The Altar Call: Does the means justify the end?
 

StuffApostolicsLike posted a new humorous topic on the altar call which took a tangent point into scare tactics being used at the altar appeal. One poster said this:

****If emotionalism works to get some people to lower their defenses and have honest conversations with God in the altar/pew/car/wherever, then I suppose it isn't in my place or anyone else's to criticize it too heavily---that is, until it becomes institutionalized as the only means by which one can have an experience and, further, that that experience, and not the overall orientation toward God, is sought after as an ends. Then there is a problem.*****

This sums up perfectly how I feel.

Whatever works. Compel them. Scare them. Love them. Woo them. Shame them. Guilt them. Whatever it takes. Hell is real. Jesus is God. He is worthy of our utter and complete surrender. Period. Jesus knows how to twist our arms and speak our language. Its His specialty to (seemingly) hurt and skeer us into obedience. :) Ask Jonah, David, Peter and Paul.


Interesting discussion thus far.
http://stuffapostolicslike.blogspot.....html#comments

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

I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some?

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

according to Joseph Fletcher it depends on if LOVE is the motive!

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

Similar to Epley's cannot be saved if baptized in Jesus' Name by a Trinitarian.


If your motive for preaching and praying them through to the Holy Ghost was not pure they are still lost....

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

LOL! you might consider checking into exactly who ole Joe Fletcher was...

your bias is glowing again....

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

No bias, just forgot my smiley.

:toofunny

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

First, I've heard so may hijack Paul's words here to be a blank check for anything they'd like... his words must have confines, and those confines must be that it always points to the cross, is in love, is honest and meets the criteria of 1 cor 13 (IMO). I'm sure there are others. Point being, ethics mean something, and we define this according to the Gospel.

Next, "becoming all things" is about the individual -- not about abusing the flock so that they will love Jesus more.

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

I personally don't think it is right to Compel them. Scare them. Love them. Woo them. Shame them. Guilt them, etc.

I visited a church Sunday night that I absolutely loved the way this pastor did altar. It was a great service with a lot of worshiping and at the end the pastor asked if there was anyone in the service that had not received the Holy Ghost since they believed. Two people came up and the pastor simply talked about how simple it was to receive God's gift. It was seconds before the two were speaking in tongues. So simple - so easy - no scare tactics or begging. :thumbsup

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

How does he give an altar appeal for individuals who just want to make commitment to Jesus? (They heard the Word and believed)

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

He isn't Baptist. I have never heard him call people down front to commitment to Jesus. I'm not sure that I am following your question.