Altar Call

[Singinbeauty]

Hi Singinbeauty,

As a cradle Catholic, I would have to say that the whole “accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior” seems so “what’s the big deal?” or “Duh!” to many of us. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t believe Jesus is my savior! Maybe being raised in faith makes it hard for me to understand how some people can suddenly choose to believe in Jesus because of some emotional experience during a sermon or whatever…

Also, my family has always placed more emphasis on the logical over the emotional, so I tend to want to learn about God and my faith, and the more I learn, the more excited I get. So I guess the emotion follows the logic?? Just my 2 cents!

God bless

Being someone who has grown up in the church but only recently really learned who God was and is I can come at it from a different angle. It’s not an ‘emotional’ experience. Really. It’s more of an acknowledgement of what our hearts already know. It’s relying on that Faith rather than logic or proof. It’s trusting that voice who calls our names that can only shake our souls. It’s trusting like a child rather than scrutinizing every detail like a jaded adult. It’s giving the power and the reigns to something we can only ‘feel’ on a supernatural level. It has nothing to do with emotion and everything to do with quieting what the world tells us and opening up to what God is saying.

 

[Tonks40]

Being someone who has grown up in the church but only recently really learned who God was and is I can come at it from a different angle. It’s not an ‘emotional’ experience. Really. It’s more of an acknowledgement of what our hearts already know. It’s relying on that Faith rather than logic or proof. It’s trusting that voice who calls our names that can only shake our souls. It’s trusting like a child rather than scrutinizing every detail like a jaded adult. It’s giving the power and the reigns to something we can only ‘feel’ on a supernatural level. It has nothing to do with emotion and everything to do with quieting what the world tells us and opening up to what God is saying.

Yes, and sustaining this is what is called True Conversion!

 

[Delraek]

Being someone who has grown up in the church but only recently really learned who God was and is I can come at it from a different angle. It’s not an ‘emotional’ experience. Really. It’s more of an acknowledgement of what our hearts already know. It’s relying on that Faith rather than logic or proof. It’s trusting that voice who calls our names that can only shake our souls. It’s trusting like a child rather than scrutinizing every detail like a jaded adult. It’s giving the power and the reigns to something we can only ‘feel’ on a supernatural level. It has nothing to do with emotion and everything to do with quieting what the world tells us and opening up to what God is saying.

I guess I was attempting to explain my personal objection to altar calls, and your post above doesn’t really sound like an “altar call” type of experience to me. If an altar call or something similar is based on emotion, is it a real conversion of heart? Emotions can change like the wind, so if emotion dictates someone’s faith, can it really last?

Also, logic and proof are not the same thing, and I believe that faith is very logical!

 

[Kevan]

If an altar call or something similar is based on emotion, is it a real conversion of heart? Emotions can change like the wind, so if emotion dictates someone’s faith, can it really last?

Often it doesn’t, sometimes it does, as proven by the millions who are Christians today because they responded to an altar call.

Emotion is a part of humanity, it just needs to be in its proper place. I heard Zig Ziglar say “If you sell with logic alone, you’ll have the best educated prospect in town; but he’ll buy from somebody else. If you sell with emotion alone, he’ll buy, but then he’ll have buyer’s remorse and cancel the deal the next day.”

The important thing about an altar call is that God actually does something to you in response to your faith. I was born again that way. I passed from death to life (John 5:24). It was the beginning of an unbroken relationship to God through Christ that has lasted almost forty years.

I could have done business with God in any of a dozen different ways, but the altar call was the tradition in that particular church. Nothing magical about the method. On the other hand, people can be easily deceived into thinking that “going through the motions” makes something happen. That problem is as old as religion itself. Knowing it, preachers in my experience have always emphasized where the difference is and warned the congregation against thinking that walking the aisle, praying a prayer, or shaking the preacher’s hand is enough to experience the new birth. The active ingredient is faith; the other stuff is just packaging.

The same holds true for other decisions at the altar. When folks believe that God’s Spirit has spoken to their hearts about one thing or another, the altar call is an opportunity to do something outward that assists the inner disposition. One could stand at his seat during the singing of a hymn and pray about the problem, but experience shows that some people are helped by “going forward” and kneeling for prayer during the “invitation hymn.” But the inner surrender to God is the only important thing.

 

[DebChris]

Scripture talks about the laying on of hands. It would appear, that although the ‘altar call’ as such may not have been used prior than Moody, it could be said to have Biblical roots. What I see is a pragmatic approach to the idea of salvation. Instead of the preacher going to the person who wants to receive Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour, he is asking the person to come to where he is. If you kneel by the altar rail (if there is one), I can more easily come to you and lay hands for you to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The preacher does not have to try to make his way through the crowd of people who came to listen to him preach, especially if what we are dealing with is a tent revival. Stepping forward would be a sign of faith on the part of the newly converted.

