You don't know where people are called to a response to come to Christ in Scripture? You don't see where human instrumentality is used of God to lead others to Himself in Scripture? Are you looking for a verse that uses the term "altar call"?
Can't recognize it yet.
You don't recognize the ordinarily ordained role(s) of human instrumentality that God uses in His agency to bring a soul to Himself?
Nothing approaching the typical altar call. I see it as a strange fire if anything.
America is a wonderful place. You are welcome to have opinions that are jaded, biased, incomplete, and overgeneralized, especially on the internet, and still most social media platforms won't ban you for holding to them.
Later Dave. I've heard too many testimonies where a guy will say something like "I went forward on such and such a date at such and such a time and accepted Jesus as my personal savior". This is essentially the same as the Roman salvation sacraments that turn your trust towards your works instead of Christ.America is a wonderful place. You are welcome to have opinions that are jaded, biased, incomplete, and overgeneralized, especially on the internet, and still most social media platforms won't ban you for holding to them.
Scripture also does not mention air conditioning or KJV pew Bibles but most IFB churches have both.
Wouldn't the "believing" itself be a work? You have to consider facts and weigh their gravity-seems like works based salvation.
Choosing to believe means you do not believe in any true sense. If you believe, you wouldn't need to choose to believe. Faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit God gives to the elect causing them to believe based on the experience. The Spirit bears witness with our spirit, etc.
We are speaking about an absence of scripture which means you add to God's word.
I mostly agree. I do find it silly, though, that if someone does get convicted and decides to pray there for salvation that he would somehow see it as having paid for his own sins. If one believes that then they never understood the Gospel in the first place.
As have I, but the abuse or misuse of a thing doesn't nullify the proper value of that tool.
Scripture doesn't mention it. If you add to God's word, where do you end up?
I've seen a lot of false professions of faith through the use of this "tool." Sadly, though, this could be said of ANY tool we use, including street preaching, door-to-door visitation, etc. I just see too much potential for abuse with the "invitational" by the pastor or worship leader. Yet, many are using it successfully....and then, of course, there are some that say it shouldn't be used because it's not found in the Bible...well, neither are hymnals, church note handouts and many other tools that the church uses today. Just because it's not named in the Bible doesn't mean it shouldn't be used.
Are you a regulative principle kinda guy?
I COMPLETELY agree with every point you make. And I think the balance you bring is exactly what is called for in this discussion. When you mention that you have seen many false professions by this method, I think we both know what kind of environment you have experienced (1-2-3 pray-after-me). Bad theology breeds bad praxis. When somebody is willing to just treat evangelism like salesmanship and getting another notch on their belt then their treatment (apologia) of the gospel is going to suffer theological anorexia and the casualties will be the scorched earth of those like Finney.
I have several pastor friends who street preach and hand out Bibles to people who stop...If and when they have any "decisions" they are usually led through a prayer, given a Bible, and they may attempt a follow-up visit, but few produce any kind of fruit. It makes me question these methodologies that our churches of today are using.
