Are Altar Calls Biblical?

[Bosco]

For starters, how about that which is between the ears of most human beings?

Okay, go on.

Man's ability to think and reason has not been destroyed by the fall.

In things which require human reasoning and wisdom, sure, I agree.

Mankind is totally (radically if you prefer) depraved meaning that mankind left to his own free will, will always reject any revelation God has given of himself, and will choose to believe any and all other "truth" aside from THE truth that is able to make them wise unto salvation.

Despite the fact that mankind is willfully ignorant of the truth that is right before him, God still uses man's ability to think and rationalize and every example I have cited speaks of this. God has chosen the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. There are plenty of other scriptural examples of which one is pretty much begging and pleading with people to come to the knowledge of the truth. Such is very much a natural, human response and such is what drives and motivates the so-called "altar call" of which we are speaking! We can beg and plead with sinners to come to repentance and faith in Christ while also acknowledging that it is only through the POWER OF GOD that one turns from unbelief to belief and that it is God who actually grants us repentance and faith in order to believe.

So you believe God grants repentance and belief. So, if someone goes to an alter to say a sinners prayer, God will grant repentance and belief?
That is not backed by scripture.

There no examples in the scripture where Peter, Paul, or any other apostle or church leader has "every head bowed and every eye closed" while the song leader is leading the congregation through all 97 stanzas of "Just As I Am," "Lord I'm Coming Home," or "I Surrender All" but we certainly see the pain and anguish over those who are perishing!

Yes, we should have a heart for the lost absolutely.

The vast majority of those who call themselves "Calvinist" or "Reformed" agree with this including just about everyone here. Perhaps you are in the very small minority who holds to the view of "Equal Ultimacy" or perhaps that one should not evangelize at all? Sorry, but even John Calvin would reject such nonsense!

Are you putting me in the Calvinist category?

While not explicitly mentioned in scripture, altar calls, if done correctly, are not unscriptural.

Wait a minute now, They're not mentioned in scripture, but they are scriptural? I agree they are not mentioned explicitly, but neither are they implied when passages are kept in context.

We (including pretty much everyone on this forum who is NOT a Calvinist) soundly and adamantly reject the manipulative (and unscriptural) tactics that some often employ in order to coerce a "decision" out of somebody. If you would have taken the time to actually read through this thread, you would probably understand the absolute silliness of your argument!

Welcome to the forum btw.

Well, I do not believe my argument is silly, but hey, you're entitled to your beliefs as well.

Thank you for the welcome.

Blessings

 

[Baptist Renegade]

Persuading is one thing. Emotional manipulation is another.

Understood but I think our new friend is

So you believe God grants repentance and belief. So, if someone goes to an alter to say a sinners prayer, God will grant repentance and belief?
That is not backed by scripture.

Repentance and faith is followed up by some sort of response which acknowledges such. This is found all throughout the scriptures. I will not cite them but perhaps you should go back and do your homework?

And no, some magical "Sinner's Prayer" does not save anyone but the scriptures are quite clear that "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" so the fact that one may have "Prayed a sinner's prayer" may (or may not) be evident of the fact that "Faith has Happened."

Are you putting me in the Calvinist category?

You are the one questioning whether we have any sort of "ability" in which God may appeal to or reason with us. You tell me.

To be a Calvinist is not a bad thing so long as things are kept in line with the scriptures. It should be quite clear to you that my understanding of repentance and faith unto salvation is very much "Monergistic" rather than "Synergistic."

Wait a minute now, They're not mentioned in scripture, but they are scriptural? I agree they are not mentioned explicitly, but neither are they implied when passages are kept in context.

Something does not have to be explicitly stated in the scriptures in order to be "scriptural" (or biblical, or whatever terminology you may prefer). We do not play "jerk-a-verse" with the scriptures. The scriptures I previously cited provide ample grounding toPerhaps you are restorationist? A Church of Christ "Water Dog?" Either way, you seem rather contentious here.

 

[Bosco]

Repentance and faith is followed up by some sort of response which acknowledges such. This is found all throughout the scriptures. I will not cite them but perhaps you should go back and do your homework?

Perhaps you can point me to a passage that shows me a response as an example? If you can, of course.

 

[Bosco]

You are the one questioning whether we have any sort of "ability" in which God may appeal to or reason with us. You tell me.

Calvinism isn't the topic of this post, and should it matter?

To be a Calvinist is not a bad thing so long as things are kept in line with the scriptures. It should be quite clear to you that my understanding of repentance and faith unto salvation is very much "Monergistic" rather than "Synergistic."

I'm no one's judge, but since you made the comment, I see nothing that would suggest your salvational beliefs are monergistic.

 

[Bosco]

Something does not have to be explicitly stated in the scriptures in order to be "scriptural" (or biblical, or whatever terminology you may prefer). We do not play "jerk-a-verse" with the scriptures. The scriptures I previously cited provide ample grounding toPerhaps you are restorationist? A Church of Christ "Water Dog?" Either way, you seem rather contentious here.

Well, we were talking about alter call being scriptural. But go ahead, change the goal posts. I'm definitely not trying to start an argument.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Baptist Renegade]

Perhaps you can point me to a passage that shows me a response as an example? If you can, of course.

They are literally falling out of my hip pock but if you need help, start with the account of Zacchaeus.

Calvinism isn't the topic of this post, and should it matter?

You are the one speaking of our "ability" or lack thereof. If you were not speaking of Calvinism (Total Depravity specifically), what exactly was your point?

I'm no one's judge, but since you made the comment, I see nothing that would suggest your salvational beliefs are monergistic.

It is quite clear you know nothing at all about me and you are ill-equipped to discuss the topic anyway.

Actually, I took a deeper dive into this thread and realized it is much older than I had previously believed! I first chimed in here last year (2025) but the thread is actually coming up on being 12-years old and there have been more than a few "YA-HOOs" who have come and gone over the years including some clown by the name of 1689Dave who seems to be just about as sharp-witted as our new friend Bosco here as well as being similarly messed up in his so-called "Calvinistic" views here!

A few quick "Corrections" here if I may: Firstly, 1689Dave says that 1689 Baptists are the "Original Baptists" and this simply is not true. Those would be those holding to the ORIGINAL London Baptist Confession of 1644/1646. The 1689 folk got their Confession through a "Cut and Paste" of the Westminster Confession of Faith. Not to disparage the 1689 folk or anything as there are many a "Good People" in this group (both groups actually) and I doubt very seriously that any Reformed Baptist congregation would have 1689Dave around for any significant period of time before he as formally "churched" for some sort of infraction!

Secondly, 1689Dave erroneously stated that one must be "Born Again" in order to understand and receive the gospel message. I think we can say categorically that this IS NOT the Reformed Baptist position but it does seem to be the Primitive Baptist (uneducated, anti-creedal, anti-missional, hyper-Calvinist) position. Most Calvinists here would likely acknowledge the fact that we were, once upon a time, DEAD in our trespasses and sins but that God had "raised us to life (Eph 2:3-4), and that he likely did so through the "foolishness of preaching." Does not get any more monergistic (or biblical) than this!

Could 1689Dave and Bosco be the same person? It appears to me that both are equally contentious, both seem to have the same MO, and both seem to be in way over their heads! As for me, I am done with this matter! We have beaten this horse until it is six-feet under, eaten by worms, pushing up daisies DEAD! Just as I was before God raised me to life!