Why do Preachers do this?

I don't think the disagreement is about the various ways and peopleGod uses to bring us to Christ. I think the problem is with "methods". The close your eyes, raise your hands method is not something that is Spirit led. It's a popular method that preachers believe has an effect on the listeners. It is used frequently to move people to accept Christ.
This is what I have a problem with. My husband was in sales for several years and this is very similar to the tactics he was taught. That's why he's not in sales anymore. It is less than honest.

Just MHO. Please don't ------>:tonofbricks: :laugh:

 

I was saved this way myself. I wouldn't have just gotten up after a message and walked forward on my own accord for no reason, even at gunpoint, but I was moved that day by the Spirit, and when the Pastor extended his hand forward, I walked up and took it!
One preacher I know askes several questions during the invitation, not just looking for those who want to accept Christ that day, but also looking for those who need the congragation's prayers for problems in their lives related to the day's message. Several people raise their hands, not just those considering being saved. He also invites people to come forward who would like to silently pray on their knees. Sure, there are a couple of showboats up there every week, but there are many there for personal reasons.
Now, on the other hand, I did see one young woman do an invitation to a group of very young children after reading them a story. Even though she tried to explain to them that being saved is a one time thing, several children raised their hands. The next week, I saw several of the same hands go up again.

love,

Sopranette

 

I think this method is just manipulation, and should have no place in the church.

 

Here's how it happens in my church... The pastor opens the invitation and asks all of the people that are sure they're going to heaven to raise their hand. Then he talks a little and then asks the people that are unsure to raise their hand, so he can pray for them. He verbally acknowledges them, says a quick prayer, then asks those people to raise their heads and look up at him. He talks directly to them and entreats them to come forward. He then opens the invitation, and continues to woo the people. They then sometimes come forward, "pray the prayer", fill out a card, and we never see them again.

I don't know, maybe it's worth it for the people that really do get saved as a result.

 

I don't think you meant to say the last sentence. You're not really saying it's okay that some people will go away from there lost, but thinking they're saved, as long as some people really do get saved? Wanna reconsider?

 

On the lighter side. Every time I see this thread title the thought goes through my head, "Why do preachers do this?" Spit on the whole front row.:laugh:

 

I'm just saying this is one of the many things I don't have an answer on. What if someone did get saved using this method that wouldn't have if the pastor just closed the service? I think you can tell by the way I put things that I'm not comfortable with it in the least, but I would like to give my pastor the benefit of the doubt.

 

I do sense some ambiguity on your part, but words mean things. The part I highlighted in your comment suggests that the Holy Spirit is powerless to do his work unless it's during an invitation. This is not an uncommon mindset. I doubt if you really think that, though.

Remember the words of a Romanian pastor I quoted in an earlier post: "We don't believe it's necessary to create an atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to do his work. When the Holy Spirit stirs someone's heart, they will seek us out."

By the way, the Lord saved me during an invitation. So I don't condemn invitations per se, just some of the manipulative methods employed by some preachers to get a response, any response.

I would like to see one like this: The preacher says, "God commands you to repent and trust Christ for your salvation. If he's dealing with you, then I'm right here after the service ends. Come see me." And he ends the service.

If you want the modern-day invitation, how about, "God commands you to repent and trust Christ for your salvation. If he's dealing with you, come tell me, and I'll help you. Right now." And then just shut up and wait. No singing, no soft organ music, just total silence as people pray for God to move on lost sinners.

I can live with either of those.

 

Okay posters, what's your reaction to this scenario?

The preacher has just spent 25 minutes on a sermon on how to have a better sex life. Or, How to Be Happy Even though You're Married. He finishes the sermon and says something like, 'Oh, before we go, let's open the doors of our church. If you're lost, just say these words and you'll get saved. Repeat after me........"

Oh, he'll really say something like, "pray this prayer." But what's the difference between that and "say these magic words"? And not one word of the message related to the invitation. Not one word of the message is an exhortation to lost sinners. The invitation is something that just gets tacked on at the end.

Ever seen that done?

 

Yeah, on TV Sunday...

"We never like to end our broadcast without giving you an invitation to receive Jesus as Savior, just bow your head and pray this prayer...

Blah, Blah, Blah...

If you prayed that prayer we believe you are now born again, and you can live a victorious life"

Guess what "preacher" that is...

I will give you a hint, the Baptist churches in America are full of people who love him, and listen to him every Sunday before going to their own church.

 

So can I, though I would prefer the first.

