THERE ARE SIX DANGERS PORTENTAL IN ALTAR CALLS
1A DANGER 1: CAN GIVE PEOPLE A FALSE SENSE OF SALVATION
Individual can be easily lead to believe that their trip down the aisle during an altar call at a Billy Graham meeting is somehow equal to salvation. The public’s act of going forward can so be intertwine with genuine act of faith salvation that confession results. People began to believe that they are saved by this act rather than by Christ.
2A DANGER 2: CAN MAKE PEOPLE THINK THEY HAVE MERITED THEIR SALVATION
By a public act as a point of salvation can lead a person to think that they have done something to merit or get their salvation which compromises the doctrine of Grace.
3A DANGER 3: CAN LEAD TO AN OVER-EMPHASIS ON THINGS THAT DO NOT NECESSARILY SIGNIFY TRUE CONVERSION.
Altar calls can lead to an over statement of public responses, for the public decisions. But a public decision for Christ is not always a good way to judge, or a good indicator of true conversion. In fact, usually, it quite the opposite. History has repeated shown that public decisions have proven to be quite unreliable as barometer as a gauges of true salvation . And scriptures teach that the fruit of true conversion will only be evidence in the lives of a believer over time.
4A DANGER #4 CAN ECLIPSE THE REAL CAUSE OF CONVERSION
Altar calls can hide from view, cast a shadow on, eclipse the real cause of conversion. The real cause is not the decision or the appeal, or the walking of the aisle, nor even the sinners prayer, nor the felt emotion of the moment as the emotional music is softly played in the background. True Conversion is cause by the Holy Spirit who draws some to believe as the gospel is proclaimed, and that will happen where are or not an altar call is giving. Repeat that.
5A DANGER 5 GIVES SOME CHURCHES FALSE CONFIDENCE BY MAKING THEM THINK THEY ARE INDEED EVANGELIZING
Some churches think that they are evangelist merle because they use altar calls. But in reality many churches are slow brought into evangelistic passativity where their only attempts are at the altar calls. (I remember Dr. Barber saying back in 1966, “You get them here and I will get them saved at the altar.”) Be the church or the individual, some began to believe its at the altar call at the end of the service. Which in many cases the services are so diluted with the presentation of the gospel, so unbiblical in their presentation of the whole gospel that they are consistence fruitless, regardly of how many come forward and appear to respond to receive Christ.
6A DANGER # 6HISTORY SHOWS ALTAR CALLS PROVE TO SHOW CONSIDERABLE MISCHIELF
The historical record will show altar calls have proved to show considerable mischief. Which was predicted by the Methodic when altar calls first was introduced in the early 1800.s. And have proven to be very correct in their first judgment of that. Gospel presentation have grown increasing diluted, much shorter and incomplete. False conversion has become at an huge rate in the modern church. And God truth and way have been hidden as a result. A countless thousands have been and continue to be lead into an emotional response without a clear understanding of what they are responding to. As a result false conversions have abounded.
I really hope this makes sense to you, while I am not anti altar calls, per say, anti churches that use altar calls the right way. The simple fact of the matter is some churches believe they are evangelist by using the altar calls. But in reality they are not at all. If that is the only time you believe a person can be saved is at an altar then that is wrong too. If you are saying “Well no one is getting saved in our church,” then you have fallen into the lull of believing that the church service is the only place a person can be saved.
I am quoting a comment made by this video:
· It is amazing that you think your understanding about altar call and the doctrine of salvation is THE TRUTH. It is unfortunate that brethren like you are out there to attack the move of the God you are supposed to be working for, God have mercy. I have used alter calls based on the Bible and have seen fatastic real, and lasting decisions for Christ followed by a godly life style.
