In this post, as always, I'm just going to give my experience and opinion. My experience is not necessarily truth, and I'm sure many people have had a much different experience with "altar calls" than I have. However, I am also just as certain that many other people have had my same experience (or at least a similar one) with "altar calls," so I'm really writing to them as my primary audience. Feel free to ignore this post if you don't fit in that audience.
The term "Altar Call" really first began to gain popularity in 1830s. So it's a fairly recent invention. But it's become an irremovable tradition in many church institutions today. It's been known by many different names. In his anti-revivalist tract (1843), theologian John Williamson Nevin called it the "anxious bench." It's also been known to some as "hitting the sawdust trail." Charles Finney is credited with inventing "the anxious seat," but his design has changed slightly throughout the years. Urging the non-christian audience of a sermon to "respond" is a tactic that's been employed by pastors such as Billy Graham and George Whitefield. But the "Altar Call" is really the result of some nineteenth-century preachers wanting a way to tell how many "conversions" they got. In my opinion, the result of this insecurity has lead to the hurt of many hearts and emotions.
Let me explain:
The first step is that a pastor feels a great drive to save people and introduce them to Jesus. Which of course, is a noble desire. But sometimes that noble desire can become so strong, that the pastor begins using incorrect methods to get people to come to Jesus. The "Altar Call" is one of these methods. The Altar Call is the breeding ground of fear, guilt, and emotional manipulation. Especially to the members of the audience who already love Jesus! The soft-hearted 11-year-old boys and girls go through AGONY every time the pastor asks, "Are you 100% sure you're saved? Are you going to heaven?" When lovers of Jesus hear this, doubt can become sewn into their hearts. They can become terrified and wonder if they are truly saved. Fear should never be used to bring people to Jesus. It's downright cruel to use such a tool. We shouldn't use whatever means we want to bring people to Jesus, even though our end goal IS to get them to Jesus. The end does NOT justify the means used to get there. And yet, we use cruel tools to "convert" people anyway. Why? Because it outwardly works. Fear, guilt, and emotional manipulation can be used to control people very effectively. These tools can drag people up to the alter using pain and pull a "sinner's prayer" from their lips...But these tools cannot make people love God in their hearts. If you want to change people's hearts, if you want to draw them to Jesus, show them his unimaginable kindness and love.
You might be thinking, "But Seth, what about the Great Awakening? Isn't it good to try and convince people of the seriousness of hell and urge them to Jesus?" Good question. I believe much good came from the Great Awakening and the preachers of that period...But I don't believe they used the correct tools. God can always use the incorrect actions of preachers to accomplish good, but that doesn't mean the tools that those preachers used were good.
You also might be thinking, "But Seth, lost souls should have opportunity to respond and come to Jesus! If it weren't for alter calls, how would they get a chance?" Good question. Let me ask you one. Why doesn't the pastor just tell the people that if they wish to be "saved," they can see him after service and he would love to pray with them one-on-one? That would work fine! Instead of asking people if they're going to hell while sad music plays in the background, why don't we just tell them we're always available to pray with them if they want to know Jesus?
The term "Altar Call" really first began to gain popularity in 1830s. So it's a fairly recent invention. But it's become an irremovable tradition in many church institutions today. It's been known by many different names. In his anti-revivalist tract (1843), theologian John Williamson Nevin called it the "anxious bench." It's also been known to some as "hitting the sawdust trail." Charles Finney is credited with inventing "the anxious seat," but his design has changed slightly throughout the years. Urging the non-christian audience of a sermon to "respond" is a tactic that's been employed by pastors such as Billy Graham and George Whitefield. But the "Altar Call" is really the result of some nineteenth-century preachers wanting a way to tell how many "conversions" they got. In my opinion, the result of this insecurity has lead to the hurt of many hearts and emotions.
Let me explain:
The first step is that a pastor feels a great drive to save people and introduce them to Jesus. Which of course, is a noble desire. But sometimes that noble desire can become so strong, that the pastor begins using incorrect methods to get people to come to Jesus. The "Altar Call" is one of these methods. The Altar Call is the breeding ground of fear, guilt, and emotional manipulation. Especially to the members of the audience who already love Jesus! The soft-hearted 11-year-old boys and girls go through AGONY every time the pastor asks, "Are you 100% sure you're saved? Are you going to heaven?" When lovers of Jesus hear this, doubt can become sewn into their hearts. They can become terrified and wonder if they are truly saved. Fear should never be used to bring people to Jesus. It's downright cruel to use such a tool. We shouldn't use whatever means we want to bring people to Jesus, even though our end goal IS to get them to Jesus. The end does NOT justify the means used to get there. And yet, we use cruel tools to "convert" people anyway. Why? Because it outwardly works. Fear, guilt, and emotional manipulation can be used to control people very effectively. These tools can drag people up to the alter using pain and pull a "sinner's prayer" from their lips...But these tools cannot make people love God in their hearts. If you want to change people's hearts, if you want to draw them to Jesus, show them his unimaginable kindness and love.
You might be thinking, "But Seth, what about the Great Awakening? Isn't it good to try and convince people of the seriousness of hell and urge them to Jesus?" Good question. I believe much good came from the Great Awakening and the preachers of that period...But I don't believe they used the correct tools. God can always use the incorrect actions of preachers to accomplish good, but that doesn't mean the tools that those preachers used were good.
You also might be thinking, "But Seth, lost souls should have opportunity to respond and come to Jesus! If it weren't for alter calls, how would they get a chance?" Good question. Let me ask you one. Why doesn't the pastor just tell the people that if they wish to be "saved," they can see him after service and he would love to pray with them one-on-one? That would work fine! Instead of asking people if they're going to hell while sad music plays in the background, why don't we just tell them we're always available to pray with them if they want to know Jesus?
EXCELLENT!
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