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.

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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

Altar Call

By D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

We are to preach the Word, and if we do it properly, there will be a call to a decision that comes in the message, and then we leave it to the Spirit to act upon people.

Early in the 1970s Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones was the speaker at a ministers' conference in the USA and at a question session was asked the following question:

Q During recent years, especially in England, among evangelicals of the Reformed faith, there has been a rising criticism of the invitation system as used by Billy Graham and others. Does Scripture justify the use of such public invitations or not?

A. Well, it is difficult to answer this in a brief compass without being misunderstood. Let me answer it like this: The history of this invitation system is one with which you people ought to be more familiar than anyone else, because it began in America. It began in the 1820s; the real originator of it was Charles G. Finney. It led to a great controversy. Asahel Nettleton, a great Calvinist and successful evangelist, never issued an "altar call" nor asked people to come to the "anxious seat." These new methods in the 182Os and were condemned for many reasons by all who took the Reformed position.

One reason is that there is no evidence that this was done in New Testament times, because then they trusted to the power of the Spirit. Peter preaching on the Day of Pentecost under the power of the Spirit, for instance, had no need to call people forward in decision because, as you remember, the people were so moved and affected by the power of the Word and Spirit that they actually interrupted the preacher, crying out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" That has been the traditional Reformed attitude towards this particular matter. The moment you begin to introduce this other element, you are bringing a psychological element. The invitation should be in the message. We believe the Spirit applies the message, so we trust in the power of the Spirit. I personally agree with what has been said in the question. I have never called people forward at the end for this reason; there is a grave danger of people coming forward before they are ready to come forward. We do believe in the work of the Spirit, that He convicts and converts, and He will do His work. There is a danger in bringing people to a "birth," as it were, before they are ready for it.

The Puritans in particular were afraid of what they would call "a temporary faith" or "a false profession." There was a great Puritan, Thomas Shepard, who published a famous series of sermons on The Ten Virgins. The great point of that book was to deal with this problem of a false profession. The foolish virgins thought they were all right. This is a very great danger.

I can sum it up by putting it like this: I feel that this pressure which is put upon people to come forward in decision ultimately is due to a lack of faith in the work and operation of the Holy Spirit. We are to preach the Word, and if we do it properly, there will be a call to a decision that comes in the message, and then we leave it to the Spirit to act upon people. And of course He does. Some may come immediately at the close of the service to see the minister. I think there should always be an indication that the minister will be glad to see anybody who wants to put questions to him or wants further help. But that is a very different thing from putting pressure upon people to come forward. I feel it is wrong to put pressure directly on the will. The order in Scripture seems to be this - the truth is presented to the mind, which moves the heart, and that in turn moves the will.

Day 53-11

V From the Exodus to the Crossing into Canaan - 1462-1422 B.C. ~ cont.

(1462 - 982 480 years of 1 Kings 6:1)

B. Time spent at Sinai (sometimes called Horeb) ~ cont.
29. Instructions about priests and their duties ~ cont.
c.Sacrifices for altars must be perfect - Leviticus 22:17-32
30. Death penalties
a. Blasphemy - Leviticus 24:10-23
b. Murder - Leviticus 24:17-22
c. Sacrifices for altars must be perfect - Leviticus 22:17-33
30. Death penalties
a. Blasphemy - Leviticus 24:10-16, 23
b. Murder - Leviticus 24:17-22
31. Camp laws explained - Numbers 5:1-31
32. Vow of Nazarites - Numbers 6:1-27

{pages 234-238}

And the priest shall set the woman before the Lord, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse:  (Numbers 5:18)

Head covering removed or shaven?

uncover - H6544 - A primitive root; to loosen; by implication to expose, dismiss; figuratively absolve, begin.

Used 16 times in 15 verses.  First used in Exodus 5:4

And the King of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works?  get you unto your burdens.

Exodus 32:25 - And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)

Proverbs 1:25 - But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

Proverbs 4:15 - Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

Proverbs 8:33 - Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

head - H7218 - From an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literally or figuratively (in many applications, of place, time, rank, etc.).

Hmmm...I don't think I am any closer to an answer as to whether it was a veil removed, or whether the woman's head was shaved.

