Are church altar calls effective or not?
I spent 24 years giving altar calls in my pastorates? So you could say I have allot of experience in this area. But, do they produce authentic/transformed followers of Christ?
Is there manipulation by the person giving the altar call.
Is there follow up and flesh on flesh discipleship that follows.
Is there transformation or just a feel good, I'm glad I got that sin off my chest?
Would Jesus give an altar call?
posted by Bob Carder @ 10:15 AM
14 comments
14 Comments:
I have had life changing experiances with God at alter calls, including radical salvation. But I don't think it has any thing to do with the method. It's all about what's going on with the person heart. There's no doubt that there is plenty of abuse in trying to conjure an emotional response as well as neglect in an overwhelming lack of follow up. But man ...I have had some awsome times with God in responding to a message at an altar call. We should have some altar calls in our gatherings.
This is an interesting question Bob. I wonder the same thing every Sunday when our Pastor gives the weekly alter call. He usually gives the alter call first thing. Right after worship, but right before the sermon. That kind of confuses me. I know God can speak to someone who hasn't heard a sermon, but it just seems a little backwards. The alter call is usually followed by lots of excitement and cheering. Then they usually shuffle the people who came forward into a room to the side, where they emerge about 15 minutes later carrying what looks like a bible, and an "I got saved" certificate. All of this is fine, but what I want to know is, what happens in that side room? Do they try to connect people with people and try to make more disciples, or is it a "catch and release" basis. Do they just award them with a bible and certificate and release them back into the congregation to find their way on their own? I've been tempted to respond to the alter call just to see what happens after I get saved. I do like the church, but I often wonder if they are just counting the souls and not doing anything to help them mature spiritually.
I think alter calls are great. Lots of people respond to Gods calling in an alter call, but it's the support and discipling after that really matters.
I'm here through response to an "altar call" and have been following Christ for 20 years.
However, I don't like them...don't do them.
I don't see anywhere in the Bible that Jesus did it. To me, it is a waste of time, as people need to understand that they need a saviour first, they need to understand their sin and the effect of their sin, before they can understand what Jesus did for them.
Bob, I cannot believe you guys in your thoughts. I have seen so many people get completely sold out to God at the altar. I have witness altar services and NO altar services (not even a call)and I know which one is best. This is not saying a person cannot get saved and sanctified away from the altar, but it helps to go. You guys need some help from somewhere. I only read your blog, and there is times I cannot believe what I am reading. And why do I read it? because I care for you Bob and your family. I am not sure what has happened to you but I pray God will come anew to you. I pray for you all daily and I pray you are doing good.
Thanks Anonymous. You shared what so many of us that know and care for Bob and his family feel. It breaks our hearts.
Let's hear it for the anonymous that are so concerned about Bob that they won't even tell him who they are. They just come here and slam him. They never even consider that God has already come anew on him and that they are the ones with a problem.
To say you "know" which is best without scriptural support is to put yourself in the place of God which equates to blasphemy.
Going to an altar does not aid in sanctification. Why did Jesus break it into pieces? I would love to hear you explain what "completely sold out to God" means to you. Your hearts need to break and not for Bob. Maybe you need an altar call.
Here it is - I tell you brothers and sisters that here on this blog tonight someone has a problem with God. As the music starts to play I am going to lead us in a prayer with every head bowed and every eye closed I want you to reach out for the forgiveness that Jesus is waiting to give you. If you feel it right now I want you to slip your hand up real quick with nobody looking. Yes you can remain anonymous for now. I see you brother and back there sister. Amen! Yes the lord is moving tonight. Do you greive for a wandering brother? I say why? Is he still serving God then let him serve. Maybe the problem is the speck in your eye and not the log in your brothers. I am going to keep the music playing until you come down to the front and kneel at your keyboard. Its time to repent... Just as I am without one plea... Thats right brothers and sisters - Jesus is waiting.
Signed - anonymous who is also sharing what so many others are feeling.
"Do altar calls produce authentic/transformed followers of Christ?"
Of course not.
They Holy Spirit, devotion to the word, relationship with the body, and companionship on the journey of faith produce authentic/transformed followers of Christ who may begin their journey by kneeling at an altar in response to the proclamation of the gospel.
I think altar calls can be used or abused like most anything else. I am not in favor of making them a part of every service but I have used them when a public display of commitment made sense. My personal experience has been that they are over used and often rely on pressure tactics to make people respond.
Some studies have been done on this technique and found that very few people responding to altar calls at evangelistic crusades could actually be found in fellowship by the next year. May say more for the follow up than the decision. I am not sure.
There is nothing accomplished at an altar call that cannot be accomplished on your knee before Jesus anyplace else.
I didn't realize that I gave my position on this issue. I thought I was just asking the question.
I love all the responses. Great conversation, keep sharing your viewpoints.
Derek understands the ongoing relationship of walking with new Christ followers. I call this flesh on flesh.
I just heard a staggering story from a missionary teen whose family Chel and I had breakfast with this morning. Caleb led his friend to Jesus when he was home last from the mission field.. He asked the youth pastor to make sure someone walked one on one with his friend in a discipleship relationship. He emailed the pastor every week for a period of time, he stayed in contact with his friend across the miles. They are still friends. But his friend does not want anything to do with the church. They ignored him and failed to help him after he responded to Christ.
Oh, when Caleb's friend responded to the invitation on that youth group night, everyone applauded. But when it came to being involved in his friends life everyone ignored him.
Another altar call victory and complete discipleship failure.
The kingdom was not advanced, in this case, it was tragically marred!
Jesus wouldn't say "come to the altar," he would say, "come to me." In fact, he did. If humans represent that act with a wooden altar, so be it.
What happens after the altar?
The point of this blog post has to do with what follows the altar. I have a great love respect for the altar, I saw my dad kneel their many many years ago and I also witnessed the transformation that followed. I also experienced many God transforming moments at the altar. For me the altar helped me drive a stake for change in my life. I used the altar on many late nights when no one was around to pray through perplexing church problems. I love the altar.
What I do not love is the way we have turned the altar into a quick evangelistic fix. In some places the use of the altar has become the goal, let's get em up here, get em saved and then let's get ready for the next time to use the tool.
My whole point has to do with what follows. And what follows is usually nothing. A new believer must have someone to walk beside them if they are to make it. This seems to be where the Church - the family of God, of which I am a part drops the ball. As a member of the Body of Christ called the Church, I do not want to drop the ball on this one. Souls are at stake. Eternity is just around the corner if not sooner for some.
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