Your mention of the mindset that seems to have the Holy Spirit powerless reminds me of something that happened early in my Christian life. When a friend asked me to take part in a tent crusade, as a counsellor, I should have declined, only having just been converted myself, and not in a position to offer counsel, but at that time I didn't know any better. The idea was that when someone got out of their seat to "go forward", a counsellor would go and stand beside him. One evening, I began to go to stand beside someone, but when I was halfway to the front, I noticed that another counsellor had gone to stand by the same person, so I returned to my seat. Someone tapped my shoulder, and said, "Don't ever do that, brother! The unsaved might see you returning to your seat, and unless they knew you were a counsellor, they would think that you were an enquirer, and that the Holy Spirit hadn't the power to keep you at the front to be saved!"

 

Good ol' tent meetings...

 

Alter calls

I totally agree with alter calls. Jesus says confess me before man and Ill confess you before the father. If someone is to embarrased to stand up for the Lord in front of a group of believers whats going to happen when he stands up in front of a group of athiests. His pillars and foundation will crumble.

 

But what "pillars and foundation"? I don't know much about so-called "altar-calls", but as I understand them, they are aimed at those who are not yet Christians. When Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost to non-Christians, and when Paul preached at the Areopagus to non-Christians, there were no "invitations to come to the front".

 

The problem with Altar calls is the tendency for people to "pray the Prayer" and walk out as lost as they walked in...

If there is no evidence of change, they didn't get saved.

Standing at the front of the church, and saying, "I just got saved" should never replace Baptism... which is the true sign to the world that says, "I am a CHRISTIAN!!"

Thanks to Evangelism Explosion and like tools have made American Evangelism nothing more than Marketing a product for which we stand and close the sale by saying... "Accept Jesus into your heart"

There is another current thread/topic on BB that relates to this...

It is a sermon by Paul Washer... It is long, but every preacher needs to hear it! http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?p=1118523#post1118523

Just because someone prays the prayer does not make them saved.
Just because someone walks the aisle does not make them saved.
Just because someone raises their hands does not make them saved.
Just because someone says, Lord, Lord does not make them saved...

But the evidence resides in whether or not they do the will of God!

As you can tell, I just finished listening to the above sermon...

 

Tim, that's the one. Does anybody know others who do that?

 

Tiny, again you have nailed it. Confessing Jesus before men is not walking the aisle (for that was unheard of until the mid-19th century). It is public baptism.

Question: Would you publicly confess Christ as Lord if you knew you could
a. be killed
b. be beaten up
c. lose your job
d. be thrown in prison
e. lose your family.

A Romanian pastor told me that under communism, when someone came to him wanting to do that, the believers tried to talk him out of it, and warned him of all the bad things that could happen. If the convert still wanted to go ahead, then they believed his conversion was valid. And most of the new believers actually did want to be publicly baptized--not necessarily in the town square, but before other believers.

They don't do altar calls in Romania, either.

I think David Lamb is right. Altar calls are an American invention.

 

I am not 100% sure how I feel about the practice of having altar calls after every service. But I am not going to judge those that do. From what I have experienced, the men that do this are Godly men with nothing but the love for the lost in their hearts. In Acts 2:40 I know that Peter used many words, and kept on exhorting them. I personally have never experienced any alter call that would have seemed to go any further than what Peter did. However I concede that like anything else some probably do abuse this as well. I just think it unwise to lump everyone that uses an alter call into one group and judge them.

 

It's not the use of altar calls, it's the misuse and abuse. I have seen some preachers so desperate for a response, any response, that they will do just about anything to get it. If you won't come down here to get saved, then come and rededicate your life; if not that, then come to the altar and pray; if not that, then come tell yo' pastor you love him and support him; if not that, then go to somebody else and tell them you appreciate them.

That the kind of misuse I'm talking about.

 

Tom,

I had gotten the impression from the OP and many comments made on this thread, that many objected to the use of altar calls as a method to invite people to Christ. That is what I was responding to. My point was that scripture tells us that Peter "kept on exhorting them".

As to asking for other responses in the altar call that you bring up. It wouldn't be my cup of tea. But if we are then talking about saved people, who are we to say that a pastor of any individual church cant ask for his members to come and pray, especially if they felt personally convicted by the Holy Spirit about a sermon that was just preached. I don't really see the scriptural abuse there.

Overall though, I can understand why many people don't like altar calls. I grew up in a church that didn't use them after every service like we are talking about, the church I now attend does, and I still am not 100% used to them. If I did preach (and I don't) I don't believe I would use them. But I don't see where they are in error.