Re: The Altar Call: Does the means justify the end
 

You said "since you believed" so I assumed you felt that this whole issue of "believing" was quite a moment as well. Altar appeals are only for Spirit Baptism at this church?

Re: The Altar Call: Does the means justify the end
 

The pastor was quoting Acts 19:2.

Re: The Altar Call: Does the means justify the end
 

I Think max's question is how do they get to the believing part.

Re: The Altar Call: Does the means justify the end
 

I understand that. What about Romans 10? The rest of the Bible?

Are altar appeals only for Spirit Baptism and glossolalia?

Is it a pretty significant event when someone believes? Can they believe on their own? Is it possible? Does the Holy Spirit have a part in that?

Re: The Altar Call: Does the means justify the end
 

Oh, it's a PAW church and we have only visited twice. I really don't know but I don't know how any one could want the Holy Spirit without believing in God in the first place. jmho

Re: The Altar Call: Does the means justify the end
 

So when does that believing happen?

How does it happen?

Is there an opportunity in service for someone to publicly acknowledge their faith?

Re: The Altar Call: Does the means justify the end
 

I see what you are saying. We also attend a Baptist church sometime. It's the church that makes the Christian movies. "Facing the Giants" "FireProof" and a new one coming out "Courageous" and they do altar call by asking people to come down front to repent and give their life to God. Of course, they don't believe in the Holy Ghost but they believe people need to come down front to make a commitment to Christ. I wish they believed in Speaking in Tongues but I respect the commitment that people make by going down front.

Re: The Altar Call: Does the means justify the end
 

Of course, we are at a loss trying to find further examples in scripture for altar appeals. There were none in the Bible. In fact, most agree they originated in the 1830's with Charles Finney. He had something called a mourner's bench.

Another source says the early eighteenth-century Calvinist preacher, Eleazar Wheelock, called upon the distressed to gather in the seats “just below the pulpit” that he might “more conveniently converse with them, counsel, direct, exhort them,” etc.

Billy Sunday, D.L. Moody, and Billy Graham are other evangelists who contributed to the widespread acceptance and use of the altar call.

I see value in altar appeals, don't get me wrong.... also see dangers in them, and of course abuses with them.

Re: The Altar Call: Does the means justify the end
 

We have only visited twice, so I couldn't say what they do on a regular basis. I was just making a point that I liked how the pastor made speaking in tongues easy instead of all the screaming in someone's face kinda thing.

Re: The Altar Call: Does the means justify the end
 

They don't believe in Spirit baptism? Really?

Finding fewer and fewer churches that deny Spirit Baptism, so I'm a little surprised. But if they are a predominant Baptist congregation, that would make sense. They are likely cessationists.

I'm not sure believing happens at a "come forward" pitch anyway, or that it is THE place that it should happen. I think baptism is the more appropriate venue for one to publicly make their decision for Christ public.

Inviting people to pray and talking with them is a wonderful thing though.