Reformed Altar Calls?

I have seen too many times in churches that they do what a friend of mine once said, They let them flop around like a fish om a rock."

It was not my desert situation but some I have helped get past the nonsense they heard. I came across a young man in a Bible study I led and made the comment that the way you measure spirituality is by relationship. Nobody has to tell me if I have a good relationship with God or not. I know. Relationship cannot be measured and boasted about. It can only be enjoyed. If spirituality is measured by climbing rungs on a ladder then it can be measured and boasted about.

 

I agree that there is often a lot of nonsense associated with altar calls. I like what you are doing. That is what I did too.

I always tied the sermon to the invitation at the end for prayer and any way we could help them. The problem was that the music leader told me that it was hard to tell when the invitation began.

I will never forget the time when a young lady whose mom came to church and she heard what I did. I heard later how her mom felt cared for by the care she saw demonstrated to the people who were in need. The mom was not a believer. During that time a lady came forward and asked for prayer because she was not sure how much more time her brother had to live.

Another time I was asked to speak at a church. Two hours before the service I felt compelled to change the sermon. I told my wife that I did not know why and struggled with making the change. I gave the sermon and only one person came forward. It was a lady who asked for prayer. What she said I have never forgotten. She said that her cousin had just been murdered. I knew why God had me change the sermon. The passage and what I said clear to the end fit perfectly. As we announced her prayer request you could have heard a pin drop and not one person made a noise or left the building. We prayed together for her. After the prayer there were people around her for a long time. Those are precious moments to show great care for people who are badly hurting.

Another time I preached at a church I was not pastoring and the chairman of the deacons came forward. He told me that he wanted to say something to the congregation and so I gave him the floor. I had no idea what he wanted to say. He apologized to the church for something he said years earlier to someone who was a young man then. Afterward he went to see that man at his home. That young man was now married and had children. I saw the man in church that night. The pastor told me that he had not been in church since the deacon said what he did to him but he has been coming since.

 

I agree with you.

But this begs a question. If that's true, why do we have to use any method at all?

 

The altar call is a marvelous way to end a service. If you all had attended 25 years of services where a sermon ended that way light years above everyone's head, had a short closing hymn, and then the words "you are dismissed," you might have a different view of the way Baptist Churches end the service. The call has its problems, going up with a friend, going up because of a good speaker, choosing instead of chosen, etc, but it is better than a cold, stoic service Sunday after Sunday. I am as much a believer in God's sovereignty as anyone here, and using reform doctrine to get rid of the altar call makes no sense to me. It is a way for people to express themselves. It gives them a chance to talk to a pastor, pray, join the church, confess, and talk to the Lord. Why should an altar call be stopped because of a doctirne we happen to believe in when we are in the minority. There is no way I am going back to a service that ends with a parade of robots exiting the church. Combine that with elder rule, and you have a country club type social status club, which has nothing in common with a New Testement church.

 

Each time they were individuals misled by another friend or someone they knew who listened to someone else without question. They were not churches.

 

P4T

As a confessional church we give new persons a copy of the 1689 confession of faith. We let them know that the bible is our only rule of faith and practice,
But we use the confession so they can examine what we hold to as a local assembly.
If the person has any questions about the confession they are encouraged to discuss them and question what ever they want.[ I have some parts that I call into question,...
We want to know that the person holds to the basics....new birth ,repentance, faith, return of Jesus, heaven , hell,etc... The biblical Jesus, the gospel...according to the scripture..1cor 15;1-4
There is a shorter "church covenant" which is a standard document..saying what is expected of new members...attendance, prayer for each other,etc.
We have no altar call as it is unscriptural. The message and word preached is the gospel call being put forth...sinners are urged to repent and believe the gospel...during the message.
Any pastor who sees visitors come into the assembly is always wise to speak about the saving grace of God ....no matter what portion of the word is being preached.
When the Spirit of God is present and drawing a sinner effectually.....that persons heart will welcome the word isa 55.....
he does not have to walk to the front or raise his hand...or do cartwheels down the aisle....or listen to just as I am 14 times ...yes with every eye closed....is there someone who wants to raise their hand..yes I see that hand....is there anyone who wants to "rededicate their life"...because the first dedication did not take root??/

If someone went through this.....and God saved him despite it...we can rejoice.....Thank The Lord He is Sovereign.
God uses even some false ministers and ministries to get someone in the word......but then the Spirit goes to work ......he was working all along in the unseen realm.......

 

I abhor alter calls & would not go to any reformed church that does it....False, Manipulative & smacks of Finnyism. Let the Non Calvinists do what they want....But DO NOT bring this into any Reformed worship. Next you will be speaking in tongues.

 

Brother Icono....you know this is an issue for those....er, I will say blended churches that avoid conflict like Heaven Forbid teaching Doctrines of Grace so as not to upset the Non Cals but set up the alter call to have a pleasant end to the service. :tongue3::tongue3::tongue3:

 

Whats your pastor say when you want to learn more about DOG? Lets say you want your Children & Grandkids to be taught Reformed Theology?

 

The reference I was making to attending services for 25 years was growing up and a young adult in the Presbyterian Church. Our present pastor's sermons are based around the Gospel, reaching the lost, in the morning service, and living a Christian life in the evening. Docrtines of Grace are not a big item of discussion, and I being in a distinict minority do not go up and down the church halls looking for a debate. I sometimes discuss it with others in our church who believe that way as brother Tom. As far as my kids and grandkids, I did teach them the DOG. The grandkids, thats their parents responsibility, when they have their own. I appreciate the use of the term doctrines of grace, as the Biblical teaching is way too precious to be attached to a name like Calvin.

 

What is the purpose of manufactured conflict in a local church for a doctirne that makes no difference in anyone's salvation. It is fine here on this board, but I am not going to worship at a local church that centers around conflict about DOG, Bible versions, end of times, etc instead of Jesus Christ and the Gospel. The local church would be a reflection of some of the threads on this board on Calvinsim. Been there done that.

 

One is about doctrine and its relationship to evangelism, etc., the other is about discipleship.

 

the usual fare in my baptist church is at end of each Sunday service, the pastor gives the invition that whoever knows that they need today to come to Christ in order to become a new person, get right with God, come forward to speak with either Him, one of the Elders, or one o fthe pastoral prayer staff....

No shouting, pretty even keeled, just asking that IF one isconvicted right now to 'do business" with the Lord, as regarding getting saved or else to speak with Him, come on down!

 

Why do you need a pastor....isnt the Holy Spirit sufficient?