Alter Calls

[Kevan]

The protestant churches I have seen don’t have an alter so how can they have an Alter Call? An alter is a table for making a sacrifice if a Protestant church did have an alter what would they sacrifice on it?

They sacrifice themselves. The front of the auditorium becomes an altar because that’s where the sacrifices are taking place. It’s only a figure of speech, but it is fairly accurate in light of Romans 12:1.

 

[rpp]

Cat made some very good observations. And she stated them with both charity and class.

I think we must be careful
when we look at the ceremonies and customary behavior in other denominations where we lack familiarity.

Before I was became an atheist around the age of 20, I was deeply involved with the Baptist church. The “Invitational” was a critical part of the service. It was not silly at all. Those unfamiliar with the flow Baptist service as well as Baptist teachings may find it difficult to believe how profoundly moving the experience can be.

It is not silly. It most certainly is not evil. For Protestant Christians, it is the most important part of their worship.

Yet I am glad I am Catholic now. Confirmation, Confession are so much richer than having an assistant pray with you and show you some appropriate Bible versus.

And then there is the Holy Eucharist!

 

[Harland]

They sacrifice themselves. The front of the auditorium becomes an altar because that’s where the sacrifices are taking place. It’s only a figure of speech, but it is fairly accurate in light of Romans 12:1.

Thank you. What would they be sacrificing themselves for? I have more questoins but it does explain why one church I visited has a rail they call an alter.

So it is not a real sacrifice?

 

[MariaG]

Altar calls are the Protestant recognition of the need for confession and repentance.

As Martha would say, “It’s a good thing.”

I had to quote yours to help explain my answers. I picked #'s 1,2 and other.

I think they can be a good thing and I know when I was in a Church that had altar calls, I was convicted almost weekly to go up. First, when God grabbed ahold of my heart and I had my born again experience and then when the Holy Spirit convicted me of sin from the sermon’s, or sometimes just simple obedience and I think in order to help me learn humbleness.

I also think however, they can be just another form of peer pressure, especially at youth masses.

However, I mostly think they are good things with real workings of the Holy Spirit taking place in people’s hearts .

 

[MariaG]

i dont mean to offend anyone by saying this, but i was one of the ppl who voted “evil.” The reason is that i honestly feel that altar calls are in a sense an attempt to create a new sacrament, as if to say “we don’t need the catholic church’s sacraments, we have made OUR OWN sacrament, the altar call.” The same could be said about the charismatic tounge speaking and being “slain in the spirit” as if to say “we wnat to transmit the spirit a different way other than the sacramaents instituted by Christ.”

also think about the “altar” which the protestants are bowing in from of, christ is not present there, heck it probally isn’t even a real altar but rather a stage or a table. For a catholic to visit a protestant church and participate in an altar call would probally constitute a mortal sin.

I respectfully disagree with you on all counts.

 

[MariaG]

Thank you. What would they be sacrificing themselves for? I have more questoins but it does explain why one church I visited has a rail they call an alter.

So it is not a real sacrifice?

It is a very real sacrifice. They are making the public declaration and presenting themselves as a living sacrifice. It would be according to the following scripture.
:bible1: Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a** living **sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

 

[Hellisreal]

I respectfully disagree with you on all counts.

So, it is not like some who speak in tongues and act as if they have more of the Holy Spirit than say - someone who does not?

This as you said, can be abused as anything can.

So I guess catholics are not getting it yet again, about another apostolic tradition we ignore.

even though its not biblical!

 

[MariaG]

i dont mean to offend anyone by saying this, but i was one of the ppl who voted “evil.” The reason is that i honestly feel that altar calls are in a sense an attempt to create a new sacrament, as if to say “we don’t need the catholic church’s sacraments, we have made OUR OWN sacrament, the altar call.” The same could be said about the charismatic tounge speaking and being “slain in the spirit” as if to say “we wnat to transmit the spirit a different way other than the sacramaents instituted by Christ.”

also think about the “altar” which the protestants are bowing in from of, christ is not present there, heck it probally isn’t even a real altar but rather a stage or a table. For a catholic to visit a protestant church and participate in an altar call would probally constitute a mortal sin.

I respectfully disagree with you on all counts.

So, it is not like some who speak in tongues and act as if they have more of the Holy Spirit than say - someone who does not?

This as you said, can be abused as anything can.

So I guess catholics are not getting it yet again, about another apostolic tradition we ignore.

even though its not biblical!

I am confused as to your post. I disagree that Protestant altar calls are evil. I do not believe they are an attempt to create a new sacrament, and I do not believe they honestly even think about the Catholic Church at all. I disagree with the part about the tongues as well.

Bowing down in and of itself is not sinful. Just as Catholic Christians who bow down in front of a statue of Mary are not worshipping Mary, non-Catholics or Catholics for that matter are not guilty of doing anything wrong when they kneel and bow their hearts to God at an altar in a Protestant Church. As for it being a mortal sin for a Catholic to attend and participate, the only possiblity would be if it was to cause scandal by their actions.

Altar calls are not anything like the tongue speaking people who act like they are better than anyone else. It is a humbling experience and not a prideful one.

