What are your thoughts about
1) Altar Calls...............Altar call
2) Sinners Prayer........Sinner's prayer
Altar Calls and Sinners Prayer
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Salty, Mar 11, 2021.
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Marooncat79 Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Where are they in the Bible?
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Lets NOT play this game
Now where in the Bible does it talk about having bathrooms, baptires, or any indoor plumbing. The Bible never says to have hymbooks or electronic videos. Ect.
If you want to discuss that as an issue - please start a new thread.!!!
So, back to the OP
What are your thoughts about
1) Altar Calls...............Altar call
2) Sinners Prayer........Sinner's prayer -
Like nearly everything else, it depends on the meaning people assign to it.
Altar call:
No problem with urging folks to repent of sin and accept Christ by faith. No need to change locations to do that.
If you believe coming to the altar is a necessary act for salvation, then I’m against it.
Explain the way folks are accepted into membership is to come before the fellowship and (1) make a profession of faith (2) express the desire to join with the fellowship.
Sinners prayer:
No problem with prayers, though a “standard prayer” for salvation leads to (1) legalistic method to attain salvation (2) false professions of faith (3) false assurance of salvation by others.
peace to you -
And just because you came forward - does not mean you got saved!
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Now if someone came forward to say that past Thursday the pastor led him to the Lord - that is fine.
But if someone is not saved - and wants to - a counselor should take the individual to another room to explain salvation to them. It is not quite that easy to explain something to a person with the music playing and the congregation singing. In addition, I have heard preachers say - "we will not close this invitation as long as someone is still at the altar." My goodness - with the pastor saying that - is liable to make the individual to rush.... not good. -
Scripture gives an invitation (what we casually term an "altar call"). So I have no problem with that. Same with the "sinners prayer". Those who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Both of those things can and have been abused. Both can and have been used in the lives of people being saved. -
Iconoclast Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
There is no altar in a Baptist church.
Finney started his "new measures"..anxious seat, mourners bench,etc.
The preaching of Christ crucified is the invitation.
The proper response is believers baptism. -
Can't have an Alter call if you don't have an Alter.
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So if a pastor in Communist country does not have a Bible because the Govt took it, does it mean that pastor cannot preach the gospel?
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The phrase is divorced from its individual words to a degree. Like "prodigal son" means one returning to the fold....normally neither prodigal nor son applies.
An altar call is nothing more than a plea for individuals to be reconciled to God.
It can be used to manipulate. But it can also be a simple plea. We have to be careful about judging others for not doing things our way. -
Iconoclast Well-Known MemberSite SupporterCorrect...it is a man made invention,like putting the ark on a new cart
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So what if it is "man-made" - in itself an alter call is fine.
I do agree with Jon - it can be mis-used when it is to manipulate -
Also "Altar call" has nothing to do with an altar.
In Catholic churches the altar had to do with communion (the same is true in some Protestant churches). In Batust churches when "altar" is used it typically refers to "sacred space" (as coming before God).
BUT the term "altar call" has nothing do do with altars (like the term "prodigal son" does not imply the individual has squandered his or her money in extravagant living...i.e. prodigal....or that the person is in question is returning to his father as a son).
The question is really simple (regardless of how terms are adopted into a language). An altar call is a plea for a person to be reconciled to God.
Q - Is it biblical to make a plea that people be reconciled to God?
I believe it is. Others do not.
But let's keep it simple and not argue about how terms incorporated words to take on different meanings. -
Some Baptist churches do call a space at the front (platform steps, mourner's bench, or such like) by the name altar.
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I have a raised fire pit (about 2 feet off the ground). When we're cooking, I'll call people to the altar...:Whistling
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Do you know of any that use those things as an actual altar?
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Not sure how to answer. For some the area they call the altar is also the also where they have the communion table, but I think they would distinguish the two. Also not sure how much semantic range an unabridged dictionary would give the word altar. Most online dictionaries give a very limited definition, usually related to communion. However, we also use the word altar to mean the place where marriage vows are sanctified.
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Yep, seems like there are other definitions (different from an OT altar).
Reformed Baptist churches often have a pulpit positioned to highlight the importance of God's Word in worship. This is by definition (not OT definition, but definition nonetheless) an altar. It is a piece of furniture that has a purpose and focus in worship (they would probablynot use the word "altar", but it would meet the definitionprovided in Websters).. -
Iconoclast Well-Known MemberSite SupporterHello Salty
Things can be man made and useful.
I will even say that I am hopeful and confident that God can even use error and cults to draw His people.
Someone starts out in a cult....but from reading scripture as a. Ultimately member the Spirit does the unseen work resulting in a turning from the cult to a biblical assembly.
Now that does not mean I am going to build mormon churches in the neighborhood hoping it will work.
Telling people to do something physical in front of other people does not make it happen...or make it certain.
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