I browsed through all my E-Sword commentaries and Matthew Poole, caught a few online as well.  In addition, tried to find something online regarding the verse in question.

I thought Matthew Henry's commentary on the passage interesting, which can be found here, you have to scroll down to the portion or passage under review.

In my browsing I came across a few sites - this one has a woman posting regarding the 1 Corinthians passage, but other posters reference the Numbers 5:18 verse.

I did not read this article in its entirety - skipped around, read the last paragraph, including it in case someone wants to delve a tad deeper.

This one I found interesting, though I am still fence sitting to a certain degree regarding head coverings, there appears to be Scriptural warrant for being covered while in worship.  Whether that is specifically for all women, or married women only, I am not sure.

I can not remember where I read it, but the premise is, the wife would have been covered in some fashion to then be uncovered by the priest.  He either removed the head covering or disheveled her hair.  It does not seem to indicate that he shaved her head.  For Numbers 5:18, I would have to lean towards some type of physical article upon her head.  I found it intriguing that in some cultures a woman having a covering upon her head rendered her a sense of protection.  While some authors postured that women ought to wear a covering to reflect shame at Eve's sin.

Which makes me wonder, is there a difference between being deceived and sinning?

Day 35

V From the Exodus to the Crossing into Canaan - 1462-1422 B.C. ~ cont.

(1462 - 982 480 years of 1 Kings 6:1)

B. Time spent at Sinai (sometimes called Horeb) ~ cont.
f. Various laws given ~ cont.

(4) Laws involving others - Exodus 22:16-31; 23:1-9
(5)  Land and the Sabbath - Exodus 23:10-13
(6) Three national feasts - Exodus 23:14-19
2. God's covenant with Israel
a. Future conquest - Exodus 23:20-33
b. Altar built - Exodus 24:3-8
3. Moses goes to mount (Trip 5) - Exodus 24:1-2, 9-15
a. After 7 days instruction begins - Exodus 24:16-18
b. Tabernacle items
Materials - Exodus 25:1-9
Ark - Exodus 25:10-22
Table of shewbread - Exodus 25:23-30; Leviticus 24:5-9

{pages 151-156}

And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.  (Exodus 24:8)

Literally?  Sprinkled blood on the people?

Gill - and sprinkled it on the people; not on the whole body of the people, who could not be brought nigh enough, and were too numerous to be all sprinkled with it; though the apostle so expresses it, a part being put for the whole, Heb_9:19 either this was sprinkled on the young men that offered the sacrifices in the name of all the people; or on the seventy elders, as the heads of them, so Aben Ezra; or upon the twelve pillars, which answered to the twelve tribes, and represented them as the altar did the Lord.

Nadab and Abihu - sons of Aaron and Elisheba.

Nadab - H5070 - From H5068; liberal; Nadab, the name of four Israelites.

• H5068 - A primitive root; to impel; hence to volunteer (as a soldier), to present spontaneously.

Abihu - H30 - From H1 and H1931; father (that is worshipper) of Him (that is God); Abihu, a son of Aaron.

Then went up Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.  (Exodus 24:9-10)

Father, knowing all, prepared Nadab and Abihu for the service of the tabernacle.  Designating what they would wear, eat, who they could marry, etc.  He laid out their future, all the while knowing that they would be destroyed for offering strange fire.  Some are vessels of honor and others of dishonor, all are in HIS hand.

2Ti 2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

O' Lord, let the thoughts of our minds and the meditations of our hearts be solely on knowing You more intimately, day by day.  Let the manifestation of who we are be an accurate representation of You and Your glory.

And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.  (Exodus 24:18)

Fasting...nourished on the Word of God only.  Our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus had a similar experience:

Mat 4:2  And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.

forty = trials, probation and testings.  For a list of numbers and their biblical meanings, try this site.

I made a notation that Moses only substance in 40 days was the Word of the Lord.  Fasting is not something I have studied out sufficiently.  A web search using the word 'fasting' brought up 1 wikipedia article, 2 for weight loss and one on fasting and prayer.

Biblical fasting brought up several articles - I have not yet browsed these, but will save them for later:  Biblical Fasting and a Study on Biblical Fasting.  Both look interesting and worth the time and effort to 'sift' through.

May Father richly bless those who desire to know Him more intimately by spending time in HIS word.