Members Thief on the Cross Posted August 16, 2018 Members Share Posted August 16, 2018 What is the significance of praying at the Altar? This is widely practiced at my church and those we fellowship with. This is one of the things that was completely foreign to me. Is there a biblical reason for doing this? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Popular Post No Nicolaitans Posted August 18, 2018 Members Popular Post Share Posted August 18, 2018 Hi Thief on the Cross. I will give you my view on it; others' views may differ. On 8/16/2018 at 7:18 PM, Thief on the Cross said: What is the significance of praying at the Altar? First, I'm not sure how the area (that you're referring to) became known as "the altar". At one time, it was called things like "the mourner's bench". Charles Finney called it "the anxious bench". Those latter two names will give you the significance of it. Basically, the idea and purpose for it is that it gives a person (who may be under conviction) the opportunity to respond to that conviction at the earliest possible moment after hearing the word of God preached. The idea being, that if a person possibly waits, they may (or may not) make a decision in response to God's word. On 8/16/2018 at 7:18 PM, Thief on the Cross said: Is there a biblical reason for doing this? That's a good question. I personally believe that to call that area "the altar" isn't really in keeping with the biblical use of the term. The altar was the place (in the Old Testament) where animals were sacrificed and slain. There was also the altar of incense. Various people also built altars in the Old Testament prior to the institution of the law. I don't recall if any of those altars were used for anything other than sacrificing animals. They may have been; I just don't recall right now. In the New Testament (aside from the four gospels), the only altars that are mentioned which aren't for Israel's sacrificing of animals are... 1. An altar to false gods in Acts 17. 2. An altar mentioned in Hebrews 13 that belongs to "us". I think most people would say that this altar is the cross of Christ since that is where he was slain. 3. The altar of God in heaven in Revelation. Now aside from that, is there a biblical reason for doing this? I would say that's up to the individual church... My reasons in favor of it: 1. When the people heard the word of the Lord read in Nehemiah 8, they immediately acted upon it. 2. When the keeper of the prison asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved, he was told and immediately acted upon it. Now, it must be understood that in those two examples, there wasn't "an altar" (as we're referring to). They heard the word of God and immediately acted on it. So, people can still act on what they've heard from God's word without an "altar". My main reason for using those examples is that it (the altar call) gives people the opportunity to act immediately after hearing the word of God. However, the actual "acting on God's word" takes place in our daily lives. My reasons against it... There is nothing in the bible (that I know of) to describe what we know as today's altar call. At the same time, there is nothing in God's word describing a Sunday School, Church Choirs, Assistant Pastors, etc. There are many things done today that fall under what I would call "Christian Liberty". There may not be anything expressly supporting them in scripture; however, there isn't anything expressly forbidding them either. So churches are at liberty to use them. My concern (apart from the name itself) is that "the altar call" has become more than it was intended to be. Some use that time to pressure people. Some use it as a way of measuring a successful sermon. Some use it as a way to compare themselves with other churches. I want to stress "some"...not all! Now keep in mind, these are my thoughts on it. Others may disagree. In fact, if anyone knows that I'm mistaken in any part of this, I would hope they would point that out to me so that I can make it right. Invicta, Thief on the Cross, Pastor Scott Markle and 5 others 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pastor Scott Markle Posted August 18, 2018 Members Share Posted August 18, 2018 Brother McWhorter, The "mourner's bench"- "anxious bench" had a bit deeper history and meaning (especially for more Calvinistic system's of belief). However, overall your answer was quite solid; and I can stand in overall agreement. Thief on the Cross, OFIB Preacher and No Nicolaitans 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members No Nicolaitans Posted August 18, 2018 Members Share Posted August 18, 2018 37 minutes ago, Pastor Scott Markle said: Brother McWhorter, The "mourner's bench"- "anxious bench" had a bit deeper history and meaning (especially for more Calvinistic system's of belief). However, overall your answer was quite solid; and I can stand in overall agreement. Thank you Bro. Scott. I will look more in-depth into Finney's "anxious bench" since he was/is considered somewhat the antithesis of Calvinism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Invicta Posted October 28, 2018 Members Share Posted October 28, 2018 Alttars in churches are an invention of the Catholics. THey are usually on the east as when you bow to them you are honouring the sun god, Baal. They also have relics in them so you are also honouring the relic, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Salyan Posted October 29, 2018 Moderators Share Posted October 29, 2018 17 hours ago, Invicta said: Alttars in churches are an invention of the Catholics. THey are usually on the east as when you bow to them you are honouring the sun god, Baal. They also have relics in them so you are also honouring the relic, North American churches would be unlikely to have relics, unless they're actually Catholic. But after visiting Anglican churches in England, I see exactly what you mean! There is a level of ceremony and false religion that is unmatched by anything I've seen in Canada outside Catholic buildings. I was particularly surprised by the ubiquitous shrine/chapel to Mary - never realized how tied they were to that old goddess worship! