Altar calls

[Josh]

Just curious.

My own church does not ever give altar calls. And, since it's a modern practice that is not mentioned by Jesus or His Apostles, I think that, at the very least, the non-practice of altar calls is totally okay.

[latinchic]

Yep, after every service.  My mom's church back home doesn't.  I've still not made up my mind on this issue.

latinchic B)    

[Chainsaw Butterfly]

My honest opinion is that it makes salvation a social action, instead of an action only between the saved and the savior.  

[Emericana]

My church does. I don't necessarily think not having them is wrong, but I think they are beneficial.

[oneafroboy]

Hey, all. My church does have altar call. But I have never seen it as bad or wrong. Are all altar calls created equal? I'd like to hear ya'll's opinions (yes, I said ya'll) on what an altar call is and what makes it good or bad.

I have witnessed an altar call that was very manipulative and it made me very angry. But I think the way we do it at church is different. Maybe it's not. Maybe I'm just used to it. Anyway, thoughts and opinions would be greatly appreciated.  

[standman87]

The altar call is not commonly used by the Missouri Synod Lutheran church but my dad has always been a different pastor   .  My dad does not believe in having an altar call commonly. Only when he feels led to by the Holy Spirit does he ask for some to take public action. My dad felt led once to have people pledge to support the church publically, with their time, talents, and tithe. I can only remember my dad doing two altar calls, one quite recently and one quite a long time ago that has some personal significance. One day in sixth grade at my Christian school during the weekly chapel, the Holy Spirit reached me. The ones who decided to dicuss their new-found faith could discuss it with a teacher, but I 'chickened out' per se and did not take the chance to explore and declare my faith. That Sunday the Holy Spirit must have led my dad, because he had an altar call, and I had never heard him give one. Once again I hesitated but then I made my life changing decision (sorry Josh   ) to declare that I wished to live my life for Him. It was me and an elderly lady that came forward and I wasn't sure of what to expect of my dad's reaction but he wasn't shocked. I felt like I was letting God take over my will that week and my spiritual journey really began for me there in my school and church. My dad told me later that this was his first altar call in TN, yet he had done a few in his ministry in AL.

Yet even though altar calls have affected me so strongly I still believe that long prepared speech altar calls are not what we need. 'Emotional-stirring' is not what we need; trust me, the Holy Spirit can do the whole package without help from an orator.

[Vlad!]

Yet even though altar calls have affected me so strongly I still believe that long prepared speech altar calls are not what we need. 'Emotional-stirring' is not what we need; trust me, the Holy Spirit can do the whole package without help from an orator.

I agree, Stan: those are some good words. I don't think that altar calls are wrong or immoral in any way. I also disagree with Josh that they're not in the Bible: it often states that the apostles preached and baptized after they preached! They probably said something along the lines of 'if you want to know more or if you want to commit to a new life, come up to us afterwards.' If that's not an altar call, I don't know what is.

The church I go to while I'm here in Knoxville has what I consider to be a good approach. Instead of saying 'come up if you need to be saved' they say 'come up if you need prayer or healing.' If you just want to be by yourself and pray at the altar, you can do that. If you want someone to listen, pray with you, cry with you, whatever, they are there to do that. If you are a non-Christian, they will be glad to pray with you and help start you on the Christian journey, but they're also willing to pray for you and help you without forcing Christ on you.

 

[oneafroboy]

I think you're right stan and Vlad!. That makes a lot of sense.

My church does altar like this:

First, there is the "Invitation to Christian Discipleship". The pastor says if the Spirit has moved you and you would like to commit your life to Christ you may come up and one of the assoc. pastors will pray and talk with you.

Next, the pastor will ask if anyone would like to join the church.

Then, one of elder-type people will introduce anyone who came up during the two different callings to the church. (Good? Bad?)

Lastly, there is a general altar call which works one of three ways. The pastor will ask if anyone needs special prayer and those people may come up; or, he will tell the congregation that the altar is open for anyone who would like to pray; or, it will be a combination of both. During this time, there also may be a laying of hands or the congregation may join hands and pray together.

 

[Vlad!]

Then, one of elder-type people will introduce anyone who came up during the two different callings to the church. (Good? Bad?)

I think this might be a little premature: you come up, and are introduced the same day. To join the church my parents go to, you have to attend a 'class' where they explain what the church believes. I don't think you have to agree to believe the exact same thing (I've never gone through this class myself, as my family attended before it was introduced), but after being introduced to the basics of the church, THEN you are brought before the congregation. It seems a little too touchy-feely to rush it like that. But many churches are becoming more that way, so maybe it has its good points.

