Altar calls are unbiblical?

[Ignatius]

I once read in Karl Keating’s book called Catholicism and Fundamentalism that altar calls, a practice in which christians come forward to make a public confession of their belief and commitment to Jesus Christ are unbiblical.

That citation doesn’t say anything about an “Alter Call” there? Please give me an account in the New Testament where an altar call occurs.

BTW, I might also point out that the non-denoms who practice this don’t even have an alter in their buildings. So, how are they even doing an alter call without an alter?

 

[tweetymom]

I must’ve missed it. Where does it say anything about an “Alter Call” there? Please give me an account in the New Testament where an altar call occurs.

BTW, I might also point out that the non-denoms who practice this don’t even have an alter in their buildings. So, how are they even doing an alter call without an alter?

Ouestion if I may without ruffling feathers which sometimes it seems easy to do, Where in the Bible does it say not to have an Altar call? And a Altar can be anywhere Christ is

 

[garysibio]

I hope that I can agree with you which i most certainally do. We do so need to continually
convert.Altar calls are very wonderful and cleansing Bu th way is that your blog? Nice and the pictures are great. God Bless:thumbsup:

Thanks. Yes, that is my blog. I just stare=ted it a few weeks ago. I also have one on the “Insects of the Chicago Area” but I kinda figured no one around here would be particularly interested in that one.

 

[juliamajor]

Ouestion if I may without ruffling feathers which sometimes it seems easy to do, Where in the Bible does it say not to have an Altar call? And a Altar can be anywhere Christ is

Properly you can’t have an altar if you don’t offer a sacrifice. No sacrifice then all you have is a table!

 

[garysibio]

Ouestion if I may without ruffling feathers which sometimes it seems easy to do, Where in the Bible does it say not to have an Altar call? And a Altar can be anywhere Christ is

I don’t think the question is where does the Bible say yes or no to altar calls. There are a lot of things the Bible doesn’t address such as using a global network of computers to talk about the things of Christ. I think a lot of the reaction against altar calls is, “that is something Protestants do, not Catholics.” The last time someone used that principle, Catholics stopped reading the Bible.

 

[tweetymom]

Properly you can’t have an altar if you don’t offer a sacrifice. No sacrifice then all you have is a table!

Well my question was Does ir say anywhere not to have an Altar service?And when you go to the Altar you do sacrifice your self to Christ. And if you don’t bring Christ to Church all you have is a Church

 

[tweetymom]

I don’t think the question is where does the Bible say yes or no to altar calls. There are a lot of things the Bible doesn’t address such as using a global network of computers to talk about the things of Christ. I think a lot of the reaction against altar calls is, “that is something Protestants do, not Catholics.” The last time someone used that principle, Catholics stopped reading the Bible.

Yes you are very right there are a lot of things not in the Bible especially using using Computers . I really didn’t realize that was why . To bad because it is a joyful experience. Sometimes we have an Altar call for healing and get annointed with oil and it is a joyful experience. And I know a lot of Catholics who don’t read the Bible for whatever reason, and they are missing a lot of joy. Do you mind if I join your Blog? It seemed very interesting

 

[garysibio]

Yes you are very right there are a lot of things not in the Bible especially using using Computers . I really didn’t realize that was why . To bad because it is a joyful experience. Sometimes we have an Altar call for healing and get annointed with oil and it is a joyful experience. And I know a lot of Catholics who don’t read the Bible for whatever reason, and they are missing a lot of joy. Do you mind if I join your Blog? It seemed very interesting

Thank you. Go right ahead.

 

[JustaServant]

Personally I don’t see why a Catholic evangelist could not give an altar call. Not during the Mass, of course. Even though we believe that we start down the road to salvation at baptism, will still need to continually convert and I think an altar call would make an excellent call to conversion.

But you see evangelical altar calls are based upon the idea of the ‘instant’ frozen in time salvation ‘make a decision for Jesus’ view, which is not the Catholic view. This is why most Reformed churches reject the idea as well.
The Methodist form was actually nicknamed the ‘mourner’s bench’. It was a place of prayer, not a Billy Graham style ‘make a descision’ for Jesus altar call.
The early church was not so flippant about conversion, they took it very seriously and slowly.
What Bpbasilphx said is very true:

Every time we open our mouths to receive Holy Communion, we are confessing we believe in Jesus as risen Lord.

THAT is the Catholic ‘Altar Call’.

 

[garysibio]

But you see evangelical altar calls are based upon the idea of the ‘instant’ frozen in time salvation ‘make a decision for Jesus’ view, which is not the Catholic view. This is why most Reformed churches reject the idea as well.
The Methodist form was actually nicknamed the ‘mourner’s bench’. It was a place of prayer, not a Billy Graham style ‘make a descision’ for Jesus altar call.
The early church was not so flippant about conversion, they took it very seriously and slowly.
What Bpbasilphx said is very true:

THAT is the Catholic ‘Altar Call’.

