Altar Call

The sermon and worship service is meant to lift up Jesus. He said that if he is lifted up he will draw all people to himself. We need to allow his voice to speak to us this day as he did to his first disciples:

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  (John 7:37-38)

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  (Matthew 11:28-30)

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  (Matthew 16:24)

An altar call is not a plea for offerings. It is not about creating a climate in which listeners are made to feel guilty or embarrassed if they do not come forward to the altar. It is not a TV infomercial. In other words, an altar call is not about the manipulation of human emotions. The Holy Spirit is the One who convicts the heart of people of their sins. We must not interfere with what the Spirit is doing with our own agenda.

Good preaching is about allowing Jesus to speak through the sermon. This will happen with the help of the Holy Spirit when prayer is mixed with study. Provisions must be made to allow members of the congregation to hear and respond. An immediate call to the altar after the sermon is often a mistake (unless it is clear that the Holy Spirit is requiring it). Time for reflection and prayer, in most cases, will prove very beneficial. An “invitation hymn” may also complement the post-sermon response.

Some may believe that the liturgy will interfere with an altar call. A good liturgy will actually help facilitate an altar call. In many liturgical churches preparation to receive Holy Communion is built into the service. We are asked to examine ourselves. A time for confessional prayer is usually offered. For many, the receiving of Holy Communion is the altar call. (See Eucharistic Preaching.)

Liturgical churches, however, often fail to understand the individual needs and concerns that often arise among church attendees. Some may be unfamiliar with Communion and wonder if they should be taking it. Others realize that they are not prepared to receive Communion but may desire another ministry. They may want healing prayers or possibly even prayers of deliverance. (Yes, liturgical churches may also be Pentecostal.) With proper preparation and an adequate number of trained ministers, all these diverse needs may still be met within the context of the Eucharist or Communion. In fact, Holy Communion is an ideal setting for receiving God’s healing and experiencing His presence. (See Healing Ministry.)

As mentioned in Intercessor Prayer, prayer warriors should be assigned to cover the whole worship service. Specialized prayer teams are also desirous. These teams may be stationed near the altar to assist those with special prayer needs but not in such a way that they would interfere with others receiving Communion. Rather, they need to be prepared to escort those who may be seeking individual prayer and counseling to a more private and predetermined location.

Bodies on the floor are not necessarily a sign of an effective altar call. This may happen in some cases, but it should not be a goal to see how many people will fall, The Holy Spirit is not a spirit of chaos and confusion. Other spirits besides the Holy Spirit can produce signs and wonders. A dead giveaway: when satan causes the fall there are absolutely no healings involved.

The altar call should be a welcoming invitation. Jesus said He came to seek and save those who are lost. We do not want to interfere with the call of Christ to His disciples or limit the work of the Holy Spirit. But if we are more concerned about satisfying our own selfish needs through the altar call, we may open the door to the enemy.

Some people may not be ready to come to the altar. They may not understand. They may need more time for reflection. That is alright. Let us be sure to make them feel welcome in the church. A home visitation ministry is very helpful. A committee may be set up to visit attendants at home. This can be done by mature, committed,  Christians who are sensitive to the needs of others, This is not just the ministry of the clergy.