Altar Call?

I have not researched this site, nor its author; however, I agree with his exhortation about examining how, where, why altar calls came into existence and if they are substantiated with Scripture.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Altar Call as part of the modern Invitation System is an activity used by many evangelical churches today. Many Christians think, as I once did, that if a church does not have one for salvation, that they must not care about souls. But is that true? Is it possible that it could be the opposite, and that people that don't use the Altar Call care just as much about souls if not more? Perhaps some Christians will think after seeing the title of this article, that there is already much unity now since so many churches use the Altar Call for salvation. If so, this writer of the article reminds you that the desire is for more "biblical unity" not just "unity." "Biblical unity" for this writer means to endeavor for more unity in local churches of the body of Christ without compromising the preaching of sound doctrine, the gospel of Christ, whole counsel of God, and biblical church practices and government. And I do not recall anything in God's word about an Altar Call.

So where, or better when, did the Altar Call come about? As a new Christian and for the next ten years, I just assumed that since it was called "this old fashioned altar" that it was being used since the first century church, or a very long time. But in the late 90's I learned that the Altar Call Invitation For Salvation was popularized by revivalist preacher Charles Finney in the latter half of the 19th century. Mr. Finney did not believe in the biblical teachings of Original Sin, the inability of man to come to Christ in his own power, and the substitutionary atonement of Christ, all false teachings that fall outside of biblical, historical Christianity. Therefore he believed people could be "persuaded" in their own power to give their life to Christ, and did this through the Altar Call invitations.

At this point you may be thinking "what's the big deal with having an altar call anyway, there is no harm in it is there?" Well actually, I and a growing amount of Christians and Ministers disagree that there is no harm in it. The word of God teaches us that those that the Father gave to Christ will come to Christ (John 6:36-39). So we are not concerned that people won't be saved because of the altar call invitation system. On the contrary, those who are being saved at that moment in time are being saved before they get to that "old fashioned altar." But what we are not in the "spiritual business" of doing is giving professing Christians a false hope and false assurance, something that is most likely happening to millions and millions of professing Christians who think they are saved just because they "went forward" and repeated the "sinners prayer."

This issue really stems from two false assumptions based on Scripture. The first is that anything that is not specifically forbidden in God's word is permissable in the local churches, and the second one being that one Christian or Pastor is to give another Christian (especially the one that just went foward to make a profession of faith) assurance of their salvation. The system of thought that the local church can do anything that is not specifically forbidden in Holy Scripture is called "The Normative Principle." It leaves it up to man's so-called wisdom to decide what is an acceptable practice in the church (and one doesn't have to look long and hard to see what that has often led to). Many other local churches, but few in comparison too all local churches, hold to what is called "The Regulative Principle." The system of thought that the local church should only do that which is mentioned in God's word, and that if it isn't in there it shouldn't be done. It comes from the belief that since Christ is the Living Word that is Author of the written Word, and Head of the Church, we should only do what He says we should do in His Church- worship Him in spirit and truth through prayer, song, His word proclaimed and received, water baptism, and communion. There is nothing in the word of God about an Altar Call. As a matter of fact, we have two instances mentioned in the book of Acts when the message, the sermon, the word, was proclaimed, then a response came without the need of an Altar Call: "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (2:47); "then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (16:29-30). This is not about the setting, in that this doesn't apply because it is not in a church or temple. The point is that if the gospel in the word of God does not bring a person to Christ, nothing will. The way the modern church today thinks that the Altar Call is a must, makes some of us wonder if such people thought about how many people were saved down through the centuries without one. It's as if many Christians today do not think God can do it through His word anymore and that He needs help with altar calls, dramas, skits, concerts, dance, and other forms of entertainment. When a pastor and Christians understand that the nature must be changed first through regeneration/being born again/made alive/drawn (1Cor.2:9-14; Titus 3:5-7; John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; Eph.2:1-5; Col.2:12-13; John 6:44), and that it is through the word preached (1Cor.1:18-31; James 1:18; 1Peter 1:23), they will realize that there is no need for an Altar Call and that God's word is His sufficient means to save and keep His people.

Let's stop giving many a false hope and assurance, and trust in His word, His gospel to save those He is drawing. God saved people without it for centuries, and He can still do it today. Flee from or stop that "Old Fashioned Altar."

Bret M. Lovitz; Former Pastor, Founder,
Director, of Biblically Correct Ministries