[Josh]

Frankly, I'm a bit surprised that Vlad! attends a church that actually believes something, what with our Doctrine thread and all...   Or does the class just teach the fundamentals of Christianity (sin, Christ's death and ressurection, etc.)?

My church has a class for prospective members, as well. The class teaches doctrines like Calvinism, etc., but you don't have to believe in those things to join the church. When I joined, I beleived in free will, and I made sure the elders and pastor were aware of that. They didn't have any problem with it, and let me join anyway.  =)  

[Vlad!]

Frankly, I'm a bit surprised that Vlad! attends a church that actually believes something, what with our Doctrine thread and all...   Or does the class just teach the fundamentals of Christianity (sin, Christ's death and ressurection, etc.)?

Well, like I said, I haven't attended this class, so I'm not sure. The church certainly hasn't abandoned all doctrinal stances, but I think it does a good job in not forcing its view on anyone. And the church I attend while at college is even more dogmatic about its doctrine, though I haven't 'joined' it in any sense of the word; I just go there and worship with my fellow believers who happen to have slightly different opinions on some things than I do.

Speaking of that church (thanks for reminding me; I meant to mention it), I am not sure they ever do altar calls as such. I know I haven't seen one. This surprised me, since it's a Baptist church and I thought they were big on altar calls, but there's a lot of Baptist stereotypes here in the south that may not be valid in the slightly-less-southern state of Virginia

[oneafroboy]

Yes, I have heard of churches that have classes one must take before becoming a member. I see nothing wrong with that. And I understand your point about it. At the same time, I don't really think early churches had classes one had to take before you could join. If you were a fellow believer, you were welcome. (That's my undertsandting of it.) So I don't think it's necessary.

Which brings up another question. What do you all think about communion? Some churches only allow members to take it. Some disallow children from taking it (unless they become confirmed). Others (like my church) allow anyone who is a Christian to partake in it. What's your opinion?  

[oneafroboy]

slightly-less-southern state of Virginia

Yeah, that's true. VA isn't as "southern" (whatever that means) as perhaps Mississippi or Alabama. I kind of feel the same way about Maryland. Sure, we're below the Mason-Dixon line, but we're not that southern.    

[polka_dot]

[Vlad!]

Which brings up another question. What do you all think about communion? Some churches only allow members to take it. Some disallow children from taking it (unless they become confirmed). Others (like my church) allow anyone who is a Christian to partake in it. What's your opinion?

The church my parents attend allows anyone to take communion. They believe it's something fairly special, and they encourage both Christians and non-Christians to refrain from participating if they don't feel spiritually in the right place.

The church I attend (but am not a member of) allowed me to take communion, and since they didn't offer up much of a 'disclaimer' beforehand I'm not exactly sure what their position is. I think whether you take it or not should be up to the person and nobody else, but the church should have a fairly brief explanation about the purpose and symbolism of communion and make sure to clarify that it's perfectly ok to refrain from taking communion if you don't feel that your heart is in the right place that morning (or evening).

At the same time, I don't really think early churches had classes one had to take before you could join. If you were a fellow believer, you were welcome. (That's my undertsandting of it.) So I don't think it's necessary.

I think it's a good idea. Although I may not agree with Josh that churches should monolithically follow a single doctrine, thinking about religious doctrines and beliefs is good for anyone, and I think it's important for a church to be up-front about what it believes and teaches to anyone considering membership. If nothing else, hopefully it will encourage the people to contemplate such things on their own and get them thinking, which is something that happens too seldom in many churches today. On the other hand, I don't think these 'classes' should be used to suggest that every person who joins the church must believe what the church does. But that's another topic...

[standman87]

My dad, when asked about joining, recomends that they really determine what they are joining. My dad has a quite long class, compared to those you guys have mentioned, stretching over many weeks. You are not required to take this class, but most do to really comprehend the full beliefs of the Lutheran church. It is titled the Adult Inquiry Class, which means to question - which my dad takes openly. Many members take the class also and my dad keeps it continually running, so the class size is small and quite personal. When members join the church, they take an oath: to enjoy the fellowship and assistance of the church, they give back to the church and the other members with much of their time and talent for God's will. Tithing is expected but not demanded.

Communion: lets be blunt: my church differs from yours on this sacrament. We take it very serious and yet sometimes let non-confirmed children take it if they have in the past by having a class about its importance from another denomination. We usually do not let children take it because they cannot understand the seriousness of the situation. I can talk forever on this issue - this should be a separate topic.