Altar Calls

[EvangelCatholic]

What I am saying is that Christ founded the Catholic Church, not the 40,000 denominations that are out there and are an insult to God and His integrity, its like God could not make up His mind, look at all the man made religions started by man. It dis credits Christianity and Christ.

For Example. here are a few.

How Old is Your Church?
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

If you are a Lutheran, your religion was founded by Martin Luther, an ex-monk of the Catholic Church, in the year 1517.

If you belong to the Church of England, your religion was founded by King Henry VIII in the year 1534 because the Pope would not grant him a divorce with the right to remarry.

If you are a Presbyterian, your religion was founded by John Knox in Scotland in the year 1560.

If you are a Protestant Episcopalian, your religion was an offshoot of the Church of England founded by Samuel Seabury in the American colonies in the 17th century.

If you are a Congregationalist, your religion was originated by Robert Brown in Holland in 1582.

If you are a Methodist, your religion was launched by John and Charles Wesley in England in 1744.

If you are a Unitarian, Theophilus Lindley founded your church in London in 1774.

If you are a Mormon (Latter Day Saints), Joseph Smith started your religion in Palmyra, N.Y., in 1829.

If you are a Baptist, you owe the tenets of your religion to John Smyth, who launched it in Amsterdam in 1608.

If you are of the Dutch Reformed church, you recognize Michaelis Jones as founder, because he originated your religion in New York in 1628.

If you are a member of the Churches of Christ your church began near the beginning of the 19th century in New England. Abner Jones, Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell were some of the most well known originators of your religion.

If you worship with the Salvation Army, your sect began with William Booth in London in 1865.

If you are a Christian Scientist, you look to 1879 as the year in which your religion was born and to Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy as its founder.

If you belong to one of the religious organizations known as “Church of the Nazarene,” “Pentecostal Gospel,” “Holiness Church,” “Pilgrim Holiness Church,” “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” your religion is one of the hundreds of new sects founded by men within the past century.

If you are Roman Catholic, you know that your religion was founded in the year 33 by Jesus Christ the Son of God, and it is still the same Church.

You might want to read a little about your Church and its relationship with all Christians such as "Luther being “a witness of Jesus Christ”: vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/lutheran-fed-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_2013_dal-conflitto-alla-comunione_en.html

 

[Celtic_Maiden]

Since the Catholic Church teaches that when the Protestant Reformers ceased to believe in the Sacrifice of the Mass, their ordinations could no longer be valid. So their Eucharist is just bread and wine. Catholics are ordinarily not allowed to worship in their churches, let alone receive their invalid eucharist

 

[Faithdancer]

As an evangelical Protestant, I also have the opportunity to have an altar call every week in church. Most churches who have altar calls do not restrict use of the altar to only new converts. Long term Christians are permitted to pray and to be prayed for by other believers at the altar.

Yes, Itwin, and I have also gone forward and prayed at invitation- not as a new Christian, but as one who felt the need to focus my prayer in proximity to other human beings. It is a spiritual experience, a communion, and no mediation is required except for that of Jesus Christ.

 

[Faithdancer]

I have no real arguments with what you state and only wish all Christians would take the holy Sacrament often. But you emphasize “HIS” church. Are you suggesting other Christians are not part of Christ’s salvation?

I think the answer to your question is pretty obvious.

 

[Publisher]

Good pot friend.

Catholics try to fit their “square peg” of what comprises the Church into the " round hole" of how Protestants view the Church. For Catholics the Church can be ID’d by reading the sign in front of the building they gather in.

The Church is not a religious institution headed by a large office staff with the chief CEO running the institution from Rome. The Church is made of those who have been baptized into Christ by the cleansing fire of the Holy Spirit. Made up of those who have become new creations and walk in the newness of Life and bear the Fruit of the Spirit in their lives

The nice little straw man list of who founded which religious institution some how means the respective founders were forming a new church is not reflecting Protestant belief at all.

There is only One Church, One Baptism, One Lord and Savior. The Church meets under the roof of a building owned and operated by a particular religious body for the Church’s use.

The sign in front of the building could say “office space for rent” or “First Methodist” but that’s not the Church, that’s just the building it meets in.

The Church is comprised of flesh and blood, it’s building material lives and breaths, The Church exists when two or three are gathered together in His Name. The Church exists wherever Christ is. And He is in the midst of even two or three who gather in His Name,

 

[cajunhillbilly]

I once heard a Catholic jokingly say they have an altar call every weekend and the entire congregation usually comes forward. He of course was referring to the Eucharist

 

[cmodrmac]

It does not happen in the Episcopal CHurch-

setting apart the ritualistic aspects of an Altar call-how is this different than people “speaking in tonques” -yes we have them too

82 and sunny in Florida

 

[Celtic_Maiden]

Galatians 1: 8, 9

But even if we or an Angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than the one that we preached to you let that one be accursed. As we hace said before and now I say again if anyone preaches to you a Gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed.