Another apostolic tradition ignored? No, but neither do most churches who do altar calls claim it is such. There is worry about churches who don’t because it is an easy way to reach out to the lost, and they worry about those who are lost constantly.

As for being bilbical, since the main reason for altar calls is repentance, I am not sure how much more biblical one can get than that, unless of course, one were Catholic

 

[Kevan]

I tend to think that some in my crowd do make the altar call into a new sacrament.

(1) They treat it as a means of grace. You can get something from God by engaging in this action that you’ll do without otherwise.

(2) They consider a pastor heretical who doesn’t follow the tradition. It’s as though the practice were manifestly ordained by the Lord himself and revealed not in Scripture, but through the ongoing apostolate of evangelism. Christians in “regular” churches speak of the others in worried murmurs: “They don’t give invitations at that church…”

But, no, the practice did not arise with anything Catholic in view. Back before the potato famine, American Protestants hardly noticed Catholics.

 

[Hellisreal]

I tend to think that some in my crowd do make the altar call into a new sacrament.

(1) They treat it as a means of grace. You can get something from God by engaging in this action that you’ll do without otherwise.

(2) They consider a pastor heretical who doesn’t follow the tradition. It’s as though the practice were manifestly ordained by the Lord himself and revealed not in Scripture, but through the ongoing apostolate of evangelism. Christians in “regular” churches speak of the others in worried murmurs: “They don’t give invitations at that church…”

But, no, the practice did not arise with anything Catholic in view. ** Back before the potato famine, American Protestants hardly noticed Catholics**.

Dear Kevan,

Care to elaborate on this?

 

[Kitty_Chan]

I think you put WAY too much on what an altar call is. Essentially it is just a way for people who feel moved to do so be able to walk to the front of the santuary and proclaim that they need something bigger than themselves because they just can’t fight God any longer. That’s it. It’s not a sacrament and it’s not required. If you don’t believe that you are being led by God to walk to the front then you can make the decision in your seat and then you still have the opportunity to seek out guidence from the church alone.

It’s like when people went to the river the hear John the Baptist speak and then came down to be baptised because they realized that he spoke the truth. It was a profession of Faith in the midst of your peers.

Well said and thanks to fellow Cat too

This will wig out those who think its evil, not a alter, the pastor is pressured, and rock music.

I went to Sunday school at the United Church, thought God and Jesus were well, there I guess but didnt take them seriously. Thought church was about hucksucklers. Met a fine fellow who invited me to church for our first date. Thought it was cute and old fashioned. Kept going for a while. Saw alter calls and going forward for prayer. Never thought much about it.

Cut much later on, now we are married. Been going to church. Listening alot to Christian music and a particular group called Rez Band. Well they came to town so went.

Well they kept talking between songs about Christ. Then at the end he spoke alot more, then “invited” those who wanted to decide to follow Christ to come forward. Not being able to fight God anymore is a good way to put it.

Lead by God is a understatement, try pulled, I literally could not stop. If I couldnt stand for Him in a room full of believers, just when was I going to stand for Him. I went down. No alter, or even stage, just the floor and the realization that I understood why the eyes were blind and now they see, I hadnt understood that before.

In a instant, when Glenn said come here, EVERYTHING made more sense, In one moment I “got it” I understood Christ was real, actually there, NOT a concept and He was my Lord. I get the shivers thinking about it now.

 

[Hellisreal]

Altar calls are not anything like the tongue speaking people who act like they are better than anyone else. It is a humbling experience and not a prideful one.
Wrong. I want chapter and verse.

I demand the same standards a Protestant gives me to defend any belief or practice That is not spelled out clearly in the bible.

Otherwise, they are begging the question.

 

[Harland]

But he says it is only a figure of speech, not real. It sounds like you are saying the bible is not enough. Things that are not in the bible need to be added to make people feel good. Like Jn 3:16 is not enough?

Isn’t show me it in the bible the Protestant mantra when it comes to things Catholic? So show me Alter Call in the bible.

 

[Singinbeauty]

Well said and thanks to fellow Cat too

This will wig out those who think its evil, not a alter, the pastor is pressured, and rock music.

I went to Sunday school at the United Church, thought God and Jesus were well, there I guess but didnt take them seriously. Thought church was about hucksucklers. Met a fine fellow who invited me to church for our first date. Thought it was cute and old fashioned. Kept going for a while. Saw alter calls and going forward for prayer. Never thought much about it.

Cut much later on, now we are married. Been going to church. Listening alot to Christian music and a particular group called Rez Band. Well they came to town so went.

Well they kept talking between songs about Christ. Then at the end he spoke alot more, then “invited” those who wanted to decide to follow Christ to come forward. Not being able to fight God anymore is a good way to put it.

Lead by God is a understatement, try pulled, I literally could not stop. If I couldnt stand for Him in a room full of believers, just when was I going to stand for Him. I went down. No alter, or even stage, just the floor and the realization that I understood why the eyes were blind and now they see, I hadnt understood that before.

In a instant, when Glenn said come here, EVERYTHING made more sense, In one moment I “got it” I understood Christ was real, actually there, NOT a concept and He was my Lord. I get the shivers thinking about it now.