 

[peary]

Scripture talks about the laying on of hands. It would appear, that although the ‘altar call’ as such may not have been used prior than Moody, it could be said to have Biblical roots. What I see is a pragmatic approach to the idea of salvation. Instead of the preacher going to the person who wants to receive Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour, he is asking the person to come to where he is. If you kneel by the altar rail (if there is one), I can more easily come to you and lay hands for you to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The preacher does not have to try to make his way through the crowd of people who came to listen to him preach, especially if what we are dealing with is a tent revival. Stepping forward would be a sign of faith on the part of the newly converted.

How can you have an “altar rail” when nonCatholic Christians don’t have an ‘altar’?
And most of those who participate in the so-called “altar call” seem to do so on a regular weekly basis.

 

[DebChris]

How can you have an “altar rail” when nonCatholic Christians don’t have an ‘altar’?
And most of those who participate in the so-called “altar call” seem to do so on a regular weekly basis.

Many nonCatholic churches do have altar rails. They may not have an altar as we as Catholics see altars as a table on which the Lord’s Supper is prepared but rather a “stage” from which they preach. There may or may not be a lectern or podium from which God’s Word is read. Some, such as Methodist, Lutheran, and Presbyterian churches do have altars.
An altar call is not always about giving yourself to Christ. A person may come forward for prayer, especially healing prayer.
You do make a valid point, that for many, especially if we are talking about tent revivals, there is no physical altar. An altar can be seen, not only as a physical table or platform, but also a place of our offering ourselves to Christ.
As Catholics, how often do we seek God’s healing and forgiveness? I do not see an issue with those who would come forward weekly for prayer, healing, and recommittment on a weekly basis if that person sees a need in order to more fully walk in the light of Christ.
In the 19th century, a priest was not always available. Individuals in rural areas were dependent on the traveling preacher, regardless of denomination in order to hear the Word of God. Today we can find a church almost anywhere.

 

[Delraek]

Often it doesn’t, sometimes it does, as proven by the millions who are Christians today because they responded to an altar call.

Emotion is a part of humanity, it just needs to be in its proper place. I heard Zig Ziglar say “If you sell with logic alone, you’ll have the best educated prospect in town; but he’ll buy from somebody else. If you sell with emotion alone, he’ll buy, but then he’ll have buyer’s remorse and cancel the deal the next day.”

The important thing about an altar call is that God actually does something to you in response to your faith. I was born again that way. I passed from death to life (John 5:24). It was the beginning of an unbroken relationship to God through Christ that has lasted almost forty years.

I could have done business with God in any of a dozen different ways, but the altar call was the tradition in that particular church. Nothing magical about the method. On the other hand, people can be easily deceived into thinking that “going through the motions” makes something happen. That problem is as old as religion itself. Knowing it, preachers in my experience have always emphasized where the difference is and warned the congregation against thinking that walking the aisle, praying a prayer, or shaking the preacher’s hand is enough to experience the new birth. The active ingredient is faith; the other stuff is just packaging.

The same holds true for other decisions at the altar. When folks believe that God’s Spirit has spoken to their hearts about one thing or another, the altar call is an opportunity to do something outward that assists the inner disposition. One could stand at his seat during the singing of a hymn and pray about the problem, but experience shows that some people are helped by “going forward” and kneeling for prayer during the “invitation hymn.” But the inner surrender to God is the only important thing.

Hi Kevan,

Those “millions” who you claim converted because of an altar call may have converted anyway. It’s truly amazing to see how God changes people’s hearts in different ways. And just to be clear, I have no problem with people going up to be prayed over or confirming their faith - I’m referring specifically to the perceived “conversion” to Christ. I know of many people who did the “altar call” (probably because they were filled with emotion at the time) and now don’t have even a fleeting relationship with Jesus. I believe true conversion is a journey, and the more time we spend in prayer and in learning about God, the stronger our faith becomes.

And, for the record, I do believe that something emotional can happen in someone’s life to start this conversion, which is one of the many ways God works in people!

 

[peary]

You do make a valid point, that for many, especially if we are talking about tent revivals, there is no physical altar. An altar can be seen, not only as a physical table or platform, but also a place of our offering ourselves to Christ.

In the Bible, an altar is a specific table or raised platform for sacrifice. In the Church, an altar is specifically to offer the Sacrifice of the Mass, not ourselves. Even the early Christians who hid in the catacombs had altars for Mass. When you reject the Sacrifice of the Mass, you end up, not with an altar, but with a memorial table. Making the altar ‘invisible’ is not biblical.

 

[Mannyfit75]

ALTAR not ‘alter’ Sorry!

It’s alter. hehehe

 

[Singinbeauty]

Hi Kevan,

Those “millions” who you claim converted because of an altar call may have converted anyway.

Yeah, and they way that they did it was through an altar call. I really don’t understand why this is so difficult for ya. Unless you hate admitting you are incorrect.

The statement you made above is like saying orange juice may help to prevent cancer. But how do you know that the person who drinks a lot of orange juice and doesn’t get cancer was prone to it in the first place???

