the alter

I am kind of surprised at your observation chipsgirl. I would have expected the opposite. Around here just about every church has a time of communal prayer every service. All of the men and many of the women gather around the alter and usually all pray aloud. This is true of independent and SBC churches in western NC. Now at the end of the service we usually have an altar call and sometimes no one comes forward, sometimes many do, it just depends on the service.

 

My church is like that, not many people go to the alter in the front of the church. hmmmm
I always pray in the pew as I believe most do. I've only gone twice I think to the front. I have always been a shy person and it makes me very uncomfortable to be in front of people.

Does it really make a difference if we don't go to the front??

Rachel

 

I don't think it makes a difference; however, I wish sometimes we were more encouraged to approach the altar or even kneel at our seats. I sometimes feel moved by the Holy Spirit to do this and have been asked why I do "that Catholic thing"!

 

Wow, really? Why would someone say that? If you feel led to do that, I see nothing wrong with it at all!

 

I have never seen an alter in a church, but I have seen an altar .

 

I thought you went to the altar when
you were making a commitment to alter?

 

Oops, and I didn't catch that!
I usually catch mispellings.

Rachel

 

I went to southern Californing.
It was even a Southern Baptist Church.
No invitation at all.

Maybe we are used to the southern middle???

 

I would not be to worried at the numbers of people that go forward, that can vary for all manner of reasons. Yet what I think is important is that each service an invitation is given and there is an opportunity. It is a sad thing when there is no opportunity and no focus on evangalism in any denomination of the Christian Church.

 

We are independent baptist. Fundamental in our doctrine, not our style. Altar call is a fairly recent thing. Orginated with Finney, I believe. We DONT have an altar call at the close of the service. Maybe we are not really IFB?

 

I think when Baptists say "come to the altar," they really mean "come to the front center of the sanctuary." And there all you usually find is a communion table with the offering plates on it, and maybe a bible or a pretty cross.

Personnally, I'd wish that preachers would use "the invitation" sparingly, and give a specific definition as to who are being called. If they say "to get right with God," then everybody fills the bill, and it becomes meaningless. It should be to accept Christ (you know, the first time) or for having a specific reason that requires a rededication or reconciliation. Everybody else stay in your seat.

 

Thanks for making me look like an idiot. </font>[/QUOTE]She was kidding. You didn't look like an idiot.