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Originally Posted by Soli Deo Gloria  I am currently pastoring my first church, a Southern Baptist Church, in which the altar call has always been present. I have been at this church for a little over a year now and have not sought to rock the boat with regards to the altar call. I am well aware of how the altar call is viewed by many Southern Baptists.
However, in my studies, I am more and more convinced that the altar call is unnecessary and can even cause problems. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how I could seek to lead my congregation away from this practice? |
Reforming a church does not happen overnight, and ceasing the "Baptist sacrament" of the altar call or invitation will lead to a church split or your exit, I'm afraid.
Still, it is an unbiblical practice, being in existence for only a couple hundred years, less than that among Baptists. Teach your people, be faithful to the Scriptures week in an week out, and be patient.
That said, our church (SBC and reformed) does not have a public invitation at the end of the service. I close the sermon, pray, and we sing our final hymn, not an invitation hymn. Before the church called me, I outlined my position on public invitations, so it hasn't been that much of an issue. Even then, some folks weren't crazy about it.
As you are teaching your people and this issue arises, someone will protest, asking, "Don't you care about people coming to Christ?" A good response is, "
Because I care about people coming to Christ, I think the altar call confuses people about what it means to come to Christ." For many, the emotional release in stepping out and "going forward" makes them think that something spiritual has taken place. "Coming forward" is equated with coming to Christ.
Again, be very patient, and take courage. If yours is an all-too-typical SBC church, you have bigger fish to fry. A decisionistic gospel has helped put multitudes of the unregenerate on our church rolls. The typical church only has about a third of its members attend worship on the Lord's Day. Trust God to change hearts as you faithfully teach his word.
Blessings,
Bill