My OperaAltar Calls and Revival
Sunday, October 29, 2006 1:56:36 PM
Well, unlike some of my reformed brethren, I don't really have a problem with
altar calls per se. I believe that the gospel must be forcefully and
forthrightly proclaimed, and that the need for a response on the part of the
hearer should be clearly made.
Altar calls resulted from the 19th century itinerant evangelists, and particular
the work of Charles Finney. The reason many reformed Christians don't like
altar calls is that it often occurs in the context of churches which maximize
the idea of Free Will. Even some Arminians don't like the practice, because,
although they don't have a problem with free will, they do have a problem with
human psychological pressure being brought to bear, and would prefer to leave
more room for the Spirit to work. Finney's evangelism, on the other hand,
maximized the human element in preaching...
I wouldn't say that the altar call was invented by those who spurned the
sacraments, but certainly a deficient theology of the sacraments lends itself to
the need for substitutes. If we understand the sacraments, and particularly
the Lord's Supper, correctly, as covenant initiation and renewal, and as bearing
the real spiritual presence of the Lord, the Word made visible and tangible,
then there is no real need for revival services.
altar calls per se. I believe that the gospel must be forcefully and
forthrightly proclaimed, and that the need for a response on the part of the
hearer should be clearly made.
Altar calls resulted from the 19th century itinerant evangelists, and particular
the work of Charles Finney. The reason many reformed Christians don't like
altar calls is that it often occurs in the context of churches which maximize
the idea of Free Will. Even some Arminians don't like the practice, because,
although they don't have a problem with free will, they do have a problem with
human psychological pressure being brought to bear, and would prefer to leave
more room for the Spirit to work. Finney's evangelism, on the other hand,
maximized the human element in preaching...
I wouldn't say that the altar call was invented by those who spurned the
sacraments, but certainly a deficient theology of the sacraments lends itself to
the need for substitutes. If we understand the sacraments, and particularly
the Lord's Supper, correctly, as covenant initiation and renewal, and as bearing
the real spiritual presence of the Lord, the Word made visible and tangible,
then there is no real need for revival services.