Christ did not say Go and make 40000 denominations

 

[cmodrmac]

nice summary by Celtic Maiden of some of the leading Protestant leaders-glad she gave the Orthodox a pass-

King Henry just removed Papl Authority and Archbishop Cranmer (must admit he was consecrated in valid succession) kept much of the Ritual of the RC-of course the division of the Anglicans from the RC widened with the ordination of female Priests

Jesus Christ spoke actually very little about his “CHurch” read Bart Erman’s “When Jesus became God”

 

[GKC]

nice summary by Celtic Maiden of some of the leading Protestant leaders-glad she gave the Orthodox a pass-

King Henry just removed Papl Authority and Archbishop Cranmer (must admit he was consecrated in valid succession) kept much of the Ritual of the RC-of course the division of the Anglicans from the RC widened with the ordination of female Priests

Jesus Christ spoke actually very little about his “CHurch” read Bart Erman’s “When Jesus became God”

There’s that “divorce” word again. Decree of nullity.

And the issue with respect to Anglican orders, as expressed in Apostolicae Curae, is way more complicated that this. History is like that: complicated. Full of people and stuff.

GKC

 

[benhur]

A salvation altar call reflects the idea that one must choose to repent and be saved. as a person who has come to that age of reason. "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve " “With confession salvation is made assured”. It does not assume that because you grew up or were infant baptized in a church that you have rebirthed. St. Peter had the first altar call when he preached to the 3000 and they asked what must we do ? They gladly repented and believed and were baptized. The public confession was needed to seal the deal that already happened. An altar call gives that opportunity. This is not to say the "decision’’ can not be made in private. Finney at times preferred it that way. He did not want just an emotional response. Tell me, did Jesus preach for hours without expectations of change. Change that takes place in the heart. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”, and gives opportunity to show change. Eventually you must declare with your mouth that Christ is your lord and savior. Not to be saved, but as a fruit of His indwelling. And there is always that first time, so why not present that chance at a service ? What else would the Spirit be leading an unregenerate soul to do, for He wishes that none should perish.

 

[ltwin]

setting apart the ritualistic aspects of an Altar call-how is this different than people “speaking in tonques” -yes we have them too

What??? Speaking and tongues and altar calls are different things. Since you asked, I’ll tell you.

Praying at an altar is the act of designating a space within the church as the place where seekers can engage in fervent and searching prayer with the opportunity to receive the intercessory prayer from the entire congregation. The theological basis for the practice is not rooted in the place itself. The theological justification is found in the theology of prayer.

It could be emotional or quite subdued. Sometimes when I have prayed at an altar I have experienced an intense outpouring of emotion. Other times, I have simply prayed without any sense of being overwhelmed by divine presence.

Speaking in tongues is a different category. It’s theological justification is explicitly found in Scripture. It is not “a practice” or a “tradition” in the way that altar calls are. Speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift.

Also, many evangelicals utilize altar calls who do not believe that glossolalia is the biblical gift of speaking in tongues. So, just because someone likes altar calls does not mean they are Pentecostal/charismatic or have Pentecostal/charismatic tendencies.

 

[benhur]

What I am saying is that Christ founded the Catholic Church, not the 40,000 denominations that are out there and are an insult to God and His integrity, its like God could not make up His mind, look at all the man made religions started by man. It dis credits Christianity and Christ.

For Example. here are a few.

How Old is Your Church?
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

If you are a Lutheran, your religion was founded by Martin Luther, an ex-monk of the Catholic Church, in the year 1517.

If you belong to the Church of England, your religion was founded by King Henry VIII in the year 1534 because the Pope would not grant him a divorce with the right to remarry.

If you are a Presbyterian, your religion was founded by John Knox in Scotland in the year 1560.

If you are a Protestant Episcopalian, your religion was an offshoot of the Church of England founded by Samuel Seabury in the American colonies in the 17th century.

If you are a Congregationalist, your religion was originated by Robert Brown in Holland in 1582.

If you are a Methodist, your religion was launched by John and Charles Wesley in England in 1744.

If you are a Unitarian, Theophilus Lindley founded your church in London in 1774.

If you are a Mormon (Latter Day Saints), Joseph Smith started your religion in Palmyra, N.Y., in 1829.

If you are a Baptist, you owe the tenets of your religion to John Smyth, who launched it in Amsterdam in 1608.

