Don’t Alter the Altar Calls

A practice done in many churches is the altar call. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines that as, “an appeal by an evangelist to worshippers to come forward to signify their decision to commit their lives to Christ.” Years ago, multitudes walked down “the sawdust trail” in tent meetings. Billy Graham encouraged sinners to get out of their seats during his crusades held in stadiums.

One church I attended regularly changed their altar calls. They used to invite people to come forward for salvation before the close of every service. Now they usually have altar workers talk with individuals after the congregation has been formally dismissed. I didn’t agree with this change, but what the pastor does is between him and the Lord.


I believe it’s important to have altar calls during services where sinners are likely present. In her personal testimony, Joyce Meyer talked about going to a church with relatives when she was nine years old. The pastor normally had altar calls but not that particular night. Joyce then approached him with tears in her eyes and asked, “Can you save me?” The pastor felt convicted and led Joyce to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.


Some question the frequency of altar calls. Once I read this quote from Leonard Ravenhill:


“[Charles] Finney never made an altar call within the first twenty eight nights of preaching...He didn’t preach the love of God. He didn’t say ‘you’re a sinner, God loves you.’ He said ‘God is angry with the wicked every day’ (Psalm 7:11)...He didn’t preach grace, he preached Law. He didn’t preach love, he preached judgment. He didn’t preach heaven, he preached hell. He didn’t say ‘you’re a wonderful person' he said ‘you’re a rebel.’ But he got results: 64% of D. L. Moody's converts backslid, 72% of the Finney’s converts remained faithful, because he knew how to attack the human will, not just the emotions.”


Perhaps Ravenhill wasn’t aware of a tragic incident that happened in Chicago on Sunday, October 8, 1871. Moody preached to his largest congregation ever but didn’t have an altar call. That same night, the Great Chicago Fire broke out killing hundreds that included people who went to his church. To his dying day, Moody deeply regretted he had told that congregation to come next Sunday and decide what to do with Jesus.


Steve Hill (who was mentored by Leonard Ravenhill) had altar calls every night at the Brownsville Revival. Multitudes of sinners and backsliders came forward and got down on their knees. The late evangelist sometimes extended an altar call if he perceived there was still one person left that needed to get right with God.


At Calvary Campground, altar calls for salvation are rarely done since almost all the people in attendance are believers. Their altars are mostly for individuals to wait on the Lord and receive prophetic ministry. Another dictionary defines altar as “a table or flat-topped block used as the focus for a religious ritual, especially for making sacrifices or offerings to a deity.” I’ve heard of ministers having altars in their home. Supernatural things happen when we prostrate ourselves to Him.


A bride walks down the aisle to her groom waiting at the altar when getting married. It’s similar when someone becomes part of the bride of Christ. If you haven’t done so yet, I urge you to make Jesus your Lord and Savior right now. You don’t have to wait until you go into a church. Even a chair or a couch in your home can become an altar. 


“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth” - Philippians 2:10

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