Any Pastors Here? Altar Calls?

The Rogue Tomato

Well-known member
Are there any pastors/preachers here? Do you do an altar call?

The assembly is of the called out (church). The assembly is supposed to be an assembly of believers to teach, and share mutual edification. It is not an exercise in outreach. So unless you know there are unbelievers in the assembly, why would you do an altar call (or any equivalent to invite people to be saved)?

Now, I know that many church assemblies contain those who profess to be Christians but are not, but they're not going to respond, since they already believe they are Christians.
 
This modern day hatred of altar calls or evangelism in church is strange and unbiblical.

Paul expected unbelievers to enter a church service and see the working of God:

But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. (1 Cor. 14:24 NKJ)
 
Are there any pastors/preachers here?

I am, but I’m retired.

Do you do an altar call?

No, I never did.

The assembly is of the called out (church). The assembly is supposed to be an assembly of believers to teach, and share mutual edification. It is not an exercise in outreach. So unless you know there are unbelievers in the assembly, why would you do an altar call (or any equivalent to invite people to be saved)?

Now, I know that many church assemblies contain those who profess to be Christians but are not, but they're not going to respond, since they already believe they are Christians.
 
Are there any pastors/preachers here? Do you do an altar call?

The assembly is of the called out (church). The assembly is supposed to be an assembly of believers to teach, and share mutual edification. It is not an exercise in outreach. So unless you know there are unbelievers in the assembly, why would you do an altar call (or any equivalent to invite people to be saved)?

Now, I know that many church assemblies contain those who profess to be Christians but are not, but they're not going to respond, since they already believe they are Christians.
every single church has both wheat and tares that is why.
 
I’m not familiar with the term ‘alter call.’

At my church, we have people kneel before the alter who need special prayers with ministry partners pastoring them and praying with them.

My wife knelt before the alter a couple of weeks ago. Her daughter is a piece of work, recently exchanged Christ for Paganism and hurts my wife on a regular basis.
 
I’m not familiar with the term ‘alter call.’

At my church, we have people kneel before the alter who need special prayers with ministry partners pastoring them and praying with them.

My wife knelt before the alter a couple of weeks ago. Her daughter is a piece of work, recently exchanged Christ for Paganism and hurts my wife on a regular basis.
Its just proclaiming the gospel and if anyone wants to confess Jesus is their Lord, if they do go and pray with them.
 
This modern day hatred of altar calls or evangelism in church is strange and unbiblical.

Paul expected unbelievers to enter a church service and see the working of God:

But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. (1 Cor. 14:24 NKJ)

To quote myself, "So unless you know there are unbelievers in the assembly, why would you do an altar call (or any equivalent to invite people to be saved)?"
 
To quote myself, "So unless you know there are unbelievers in the assembly, why would you do an altar call (or any equivalent to invite people to be saved)?"
you cannot possibly know who is saved since only Jesus knows what is in their hearts and if they have already truly been born again. Never assume they are all saved and there is always someone who needs to hear the gospel.
 
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so you never preached the gospel for anyone to receive like the Apostles and Paul did in the church in Rome?

see Romans 10:8-17.

I always preached the gospel for anyone to receive like the Apostles and Paul did in the church in Rome (and everywhere else that they preached.)
 
you cannot possibly know who is saved since only Jesus knows what is in their hearts and if they have already truly been born again. Never assume they are all saved and there is always someone who needs to hear the gospel.

Keep debating with yourself. I covered that option, too.
 
To quote myself, "So unless you know there are unbelievers in the assembly, why would you do an altar call (or any equivalent to invite people to be saved)?"

Acts 8:12 is the model I followed in all of my preaching. If there were unbelievers in the crowd, I didn’t ask them to come forward. They came forward whenever they were ready.

I’ve seen too many instances of people responding to altar calls “in the heat of the moment.“ Some felt pressured to by family and friends, or the preacher, or believers sitting around them. Some were emotionally overcome by the music, others by the pleading of the pastor - who may or may not have had sweat and tears streaming down his face - his voice, perhaps ranging from the quiet whisper to the loud command.

Snake oil salesmen press hard for their audience to make a quick decision. Foolish people, excited and enthralled, overcome with emotion, can’t get to the salesman fast enough to hand over their money.

If an unbeliever heard my preaching of the gospel and believed it, there was no need for an altar call.
 
Altar calls are great but they can be sources of false assurance: praying the sinner’s prayer, raising one’s hand at an evangelistic event, going forward during an altar call, or making a decision for Jesus. These are all great techniques or methods that are used to call people to repentance and faith. The danger is that people who say the prayer, raise a hand, walk the aisle, or make a decision sometimes end up trusting in that particular act.

Outward professions can be deceiving. One can go through the external motions of a profession but not truly be in possession of the inward reality of salvation.

But looking on the bright side, If only one person got saved it would be worth the effort of having the altar call. Plus you can also use it as a time for personal prayer. Come up to the altar and have a prayer partner pray with you for whatever is going on in your life. So it can be a win-win situation.
 
Are there any pastors/preachers here? Do you do an altar call?

The assembly is of the called out (church). The assembly is supposed to be an assembly of believers to teach, and share mutual edification. It is not an exercise in outreach. So unless you know there are unbelievers in the assembly, why would you do an altar call (or any equivalent to invite people to be saved)?

Now, I know that many church assemblies contain those who profess to be Christians but are not, but they're not going to respond, since they already believe they are Christians.
yes i do i am a firm believer in them
 
false assurance: praying the sinner’s prayer, raising one’s hand at an evangelistic event,
i am whole headedly % 100 against this i been in services its to easy.. the Holy spirit has draw one in. i dont not like say this prayer after me.. if a person dont know what to say. one can give some type instructions. the night i got saved i said God save me that has been close 30 years ago there is to many miscarriages at the altar . hold my hand repeat this prayer.. how ever if its truly said from the heart then yes..
 
Calling sinners to repentance of sin, to confess Christ is Lord and to believe in one’s heart that He was resurrected from the dead is biblical. Jesus and the Apostles calked sinners to repentance and to believe in the gospel.

Romans 10
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[e] 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[f]

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!
 
Acts 8:12 is the model I followed in all of my preaching. If there were unbelievers in the crowd, I didn’t ask them to come forward. They came forward whenever they were ready.

I’ve seen too many instances of people responding to altar calls “in the heat of the moment.“ Some felt pressured to by family and friends, or the preacher, or believers sitting around them. Some were emotionally overcome by the music, others by the pleading of the pastor - who may or may not have had sweat and tears streaming down his face - his voice, perhaps ranging from the quiet whisper to the loud command.

Snake oil salesmen press hard for their audience to make a quick decision. Foolish people, excited and enthralled, overcome with emotion, can’t get to the salesman fast enough to hand over their money.

If an unbeliever heard my preaching of the gospel and believed it, there was no need for an altar call.
i can agree with you and parts i disagree with. i have seen a person pressured by the family. i let them come forward and they prayed. its not my words nor the altar that saves . its a spiritual Birth as far as the altar the pastors i know run a open altar policy any time. i have seen in the song service the altar be used. that is the anointing
 
i can agree with you and parts i disagree with. i have seen a person pressured by the family. i let them come forward and they prayed. its not my words nor the altar that saves . its a spiritual Birth as far as the altar the pastors i know run a open altar policy any time. i have seen in the song service the altar be used. that is the anointing

Agree when you can; disagree when you must.
 
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