If you are of the Dutch Reformed church, you recognize Michaelis Jones as founder, because he originated your religion in New York in 1628.

If you are a member of the Churches of Christ your church began near the beginning of the 19th century in New England. Abner Jones, Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell were some of the most well known originators of your religion.

If you worship with the Salvation Army, your sect began with William Booth in London in 1865.

If you are a Christian Scientist, you look to 1879 as the year in which your religion was born and to Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy as its founder.

If you belong to one of the religious organizations known as “Church of the Nazarene,” “Pentecostal Gospel,” “Holiness Church,” “Pilgrim Holiness Church,” “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” your religion is one of the hundreds of new sects founded by men within the past century.

If you are Roman Catholic, you know that your religion was founded in the year 33 by Jesus Christ the Son of God, and it is still the same Church.

Enough already.

 

[believerdoc]

Excuse the pun but what makes me laugh is the name “Altar call” but there is no Altar !!!
So what gives with an Altar call with no Altar in the Church. ?

Since your on the Forum

Catholicism is Christianity at its fullest expression

Catholicism is pre denominational. We are the Originals. ( The Catholic Church)

If you don’t believe me read the book on “The Church Fathers”

God Bless and walk with the Lord.

Here I must disagree with you. In the majority of “mainline Protestant Churches” we do have “altars” but our belief and understanding of their function and purpose are quite different. While in the Orthodox or Catholic tradition the altar would be considered an “altar of sacrifice” in the Protestant tradition it would be considered and “altar of remembrance.” In some Protestant Churches it would also be referred to as the Lord’s Table, Communion Table, etc. The actual definition of an altar is a table on which the Eucharistic elements are consecrated or which serves as a center of worship or ritual. Thus the meaning of the word altar applies to both. Therefore Protestant Churches do have altars and the idea of the altar call if for a an individual to come forward and publicly proclaim his acceptance of Jesus Christ… Usually it is a simple statement of faith such “Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and do you accept him as your personal Lord and Savior?” Altar calls are most common in churches that practice believers baptism.

As to your statement that The Roman Catholic is the original church I believe that the Orthodox might have a different view.

 

[GKC]

Here I must disagree with you. In the majority of “mainline Protestant Churches” we do have “altars” but our belief and understanding of their function and purpose are quite different. While in the Orthodox or Catholic tradition the altar would be considered an “altar of sacrifice” in the Protestant tradition it would be considered and “altar of remembrance.” In some Protestant Churches it would also be referred to as the Lord’s Table, Communion Table, etc. The actual definition of an altar is a table on which the Eucharistic elements are consecrated or which serves as a center of worship or ritual. Thus the meaning of the word altar applies to both. Therefore Protestant Churches do have altars and the idea of the altar call if for a an individual to come forward and publicly proclaim his acceptance of Jesus Christ… Usually it is a simple statement of faith such “Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and do you accept him as your personal Lord and Savior?” Altar calls are most common in churches that practice believers baptism.

As to your statement that The Roman Catholic is the original church I believe that the Orthodox might have a different view.

And then there are those Anglicans who account the Eucharist the representation of the One Sacrifice of Calvary. But they usually don’t answer to the term “protestant”, anyway.

GKC

 

[ltwin]

Therefore Protestant Churches do have altars and the idea of the altar call if for a an individual to come forward and publicly proclaim his acceptance of Jesus Christ… Usually it is a simple statement of faith such “Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and do you accept him as your personal Lord and Savior?” Altar calls are most common in churches that practice believers baptism.

There is proclamation, but it is not like they just come up and make a pledge as if they are joining a club (or the congregation for that matter). This is all done in the context of prayer.

First of all, in an intimate church setting, the convert will normally kneel at the altar. Many churches have teams of altar workers who volunteer to pray with people at the altars. These people or even the preacher him/herself will minister to the individual and guide them through the process of prayer.

Depending on the church, the individual might be directed to repeat an exact “sinner’s prayer.” In others, they are informed on the need to be born again and told what that entails but the exact prayer is left to the individual to express.

After the person has prayed and given their heart to the Lord, then the minister will ask them publicly did they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. If answered in the affirmative, the preacher will ask the congregation to welcome the new brother or sister into God’s family.

 

[gnosisofthomas]

I just wanted to get some more takes on the “altar calls” that go on in many protestant churches (for those that don’t know what an altar call is, basically the pastor tells those that want to be Christians to come to the front of the church and “git saved”. I am a protestant, but don’t like them; they seem to play too much on emotions, and make little actual difference in the lives of those that come to the front of the church. But this is just me. Any more opinions?