It’s truly amazing to see how God changes people’s hearts in different ways. And just to be clear, I have no problem with people going up to be prayed over or confirming their faith - I’m referring specifically to the perceived “conversion” to Christ. I know of many people who did the “altar call” (probably because they were filled with emotion at the time) and now don’t have even a fleeting relationship with Jesus. I believe true conversion is a journey, and the more time we spend in prayer and in learning about God, the stronger our faith becomes.

“probably because they were filled with emotion at the time” But you don’t know their hearts, do you. Some people come to Christ in a million different ways and still don’t have a relationship with Him. SHOCK Even some catholics! :bigyikes: So by that can I say that all RCIA and conversions through the catholic church were done on emotion alone and therefore are invalid? No, because that assertion is wrong. Generalizations don’t work my friend.

And, for the record, I do believe that something emotional can happen in someone’s life to start this conversion, which is one of the many ways God works in people!

You want to insist that EVERY altar call is based soley on emotion. Kevan and I have both told you that it isn’t always the case but you don’t seem to want to believe us. Why is that? Is it because you can’t admit you are incorrect about a misinformation that you have used to dislike protestants?

I gave you a very PRECISE expectation of what a person going through an altar call may be experiencing and you say:

Delraek:

I guess I was attempting to explain my personal objection to altar calls, and your post above doesn’t really sound like an “altar call” type of experience to me.

So what? It doesn’t sound like what you have always expected one to be but that is because you were incorrect about what an altar call actually is. You had bad information. Sometimes this happens.

Delraek:

If an altar call or something similar is based on emotion, is it a real conversion of heart? Emotions can change like the wind, so if emotion dictates someone’s faith, can it really last?

You are really hanging on to this even though you keep getting told that you are misinformed. Yes, emotions do change but someone experiencing God through the altar call are NOT going off of emotion but off of the Holy Spirit leading them to Christ. Those that cry as they approach are not being emotional but it is as if a weight has been lifted and they are no longer fighting God but obeying Him.

Again, what do you think was happening when Peter preached to the crowd in Acts and 3,000 people believed??? It’s the same concept. He may not have asked them to come to the front but do you think that they just left the temple and didn’t bother to talk to anyone afterwards? No. Not every ‘altar call’ is about going to the front. Some are, because they want to meet with the person who is making the decision and they want to pray with and for them at that moment. Some, like those at the church I attend, offer to pray for them as they sit in their seats and then invite them to talk to someone afterwards about their decision.

Again, the altar call is not about emotion, it’s about God.

Delraek:

Also, logic and proof are not the same thing, and I believe that faith is very logical!

Sometimes, though, Faith defies logic here on earth.

 

[mercygate]

Hi Kevan,

Those “millions” who you claim converted because of an altar call may have converted anyway. It’s truly amazing to see how God changes people’s hearts in different ways. And just to be clear, I have no problem with people going up to be prayed over or confirming their faith - I’m referring specifically to the perceived “conversion” to Christ. I know of many people who did the “altar call” (probably because they were filled with emotion at the time) and now don’t have even a fleeting relationship with Jesus. I believe true conversion is a journey, and the more time we spend in prayer and in learning about God, the stronger our faith becomes.

And, for the record, I do believe that something emotional can happen in someone’s life to start this conversion, which is one of the many ways God works in people!

Anything that brings a person to his knees in conversion to Jesus Christ is a good thing that God can use for His purposes.

Emotion is a valuable aid in drawing people to Christ. Ever make the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola? WHEW! Talk about emotion! And imagination! And intellect! And DEEP conviction.

I responded to an altar call at the age of 8. No miracles at the moment, but I sincerely credit that experience as part of the walk that eventually brought me into the Catholic Church. I kept walking toward Jesus. And Here He IS!

 

[peary]

I responded to an altar call at the age of 8. No miracles at the moment, but I sincerely credit that experience as part of the walk that eventually brought me into the Catholic Church. I kept walking toward Jesus. And Here He IS!

I responded to an authentic “altar call” also at the age of 8. I literally knelt down at the altar railing to receive the Eucharist for the first time in my life.

 

[mercygate]

I responded to an authentic “altar call” also at the age of 8. I literally knelt down at the altar railing to receive the Eucharist for the first time in my life.

I just had this discussion with an ex-Catholic Baptist last night. I told her that I answer an altar call every time I come forward to receive the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I told her that I affirm my conversion every time I say the words, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned” and that Jesus Christ Himself, personally, pronounces over me, through the words of his Priest, the words, "I absolve you . . . "

 

[GKC]

I just had this discussion with an ex-Catholic Baptist last night. I told her that I answer an altar call every time I come forward to receive the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I told her that I affirm my conversion every time I say the words, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned” and that Jesus Christ Himself, personally, pronounces over me, through the words of his Priest, the words, "I absolve you . . . "

I think this is an excellent analogy.

GKC