Does God ONLY move at the Altar?

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by BoredOutOfMyMind

Mega churches do away with altars, and now have buildings suited to drama and watching movies. I am not at church for a comfortable chair- I am there to get an experience with God.!!!

Esther, do we invite "all to come" or do we agree "you are lost if you are too far in the back."

oloroid

I love altar services and don't ever want to do away with them. Our Sunday morning altar services are always standing, not kneeling, but that's just because most of these people aren't from a "churched" background, and they just come up and pray standing up, which I really like anyway.

Our Wed. night times around the altars are much more intense, since we have "Encounter Services" on Wed. nights and more of a lingering powerful time in the Lord.

Originally Posted by BoredOutOfMyMind

We have sadly also lost most Altar Workers.

Sad but true. It's a whole lot of work sometimes to work those altars and I happen to love the job! As long as their is breath in my body and strength to be at church....I will be in that altar with anyone who needs my help. God bless!

[MissBrattified]

Surely no one truly believes that God only moves at the altar? BUT...there is something to be said for making your way to an elder for prayer...for healing or whatever. Some people find it helpful for others to pray with them, or around them; others prefer to pray alone, even in a public setting...so...I say whatever works for you. :-)

I do believe that some people resist going to the altar because they are also resisting God, and perhaps going down and kneeling at the altar is a sign of them letting go of that resistance, but they could certainly submit to him just as well in their pew. Some folks also resist being prayed for by the pastor or elders for the same reason...because they want to stay the way they are, and they are resisting the move of God.

My mother received the Holy Ghost at home, by herself. So did my husband. Both of them were told by overzealous altar workers that they had received the Holy Ghost (when they had not), and since they were too embarrassed to be contradictory, they just approached God privately, and He certainly didn't need a physical church altar to respond.

However, EVERY person needs an "altar"...that is...a place and time to pray and submit to God on a daily basis.

[COOPER]

Originally Posted by BoredOutOfMyMind

The asking others to come to the front is a Wesleyian philosophy. Yet, I have heard recently "you should come down to the altar to find God!"

Is God limited to only 10 feet in front of a pulpit, or can he fill "all the house where they are sitting?"

Do you have an altar at church, or only steps to the platform instead of an altar?

Is the altar dated to be abandoned?

I miss good old alter calls. I have had some good times in God and my church family praying, crying and praising God.

It's not place, it's the God in the place.

[tamor]

Originally Posted by COOPER

It's not the place, it's the God in the place.

Amen Coop!

[Felicity]

Concerning altar workers.......

I was talking to one of the ladies in our church yesterday morning who has a real touch of God and anointing on her. In fact she and her husband are involved in ministry and are often gone ministering and singing. Very beautiful and talented lady/couple.

I've felt impressed at different times to encourage her that if she feels to go to the altar to work, pray with and minister to people there she needs to know she has the liberty to do that.

Yesterday morning she came to speak with me and so I brought it up and I was so glad I did because she told me that at times she has felt to do that but didn't know if it would be appropriate --- that perhaps we had certain people appointed or do that. I told her that I was giving her the liberty and freedom and that I was certain my husband would have no problem it.

Both she and her husband love to work with people so we'll now have two more altar workers - highly qualified I might add.

[Felicity]

Of course God can minister to people any place. Doesn't have to be at the altar. Going to the altar signifies thirst, desire, hunger, and need to me. So people go there to pray for that reason.

But we can be ministered to any place that we reach out to God.

[Felicity]

I can remember when I was much younger - in my teens - praying around the altar or in the prayer room and my pastor's wife or pastor would come around and just lay their hand on my head or back or whatever and pray a short prayer and then just moved on. I liked that because you knew that they cared about you but they didn't stay there forever and totally distract you from receiving from God or interrupt what God was doing or what was happening between you and God at that time and place.

What I DON'T like is when people feel they have to hang on and hang on and hang on to you and go on forever when you're just wanting to spend time alone with the Lord.

You don't want to be rude of course but you feel like saying ... "Will you PLEASE just move on and leave me alone?!!! Thank you very much!!"

LOL!

So I try and be sensitive. God is the One who does the ministering. Sometimes He ministers through people speaking a word of encouragement or word of knowledge or wisdom or whatever, and that's fine!

But you need to use some commonsense and wisdom and know what's appropriate when.

And what about when you're in travailing or intercessory prayer and people think you're burdened because of discouragement or something! And again,they come along and stay and stay and stay and try to pray you through! Arrgghhh! LOL!!

The problem is we don't have enough of that sort of thing {travail and intercessory prayer) happening in churches anymore for people to know that's what's going on. Sad, it is.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Felicity

I can remember when I was much younger - in my teens - praying around the altar or in the prayer room and my pastor's wife or pastor would come around and just lay their hand on my head or back or whatever and pray a short prayer and then just moved on. I liked that because you knew that they cared about you but they didn't stay there forever and totally distract you from receiving from God or interrupt what God was doing or what was happening between you and God at that time and place.

What I DON'T like is when people feel they have to hang on and hang on and hang on to you and go on forever when you're just wanting to spend time alone with the Lord.

You don't want to be rude of course but you feel like saying ... "Will you PLEASE just move on and leave me alone?!!! Thank you very much!!"

LOL!

So I try and be sensitive. God is the One who does the ministering. Sometimes He ministers through people speaking a word of encouragement or word of knowledge or wisdom or whatever, and that's fine!

But you need to use some commonsense and wisdom and know what's appropriate when.

And what about when you're in travailing or intercessory prayer and people think you're burdened because of discouragement or something! And again,they come along and stay and stay and stay and try to pray you through! Arrgghhh! LOL!!

The problem is we don't have enough of that sort of thing {travail and intercessory prayer) happening in churches anymore for people to know that's what's going on. Sad, it is.

So, so very true!!!

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Felicity

I can remember when I was much younger - in my teens - praying around the altar or in the prayer room and my pastor's wife or pastor would come around and just lay their hand on my head or back or whatever and pray a short prayer and then just moved on. I liked that because you knew that they cared about you but they didn't stay there forever and totally distract you from receiving from God or interrupt what God was doing or what was happening between you and God at that time and place.

What I DON'T like is when people feel they have to hang on and hang on and hang on to you and go on forever when you're just wanting to spend time alone with the Lord.

You don't want to be rude of course but you feel like saying ... "Will you PLEASE just move on and leave me alone?!!! Thank you very much!!"

LOL!

So I try and be sensitive. God is the One who does the ministering. Sometimes He ministers through people speaking a word of encouragement or word of knowledge or wisdom or whatever, and that's fine!

But you need to use some commonsense and wisdom and know what's appropriate when.

And what about when you're in travailing or intercessory prayer and people think you're burdened because of discouragement or something! And again,they come along and stay and stay and stay and try to pray you through! Arrgghhh! LOL!!

The problem is we don't have enough of that sort of thing {travail and intercessory prayer) happening in churches anymore for people to know that's what's going on. Sad, it is.

That is sad, but I'm afraid what's even sadder is we don't have this happening BEFORE the altar service at home either.