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Why Do an Altar Call?


Altar call is described as a religious method that helps a person to confess Christ publicly. The problem with this method is that altar call is not described in the bible. When three thousand people received Christ during Peter’s preaching, most likely no one came forward to confess Christ publicly (Acts 2:41). The confession was there, yet walking forward down the aisle was not there. These days, when an alter call takes place, music is plays in the background. Preacher might say a sad story followed with a tear. Some even have counselors walk forward to motivate others to do the same. Thus, altar call is a method that is not described in the Bible leading us to question if this method should be practiced in churches at all?    

Altar call began in the 1800’s. Preachers created a mourner’s bench as an area for people to walk forward when an altar call was called. The Methodist evangelists have invented this method, yet Charles Finney was the one who gave a title altar call to this method and became the face of this movement (Revival and Revivalism, 242). Usually, a call made at the end of the sermon to public asking people to come forward to pray and be prayed for. Well, famous preachers like Billy Graham used this method during his sermons. Dwight L. Moody also who adapted this practice in his ministry. Someone confronted Moody in his practice to which he replied, “I agree with you, brother. I don’t altogether like the method myself, and I am always looking for a better one. What is yours?” Even George Whitefield at the 1742 Cambuslang revival in Scotland preaching on Isaiah 54:5 and gave an altar call as he invited people forward to marry them to Christ as their husband. Altar call practiced widely in churches, even Mormons practice altar call.  

Altar calls had good motive by providing a sinner time and space to profess Christ publicly, but over the years, this method weakened Christianity in generally. Often someone who said: “I am a Christian” referred to a time when he responded to an alter call. People would write the date when they repented in their bible to say, "I am a Christian and here's the date."

 We should ask a question, what does the Bible teach us about public confession of faith? Public confession is done when someone baptized. “Baptism not only signifies a turning away from sin but also serves as a public affirmation of one’s identification and union with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection” (Matt 28:19). Another area how a believer publicly professes Christ is with his life. “You will now them by their fruits” (Mat 7:16). Public profession of faith does not alway mean that they are Christians. We see this with Jesus's proclaimed disciples. “Many of His disciples, when they heard this said, 'This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?'” (John 6:60). To which Christ said, “‘But there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him” (John 6:64). The fact that someone walked forward and prayed publicly does not mark him to be a Christian, what marks a Christian is how the person lives his life.

People can say: “we have alway done altar call in churches.” Defending something that bible does not support takes a person into a slippery slop. Christians have not used altar call for 1800 years. Calling someone to take a brave step and walk forward to pray, does not add to his salvation. Like I mentioned before, Mormons use this method. Some of the question should be asked when considering altar call: 
  • How practical is the altar call these days? 
  • What is the difference between Mormon’s and Christian’s altar call?
  • If an altar call become a foot in a door, what does it say about the persons faith? Is it genuine?   
  • Why many today equate “coming to faith” with the idea of “coming down the aisle," but what does the Bible say about coming to faith?  
  • Why is there a large number of people who are “converted” during altar call fall away later? 
  • Can altar call promote self assurance to an unbeliever?  
No-one is debating if a call needs to be made. The debate circles around how should the call be made? What method to use? To call someone to repentant is vitally important: Christ says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). In John 7:37, “Jesus stood and cried out, saying ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” A call should be made to the public to repent, but to ask them to walk forward to the aisle is not something that Bible asks them to do. That begs a question: why would someone defend a method that bible does not support? For over 1800 years a call was made to a sinner, people received Christ, the church grew in size, and there were no altar call. Why do it now?  


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