I agree with you that they play too much on emotions… Before I converted to Catholicism as a teenager, I was raised in the Church of the Nazarene, where we had altar calls quite frequently. Even though their concept of “getting saved” was a one-time thing (unless, of course, you fell away somehow), you were made to feel pretty badly if you didn’t go up for an altar call. I have no idea how many times I “got saved”, simply because I felt obligated to go up there. In fairness though, sometimes it was encouraged as a way of re-affirming your faith.

I do understand that this type of conversion can be a powerful experience for a lot of people, despite the fact that I believe you’re born again through the Sacrament of Baptism, not just a prayer and change of mind. I just wish that the experience wasn’t so watered down by a mass altar call.

 

[Nicea325]

I just wanted to get some more takes on the “altar calls” that go on in many protestant churches (for those that don’t know what an altar call is, basically the pastor tells those that want to be Christians to come to the front of the church and “git saved”. I am a protestant, but don’t like them; they seem to play too much on emotions, and make little actual difference in the lives of those that come to the front of the church. But this is just me. Any more opinions?

That is the impression I get. People approaching with tears coming down and shaking their heads. Not saying it is bad thing,but why call it altar calls?

Altar calls…yet not altar is there?

 

[KimberlyCat]

An “altar call” is a profession of faith in front of the church. This takes place after the preacher’s sermon. In the Baptist Church the congregation sings the hymn “Just As I Am” as the preacher invites whoever wants to “be saved” to come to the front of the church. The concept is to profess your faith publicly as Jesus was hung on the cross publicly.

This was a big church so about twenty people or so would so walk down the isle every Sunday. They simply get out of their seat and walk down the isle. Everyone else is standing and singing “Just As I Am”. So when they get to the front of the church the preacher and church staff and/or other church members greet them and sit them on the front rows. The preacher people kneel down in front of them with a pen and paper. They privately ask their names, occupations, and why they want to “be saved” and why they want to be a member of the church. We keep singing verse after verse of “Just As I Am” until the paperwork is done.

Then the preacher announces the first person’s name (first and last) and they stand up facing the congregation. Then the preacher asks if they accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior and they respond, “Yes.” Then the preacher tells the congregation why this person wants to be saved, tells us what they do for a living, their hobbies, etc. Then the preacher calls the next person’s name and they stand next to the first person, etc. etc. until everyone is standing side by side. Then we all shot out “Welcome”. I know they get Baptized because there is a Baptismal way back behind the podium but I never saw anyone get Baptized during any service. They might be done on Sunday nights.

I have never ever understood this concept. How can one be saved this way? Their understanding is that if they “are saved” once they are saved forever. But…it is impossible for humans to not commit sin and we need to “be saved” everyday. It seems more of a social environment. They are really nice people. However you do not FEEL God there like in a Catholic Church…at least I never did.

Praise be to God for The Catholic Church.

 

[Nicea325]

An “altar call” is a profession of faith in front of the church. This takes place after the preacher’s sermon. In the Baptist Church the congregation sings the hymn “Just As I Am” as the preacher invites whoever wants to “be saved” to come to the front of the church. The concept is to profess your faith publicly as Jesus was hung on the cross publicly.

This was a big church so about twenty people or so would so walk down the isle every Sunday. They simply get out of their seat and walk down the isle. Everyone else is standing and singing “Just As I Am”. So when they get to the front of the church the preacher and church staff and/or other church members greet them and sit them on the front rows. The preacher people kneel down in front of them with a pen and paper. They privately ask their names, occupations, and why they want to “be saved” and why they want to be a member of the church. We keep singing verse after verse of “Just As I Am” until the paperwork is done.

Then the preacher announces the first person’s name (first and last) and they stand up facing the congregation. Then the preacher asks if they accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior and they respond, “Yes.” Then the preacher tells the congregation why this person wants to be saved, tells us what they do for a living, their hobbies, etc. Then the preacher calls the next person’s name and they stand next to the first person, etc. etc. until everyone is standing side by side. Then we all shot out “Welcome”. I know they get Baptized because there is a Baptismal way back behind the podium but I never saw anyone get Baptized during any service. They might be done on Sunday nights.

I have never ever understood this concept. How can one be saved this way? Their understanding is that if they “are saved” once they are saved forever. But…it is impossible for humans to not commit sin and we need to “be saved” everyday. It seems more of a social environment. They are really nice people. However you do not FEEL God there like in a Catholic Church…at least I never did.

Praise be to God for The Catholic Church.

Interesting! Good to hear experiences from other Christian faiths and their traditions. Good luck on your spiritual journey. God Bless.