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaveW Posted October 29, 2018 Members Share Posted October 29, 2018 The altar in IB churches is a totally different thing to Catholic church altars, as I think most of understand (not all apparently....). There are two streams of Anglican churches - the High Anglican Church is Catholic without the Pope - as you described; the other stream is sometimes called the low Anglican church, most often known as evangelical Anglican - they are closer to us in general form, not as ritualistic as High Anglican/Catholic. Some of them even preach the Gospel. But in general they hold to the same basic doctrines as the high Anglican - in other words, false doctrines. Pastor Scott Markle and OFIB Preacher 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Invicta Posted October 29, 2018 Members Share Posted October 29, 2018 12 hours ago, DaveW said: The altar in IB churches is a totally different thing to Catholic church altars, as I think most of understand (not all apparently....). I don't know of any Independent Baptist church here that has an altar. Or for that matter of any Independant Evangelical church that does, The Anglican Church did away with altars at the reformation,and replaced it with a simple table for communion, but they began to be reintroduced by Archbishop Laud, at the time of King Charles 1st. Altars are for offering sacrifices, which is why the RCs have to have altars for their "unbloody sacrifice." A baptsit minister who used to preach at my church, has a son who is a minister of an Anglican church. He acts independantly and only baptises believers by immersion. He will not "baptise" babies but cannot baptise any who were "Christened" as babies, as that would end his ministry. Instead he arranged to have them baptised at the local baptist church. The Bishop asked him to take over another church and offered help, but he said he would take over the church but would use his own men. While I see that being and Anglican Church may bring under the gospel those who would not go to a non Anglican church, I cannot see how he can opperate under the Authority of a Bishop who wears the mitre of Dagon and carries the crook of Osiiris. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaveW Posted October 29, 2018 Members Share Posted October 29, 2018 As I said: 17 hours ago, DaveW said: The altar in IB churches is a totally different thing to Catholic church altars, as I think most of understand (not all apparently....). OFIB Preacher 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators HappyChristian Posted October 29, 2018 Administrators Share Posted October 29, 2018 IB churches that give "altar calls" are using the words symbolically, Invicta, not literally. We do not call it that, my husband simply opens up a time for anyone who wishes to come to pray (and be prayed with, if desired). Romans 12:1 tells us to present ourselves a living sacrifice. Sacrifices were done on an altar. In all likelihood, that is at least partially where the idea came from - morphed from mourner's bench/anxious bench to altar call. It's simply an invitation to come and immediately deal with whatever the Lord is dealing with someone about, whatever it might be called. Sadly, as has been mentioned, there are abuses of it. And there is no unwritten (or written, LOL) rule that a church must have one. No Nic has expressed it well - @No Nicolaitans, hubs and I would agree with you. There are Baptist churches that do not give any kind of invitation, regardless of name, because they believe it contradicts the gospel of graces, particularly that of total depravity/inability. OFIB Preacher 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members John Young Posted October 30, 2018 Members Share Posted October 30, 2018 Because of our small size we do not have an "alter call" but I do say to get a hold of me after the service if they need to be dealt with on a matter. While there are abuses and misunderstandings of its purpose (as with anything) its actually not a bad practice. An alter is basically a place where you give something over to the LORD. The Levitical sacrifices for example were about: 1. Giving your whole life to God or dedicating yourself to a specific purpose (burnt offering) 2. Giving your tithes or first fruits (Meat offering) 3. Making peace with God on an issue (peace offering) 4. Giving over a sin to God and asking forgiveness for committing it (Sin offering) 5. Asking forgiveness for not reverencing something holy or for treating a holy thing in a common way (trespass offering). All of these are now dealt with at or around the "Lord's table" instead of an actual alter. OFIB Preacher and HappyChristian 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaveW Posted October 30, 2018 Members Share Posted October 30, 2018 We call it an invitation, but it is not every week. One thing has always bugged me is when the invitation goes on and on and you eventually get the feeling that someone has gone forward just to satisfy the preacher. Make a call to invitation, if no one comes forward, close it. But allow the Lord to lead you - if you really feel as though the Lord would have you continue, then do so. OFIB Preacher and HappyChristian 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators HappyChristian Posted October 30, 2018 Administrators Share Posted October 30, 2018 7 hours ago, DaveW said: We call it an invitation, but it is not every week. One thing has always bugged me is when the invitation goes on and on and you eventually get the feeling that someone has gone forward just to satisfy the preacher. Make a call to invitation, if no one comes forward, close it. But allow the Lord to lead you - if you really feel as though the Lord would have you continue, then do so. Hubs actually gives an invitation every week, but he keeps it short. We sing two verses and if nobody comes we're done. He has us sing more if someone does come (unless it's someone that is taken in the office to pray with). My parents had a pastor for a time who was a good man, loved the Lord. But his invitations were horribly long. My dad would joke that the preacher "preached them into it and then preached them out of it." But there was some seriousness in that joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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