Should We Use Altar-Calls in Our Evangelism?

First of all, we need to realize that altar-calls are not required by a biblical mandate. It's truly irrelevant whether you came forward at an altar-call or not in terms of whether you have actually received Christ or not, however, it is not at all irrelevant whether your faith personally displays the qualities and characteristics of true saving faith.

Mark Kielar explains the rest.


http://www.crosstv.com
(From the series, "How God Converts the Human Soul")

Category:

Education

Tags:

• altar
• calls
• charles
• finney
• crosstv
• southern
• baptist

[yeyo1228]

You said, "Not everyone, mind you, but the vast majority of them." That is the right attitude. That is about the only humble thing you have said thus far. It just seems like you just have resentment about your past experiences with the SBC that you need to give to God.

[LaneCh]

See, again, here's another example of your blatant double standards. You said that it's not right to judge and we shouldn't act according to appearance, yet you just judged that it seems like I have resentment about my past experiences with the SBC. That couldn't be further from the truth. I have problems with my past experiences with the SBC AND the current ones I'm having with them like Rick Warren saying that prayer and preaching doesn't grow a church. (cont...)

[LaneCh]

So, you see, my problem isn't with an subjective experience I've had with the organization, it's with the doctrinal spine of a jellyfish that is permeating so much of the denomination. I have dear brothers in it, but I'm no longer one because I realized that I couldn't believe the Bible and be at peace with them at once as your affinity for hypocrisy and Todd Bentley's sideshow have proven to be true. (cont...)

[LaneCh]

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm tired of reading through your hypocritical, double-standard laden garbage everytime you deem yourself worth to propagate it. You have a channel to post videos and and comment there, but your ability to do so here has been compromised.

[yeyo1228]

Not all fruit is visible and to say that "thousands and thousands" are false conversions can only mean you have actually seen the fruit of them all. Which you haven't. It is not your place to say that. You don't know what's in a mans heart and Jesus said that not even a cup of water will not go accounted for...

[LaneCh]

Jesus said "You will know them by their fruits." and "You can judge a tree by its fruit." Who is wrong, Mr. Yeyo? You or Jesus? That's basically what your rant comes down to.

[avalosjl]

The proof of true saving faith is the one that produces fruits. If you claim to be saved just because you walked the isle but continue living like a devil you are not. If you do not hate your sin you are not in Christ. Please study from the Greek to confess Christ as Lord and savior is to be willing to leave everything and even die for him (1st commandment).We are call to live in sanctity which can only be done through the power of God; we are not saved by works but we are saved unto good works.

[SovereignShepherd]

Do you know the context of Romans 10:9? Do you know what it meant to confess Jesus with your mouth? It meant, at that time, imminent death! These days, in America, we don't worry about that. Just confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord isn't a "been there, done that" or "contract" that saves! The verse is referring to ultimate devotion the Jesus, even unto death. How many "Christians" do you know, would confess Jesus name if death would follow? Certainly not all that confess his name now!

[TheReubenDean]

@LaneCh Also, why would you imply that the fruits of true conversion will only be evident in the life of a believer over time? That is NOT true! You will see the fruits of true conversion instantly! You are not converted until you become a new man, so if you become a new man, obviously there will be evidence instantly!

[TheReubenDean]

Why would u call it a danger to require a public act (#2). That sounds like heresy to me, because Jesus requires it in Matthew 28:19.

[dellasfc]

God has chosen to give us free will. When presented with God 's plan of Salvation we have to make a decision. God will not override what we choose.

The teaching here is constantly contradictory and confusing. God does not force Salvation o anyone. He uses the Holy Spirit to convict of sin, and draws them to Himself. This teaching implies that you are already saved before you chose to be. A person accepts Christ's Salvation then they are saved at that point not before.

[thesacredcowtipper]

@LaneCh 80% to 99% of all "converts" in evangelsitic efforts in the USA produce instant backsliders so one would have to say were they ever saved to begin with? It's sad that the churches haven't grown Biblically yet they keep using extra-biblical methods to reach people in spite of growth that doesn't last or growth brought about through carnal means that eventually doesn't last. Oops. I judged things with you brother.

[SUNDAYSCHOOLTEACHER]

Are the altar calls the problem on the bit before and after? Before - sometimes a very lightweight sermon with no clear exposition of the Gospel (unlike Billy Graham in the day or Louis Palou who is always crystal clear. The after bit is the extremely poor follow-up; lack of actual discipling. Lack of encouraging the congregation to learn to study the Bible for themselves and stop relying on the Sunday morning "hymn sandwich" as their weekly spiritual food.

[histruth777]

I commented on his other video about this some time ago "alter calls doctrines of devils". Paul is the perfect example of an alter call first off he came to faith by hearing Jesus(Rom 10:17, Acts 9:5) he obeyed and went to Damascus (Acts 5:32,Gal 3:14)where Ananias laid hands on him (Gal 3:5 Rom 10:14,15 )its a matter of listening for his call not making a decision! If people could understand Eph 2:8 theyd understand its summed up in Gal 1:15,16 Grace for Paul was that call Acts 9:5 Rom 10:20

[VictorLepanto]

Ironically, I would partly agree w/ you. There is something incipiantly sacramental in alter calls. The pastor of my old Pentacostal church used to say, in defense of alter calls, that we needed to make a public expression of our faith. In otherwords, it was an outward sign of God's grace. I recognised that from how I had been raised. The sacraments are an outward sign of God's grace, or so I was taught as a child. Protestantism is either semipelagian or it puts God into Calvin's absurd box.

[bebopblues]

@Pfsif how would you detect the holy spirit? by seeing people dance or speak in tongues? those are doctrine of devils.. and not biblical..

[reginaDexant]

On that great gettin' up morning, many are going to have to answer to an angry God. Many will say -Lord, I accepted you into my heart. I can almost see them trembling when they are confronted with:"Who are you O vain man to accept Me?" I am surprised at how many people actually think they did a weak and insipid god a favor by finally agreeing to let him in their life, only after the right words were said that tickled their fancy (ears). WE rejoice in that we are accepted in the beloved.