The Pastor's Heart and The Altar Call

I grew up in a church culture where "altar calls" were (and are) a given. I can recall being in church as a youngster, experiencing the conundrum of wanting the sermon to end, and dreading that very end because of the emotional torment of being invited to the "alter" to "give my life to Jesus". Often times I was encouraged and sometimes, I was literally dragged, by the arm, out of my seat, to the front of the church by some elderly congregant; probably with the purest of intentions. I can date my own conversion, to a day in March, ten years ago, in my bedroom on a Sunday after church. And calling my best friend Collin to tell him the good news. Collin (a strong Christian) before my conversion, welcomed me to share in his life and modeled for me , biblical manhood (before I knew what that was), true friendship, and the joy of being a child of God. Needless to say his influence in my life, will echo throughout eternity; and he occupies a special place in my heart, always. 

My conversion did not come at an "altar", nor did any Christian's; however there are many, true Christians, whose recount of their conversion will include an "altar call." The difficulty that occurs for most these Christians which lies within the practice of "altar calls" is the confusion of what their feet did in the "act of coming forward" and what constitutes true biblical conversion, that being, the gospel, repentance and faith. Here is a helpful list by pastor Ryan Kelly, (a re-post by Thabiti Anyabwile), that has assisted me in thinking through the methodology.

1. The altar call is simply and completely absent from the pages of the N.T.

2. The altar call is historically absent until the 19th century, and its use at that time (via Charles Finney) was directly based upon bad theology and a man-centered, manipulative methodology.

3. The altar call very easily confuses the physical act of “coming forward” with the spiritual act of “coming to Christ.” These two can happen simultaneously, but too often people believe that coming to Christ is going forward (and vice-versa).

4. The altar call can easily deceive people about the reality of their spiritual state and the biblical basis for assurance. The Bible never offers us assurance on the ground that we “went forward.”

5. The altar call partially replaces baptism as the means of public profession of faith.

6. The altar call can mislead us to think that salvation (or any official response to God’s Word) happens primarily on Sundays, only at the end of the service, and only “up front.”

7. The altar call can confuse people regarding “sacred” things and “sacred” places, as the name “altar call” suggests.

8. The altar call is not sensitive to our cautious and relational age where most people come to faith over a period of time and often with the interaction of a good friend.

9. The altar call is often seen as “the most important part of the service”, and this de-emphasizes the truly more important parts of corporate worship which God has prescribed (preaching, prayer, fellowship, singing).

10. God is glorified to powerfully bless the things He has prescribed (preaching, prayer, fellowship, singing), not the things we have invented. We should always be leery of adding to God’s prescriptions for His corporate worship.

11. (provided by Thabiti) The “altar call” teaches the congregation to evaluate the “success” or “effectiveness” of the ministry on outward, visible actions and results.

It isn't lost to me that even with this compelling list (especially 1,2,3,4,5 and 11), there will be those, pastors included, that will interject and/or seek to justify a stance on the use of "altar calls", which is telling. So please allow me to probe into, and comment on the objection most posited:

Question: What if we make an exaggerated effort to preach the gospel clearly and fully, also making it clear that "coming forward" doesn't save you? Would it be so wrong to do an alter calls then?

Response: Well, it isn't a sin (which is debatable); as much as sticking my hand in fire isn't, but we can all agree, it isn't wise. If you understand biblical conversion, why implement a non-biblical method that is at the forefront of the leading causes of "false conversions?" Whats more, why be unfaithful to the scriptures and your calling, and place the very people you seek to save in danger of being falsely assured?

There are a few reasons we can point to, for one seeking to fall on his/her sword in defense of this methodology, numbers, impatience, wavering trust in God's promises, all of which can directly feed self-sufficiency/pride. In a lot of our churches today, there lies an insatiable need to see quick, tangible, quantitative results, which subsequently steers the preaching and the proceedings of our church gatherings. This usually follows, again, well placed intentions - wanting to see individuals saved, and not wanting an opportunity to be missed. Something any Christian with a beating heart wants for the unsaved.

For some pastors it is the ever present temptation of coveting the numbers and perceived success of another; which adds another disposition to be on the lookout for, contentment (or lack thereof). Whichever the vice, "altar calls" signal the unwise trade of quality for quantity. Well intentions notwithstanding, the reason(s) for, buckle and break under the evidences not to. Imperceptibly though it may often be, subsequently the pastor (and  his flock's) validation and success (especially on a Sunday) will be encompassed, not in biblical faithfulness and the fruit produced in the sheep, but the numbers that will approach the front of the church when called. It is not only untrustworthy, it's dangerous. I like the way Thabiti Anyabwile says it here:

"Further, the need to be pastorally careful and sensitive with the souls of men needing to repent and believe couldn’t be more urgent. So, anything that obscures the reality of God the Holy Spirit’s work in conversion and the necessity of repentance and faith must be regarded–at best–a practice with potential to undermine the very work we’re giving our lives to."

For a practical way of connecting and following up with visitors to your church, I like Thabiti Anyabwile's and the saints at First Baptist Grand Cayman's approach:

"Do people “respond” to the word of God at our services? They do. And we give them a number of ways they may follow up on what they’ve heard, from talking to an elder or Christian friend after the service, to scheduling an appointment during the week, to letting us know they would like us to visit with them, and so on. One thing I appreciate about our approach is that it allows us to meet, listen, question, encourage, teach and pray in a much more thorough way. By God’s grace we’re seeing people converted and profess their faith in baptism as the Spirit opens their hearts. We’re not perfect by any means. But I do hope we’re being faithful to the scripture’s commands, examples, and restrictions."

My encouragement to pastors is to preach the word faithfully and leave the results to God. I pray that pastors would place their joy of service firmly in the faithfulness God requires of them, and not any acclaim or notoriety that maybe gained as a result of padded stats. Also I hope for a renewed and clear view of biblical conversion, and a unwavering trust in God to accomplish what he promised through the preaching of the gospel, the salvation of his people. Resist peeking behind God's back to see what he is doing secretly. Preach for results (spiritual fruit); not for reactions.

Your brother from the pew; grace and peace!