That is beautiful! Gave me shivers as well!

 

[Singinbeauty]

But he says it is only a figure of speech, not real. It sounds like you are saying the bible is not enough. Things that are not in the bible need to be added to make people feel good. Like Jn 3:16 is not enough?

Isn’t show me it in the bible the Protestant mantra when it comes to things Catholic? So show me Alter Call in the bible.

As I have said before… but of course I am ignored… Just look at John the Baptist when he told people to come down and be baptized to make a PUBLIC profession of Faith…

 

[Mommyof02green]

As I have said before… but of course I am ignored… Just look at John the Baptist when he told people to come down and be baptized to make a PUBLIC profession of Faith…

I’ve always thought of John the Baptist calling on people to make a PUBLIC confession, to repent of their sins. (Mathew chapter 3).

 

[dawgfan]

Humbling to have all eyes on you at “worship time?”

As a Catholic, I do not understand that at all. Our worship is not centered around such theatrics.

Then why when I was going through confirmation did I have to go through all the different rites in front of everyone? For me, it felt very humbling to stand before God, the priest, and the congregation and admit that I needed to be reconciled with Christ’s church.

I wouldn’t refer to our practices in the Catholic church as “theatrical” any more than I would for protestants’ “altar calls”.

 

[Harland]

As I have said before… but of course I am ignored… Just look at John the Baptist when he told people to come down and be baptized to make a PUBLIC profession of Faith…

Well how does it feel to be ignored?

There are thred after therd on the pope, Mary, the Real Presents, papel authority etc. etc. These issuse have been explained time after time. Protestants go around and around, show me in the bible show me in teh bible. So show me the words Alter Call in the bible.

It is like the pope, the words might not be there but maybe you can see the concept. I can’t.

 

[MariaG]

Altar calls are not anything like the tongue speaking people who act like they are better than anyone else. It is a humbling experience and not a prideful one.

Humbling to have all eyes on you at “worship time?”

As a Catholic, I do not understand that at all. Our worship is not centered around such theatrics.

First off, you do realize I am Catholic, yes?

Second, all eyes are not on you in the manner you seem to think. Most people have their eyes closed and are praying for others at this time. It is not as if everyone is watching and clapping for a person. This is a very intense time of prayer for everyone sincerely involved at this.

Third, it is humbling because even though people may not see you go up, they certainly will see you when it is all over. So you have just publicly admitted to grave sin in front of all. Although I was not in a OSAS church, I can only imagine how much worse it would be. Do you swallow your pride and admit that you were not saved when you were ten? Or do you let the prompting of the Holy Spirit go and go to hell?

Even in the churches that do believe one can lose their salvation, like the ones I went to, you go up because the Holy Spirit is convicting of sin. This is the exact same feeling I get today when I know I need to go to confession, only intensified because one has to step out on their own. There are no group reconcilliation services where a bunch of people get together to recieve the sacrament of penance. There is no line of people waiting to go to confession.

You are all by yourself, publicly standing up, and declaring you are in grave sin. Or worse, you are not in grave sin, but you feel convicted to go up front out of obeidience to God who is prompting you to do so. And everyone THINKS you are in grave sin.

As for theatrics, the only theatrics may be on part of the minister, but it certainly is not present in those going forward. Emotion laden? Yes.

Another apostolic tradition ignored? No, but neither do most churches who do altar calls claim it is such. There is worry about churches who don’t because it is an easy way to reach out to the lost, and they worry about those who are lost constantly.

Agreed, I do too, as you do. Point?

Well since you were the one who first brought up with a sarcastic roll of the eyes that it was another apostolic tradition ignored, I guess you are the one that needs to answer this question.

I was simply pointing out your sarcasm was unfounded. While many churches who have altar calls worry about churches who don’t, I personally have never met a church that felt it was unbiblical not to do so, although I have no doubt that there are who have convinced themselves of this point, but I sincerely doubt that all have done so.

As for being bilbical, since the main reason for altar calls is repentance, I am not sure how much more biblical one can get than that, unless of course, one were Catholic

Wrong. I want chapter and verse.

I demand the same standards a Protestant gives me to defend any belief or practice That is not spelled out clearly in the bible.

Otherwise, they are begging the question.

Chapter and verse that people should repent, and since altar calls are sometimes a precursor to baptism, repent and be baptized? You are kidding right?

Unfortunately, I think you are for some reason, angry that anyone could suggest that altar calls are a genuine work of the Holy Spirit rather than just some theatrical circus by emotion laden people. I do however admit that I could be wrong about you. Can you admit that you could be wrong as well as to the motives, reasons as well as biblicalness of altar calls which are at the most basic, calling people to repentance?

Just in case you weren’t kidding here is the scripture that talk of repentance (and baptism). While I can clearly understand that there is no apostolic tradition to support the manner and form, we are talking of people who have no concept of apostolic tradition, and for the most part, are not “protesting” anything.

Acts 2:37-38
Mk 6:12
Lk 5:32
Lk 13:5
Lk 24:47

Do I really need all the verses that tell us to repent, much less the ones that link baptism and repentance?

 

[tom.wineman]

A form of works—you have to get up and do something.