The Altar Call: Does the means justify the end?

[Maximilian]

Originally Posted by MrsMcD

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.

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?

[MrsMcD]

Originally Posted by Maximilian

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?

The pastor was quoting Acts 19:2.

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by MrsMcD

The pastor was quoting Acts 19:2.

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

[Maximilian]

Originally Posted by MrsMcD

The pastor was quoting Acts 19:2.

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?

[MrsMcD]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

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

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

[Maximilian]

Originally Posted by MrsMcD

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

So when does that believing happen?

How does it happen?

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

[MrsMcD]

Originally Posted by Maximilian

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?

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.

[Maximilian]

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.

[MrsMcD]

Originally Posted by Maximilian

So when does that believing happen?

How does it happen?

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

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.

[Maximilian]

Originally Posted by MrsMcD

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.

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.