Altar Call

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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on March 3, 2010 at 1:07am

Are altar calls supported by Scripture?

No, the practice is fairly new. Is scripture against the practice. Nope, so scripture is silent. Does the church have authority to implement Godly practices according/tactics to reach the lost? IMO – Yes!

Are altar calls a good thing or bad thing? Explain.

I have often thought about your questions before LT, but only in the sense that I often wonder how many of those coming forward really had a contrite heart, especially since the preachers at times did not do a great job calling the people to REPENT, but primarily to believe and confess. Having said that though, i do realized that the work of salvation is God's work.

I have spend a few hours researching the topic and have meditated on the pros and cons of the practice. There are tons of articles about the practice, but I have decided to go with my personal empirical evidence (which I seldom do, I much rather go with historically sound practices) for now to answer your questions, as sister Theresa has done.

I believe the practice if a fine tool when we call the hearers to Repentance and to believe in and confess Christ.

What has been your experience?

I have seen people’s lives change through the experience of altar calls. I myself came to the Knowledge of Christ while incarcerated in solitary confinement, without anyone preaching to me. The Spirit kept tugging at my heart to make a public confession as soon as possible, so when I had a chance to go to Chapel services I did and made a public confession of my faith. I don’t remember the date I accepted Christ on my cell, but I have never forgotten October 19, 1994 at Approximately 2:00pm. The day I publically repented and confess Christ as my Lord. I have known that I was saved from the time I confessed the Lord in private, but the Spirit kept telling me to do it in public. No my experiance is not something i use to make doctrines or practices, but the bible does tell us to confess Christ before men and i know the context is not specifically to when one is born again, but....

So that leads me to believe that the altar call, when done appropriately (that being the key word – appropriately) is fine.


I found this and liked it: by Fred G. Zaspel

John Wesley was a champion of a brand of theology which in our day promotes the invitation system. Such was unheard of in his day, of course, but it would be a fair guess to say that if Wesley were with us today, he would employ the newer methods. His later followers did and still do. At any rate, it is instructive to see how Wesley himself handled the question. He had no such modern convenience to provide any immediate tally of converts. He records in his Journal how he thought about the matter.

Preached at (such and such a place). Many seemed deeply affected. But God alone knows how deeply.
Whatever we may think of Wesley's theology generally, at this point his thinking was exactly Biblical. His concern was for God to do the work of regeneration. We do the preaching. In fact, we do the pleading. But then we are done. God alone knows the heart, and He is well able to take His Word and affect men deeply with it even long hours or days or perhaps years after the sermon is over. If they will be saved, it will be by looking to Christ whether or not there is an aisle in front of them when they do.

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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on October 26, 2010 at 12:41am

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Gardener on October 26, 2010 at 1:01am

Watched this the other day - very good! Yes 25 years ago He called (drew unto Himself) and I answered and today He still captivates me as He did back then:


I am as a moth to a flame Jesus!

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Permalink Reply by delores kay napier on October 26, 2010 at 2:53pm

love Paul Washers preaching & teachings. Honest & truthful.

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