not ready to give up my lifestyle."
Clearly, there was no change in this man's heart. Raising his hand was a superficial response and a form of self-preservation (I don't want to go to hell). In these cases, many are motivated by what they are willing to take (heaven) rather than what they're willing to give up (sin).
I'm not against altar calls per se'...giving anxious souls the opportunity to repent is biblical, and I'm definitely not against praying a prayer of repentance. But I am against sher emotionalism and half-hearted considerations.
We all sin and fall short, but genuine conversion results in a broken and penitent heart (genuine fruit). John the Baptist challenged the people to "bear fruit worthy of repentance" for this very reason (Luke 3:8).
In counseling people who lack the fruit of conversion, I do not refer back to a prayer they said, but to repentance...did it occur? Prayer without repentance is like a car without an engine. It might look nice but it's not going anywhere.
Please don't misunderstand: change is a lifelong process with many setbacks; sinners sin, but there should be some indication that a person is being transformed by the gospel. Jesus said, "By their fruit you will know them" (Matthew 7:16).
When altar calls are given, we must explain genuine repentance in light of dying to self, turning from sin, and confessing Christ as Savior and Lord. Our job is not to soften the gospel and report exaggerated numbers of conversions to impress people, our job is to lovingly and boldly preach the gospel in its totality. While there is flexibility and freedom in how we present the gospel, we must be crystal clear in explaining that salvation is a supernatural act of God that produces change. A.W. Tozers sums it up well, "It is change, not time, that turns fools in to wise men and sinners into saints."
- Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Lancaster, California, just North of Los Angeles. He just released his 7th book, Desperate for More of God. Shane's sermons, articles, books, and radio program can all be found at www.wcfav.org
Excellent article. We are in a church in which the pastor preaches exactly this way (Lordship salvation - the true gospel), coming from a church in which salvation was supposedly possible without true repentance, it was supposedly possible for a person to “get saved” and then live as a carnal Christian their whole life. It wasn’t encouraged, but supposedly it was possible. That is false assurance and a false gospel. I’m so glad to belong to a church where the full gospel is preached now!
It's the one main thing I have against the Southern Baptist Church, which holds this up as a virtual requirement for all gospel meetings.
the “mourners bench.”
Wow! I haven’t heard that term in years!
No, they are an emotional approach.
“I’m not against altar calls per se’...giving anxious souls the opportunity to repent is biblical, and I’m definitely not against praying a prayer of repentance. But I am against sher emotionalism and half-hearted considerations.”
I think the whole problem is when a church STOPS with the alter call. That’s when people feel they’re “done” and “all set”.
AFTER the alter call experience, churches need to be TEACHING and equipping these folks on how to let the Lord be LORD of their lives, producing lifelong change and spiritual fruition.
I’ve been in churches who preach nothing BUT repentance. The folks come every week but remain spiritual idiots their whole lives.
And I’ve seen churches who preach nothing but grace. -And again, spiritual idiots; nobody ever grows, they all go touchy-feely in church and live like the world outside of it.
We should be able to lead folks to the Love of God through true repentance. But we should also THEN show them how to surrender their lives to Christ daily. This is the part that needs deliberate PRACTICE every day for the rest of our lives here on earth.
I like altar calls that include the opportunity for prayer with others. Some churches have the elders stand in the front near the end of the service. When the pastor gives an altar call, he makes it clear that people can pray to receive Christ or they can pray for anything at all with those elders. These prayers are generally reserved for very important issues (disease, bankruptcy, wayward children, etc.). It gives the Christian an opportunity every week to pray with several of the elders about a very specific issue without having to attend a separate prayer meeting in which they may not want to share the problem with a larger group.
Or not. In my church it is an invitation to come and pray. If you are a sinner who wished to repent we will pray with you. If you are a brother who is having a hard time we will pray with you. If you wish just to spend the time in deep prayer with the Lord we will join with you.
It is time to talk to God and let Him talk to you.
I have been going to a SBC for 30 years. It is a call for repentance. When we have special events our pastor tells them to get involved in a Bible teaching church. He does not say join this church because it is the only true one. It is a very special time for people.
I find this to be an empty article and discussion.
Whatever point it is trying to make is all ready obvious and known to everyone.
The “altar call” is a step in the right direction of what is sometimes a long journey.
” ..... change is a lifelong process with many setbacks; ...
Yep.
“Altar calls” are not in the Bible, therefore they are a tradition of man and should be condemned. (tongue firmly in cheek)
Most of the time, in my opinion, this device is used as a proxy for real repentance and cost-counting. Teens and pre-teens are often subjected to peer pressure to "go forward" together in a club-like initiation ritual. It is no better than the empty mechanics engaged in by the Roman Church.
Finney's meetings entailed "anxious enquirers" coming forward for further instruction, based on their particular expression of concerns and understanding of the situation of their souls, not to be given an instant membership card.
It shouldn't be a 'special time' for people. It should be a terrible crisis that demands horrible self-examination. A profound experience that changes them to the core.
I have no real problems with Altar Calls.
But....
I was at a funeral one time. As part of the service, the preacher did actually give an Altar Call.
As he prayed; anyone who wanted to accept Jesus into their hearts could do so by raising their hand and praying the Believers Prayer.
Hoo Boy!
We put the gospel out there and invite the sinner to accept Christ. It is NOT we who change the heart. To judge the results is to question the Holy Spirit who calls and changes that person or not.
Sounds like a tent revival to me. I wonder how they knew they "were added"?
I still don’t see the words “tent revival” or “altar call”. I do, however, see “baptism” which must be necessary for salvation.
How did they know who to baptize if they didn’t come forward to identify themselves?
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