That’s exactly why I specified using the altar call as a continued call to conversion. Answering a Catholic altar call would not necessarily be a one-time thing as it is in Evangelical churches.

 

[juliamajor]

Well my question was Does ir say anywhere not to have an Altar service?And when you go to the Altar you do sacrifice your self to Christ. And if you don’t bring Christ to Church all you have is a Church

Altar is for physical not metaphysical sacrifice.I personally don’t give a hoot if they have altar calls or not.They tout that something not stated overtly in the Bible is not biblical.By the standards that some of these folks use to judge others they are being unbiblical.

 

[PJM]

=tweetymom;5624828]

I hope that I can agree with you which i most certainally do. We do so need to continually
convert.Altar calls are very wonderful and cleansing Bu th way is that your blog? Nice and the pictures are great. God Bless:thumbsup:

***Hers a unique idea.

Try the Sacrament of Confession. That’s Gods way and what the Bible teaches.

The goal is NOT to become more like Protestants, but to become more holy, [1 Peter 1:16]which can only be accomplished in obedience to God’s Divine Word [John 20:21-23]. All though obedience is just one of the necessary steps. [1 Thess. 5:17]***

Love and prayers,

 

[Sword_Brethren]

I hope that I can agree with you which i most certainally do. We do so need to continually
convert.Altar calls are very wonderful and cleansing Bu th way is that your blog? Nice and the pictures are great. God Bless:thumbsup:

Is not that why our Lord gave us the sacrament of Confession?

 

[garysibio]

Altar is for physical not metaphysical sacrifice.I personally don’t give a hoot if they have altar calls or not.They tout that something not stated overtly in the Bible is not biblical.By the standards that some of these folks use to judge others they are being unbiblical.

Altar calls call people around the altar, not on top of it. You’re making a big deal out of semantics. There are quite a few things that the Bible does not specifically enjoin us to do which are, nonetheless, edifying.

 

[garysibio]

***Hers a unique idea.

Try the Sacrament of Confession. That’s Gods way and what the Bible teaches.

The goal is NOT to become more like Protestants, but to become more holy, [1 Peter 1:16]which can only be accomplished in obedience to God’s Divine Word [John 20:21-23]. All though obedience is just one of the necessary steps. [1 Thess. 5:17]***

Love and prayers,

No one has suggested that confession be replaced by an altar call. It would be a good way to get people to realize that the next stop should be the confessional. Just because Protestants came up with the idea doesn’t mean that we can’t or shouldn’t use it.

 

[juliamajor]

Altar calls call people around the altar, not on top of it. You’re making a big deal out of semantics. There are quite a few things that the Bible does not specifically enjoin us to do which are, nonetheless, edifying.

Ah, your not getting the point. They can do the dance of the seven veils for all I care.It’s their table. If it makes them feel better fine. But don’t speak out of both sides of your mouth by proclaiming the righteousness of your"man made" traditions and condeming others for their’man made’ traditions.

 

[Sword_Brethren]

***Hers a unique idea.

Try the Sacrament of Confession. That’s Gods way and what the Bible teaches.

The goal is NOT to become more like Protestants, but to become more holy, [1 Peter 1:16]which can only be accomplished in obedience to God’s Divine Word [John 20:21-23]. All though obedience is just one of the necessary steps. [1 Thess. 5:17]***

Love and prayers,

 

[garysibio]

Ah, your not getting the point. They can do the dance of the seven veils for all I care.It’s their table. If it makes them feel better fine. But don’t speak out of both sides of your mouth by proclaiming the righteousness of your"man made" traditions and condeming others for their’man made’ traditions.

Maybe you should go back and reread what I’ve written in this thread. I’ve condemned no one’s traditions so I am not, as you say speaking out of both sides of my mouth. I happen to be Catholic. I merely suggested that the altar call could be adapted by the Catholic Church in order to encourage a continued conversion.

 

[juliamajor]

Altar is for physical not metaphysical sacrifice.I personally don’t give a hoot if they have altar calls or not.They tout that something not stated overtly in the Bible is not biblical.By the standards that some of these folks use to judge others they ’
-I do not mean Gary(you) this is generic. I’m talking to non-Catholis-primarily Evangelicals and Fundamentalists. Notice-I say ;They’,‘them’-I.m sorry if I led you to believe I was talking about you.I was not.They- them the Unseen masses

 

[tweetymom]

Maybe you should go back and reread what I’ve written in this thread. I’ve condemned no one’s traditions so I am not, as you say speaking out of both sides of my mouth. I happen to be Catholic. I merely suggested that the altar call could be adapted by the Catholic Church in order to encourage a continued conversion.

Gary bud I know that you are not talking out of both sides of your mouth. The problem as I see it(probably get brushed for my thought} is that you are never going to convince people here that your thought is a good one except me.