10.24.05
Posted in faith at 9:59 am by
So, I’ve been thinking a little more about what, exactly, it is that drives me bonkers about altar calls. But, before I launch into yet another diatribe on the general sucky-ness of the altar call mentality. I’d like to say thanks to all of you who’ve shared your thoughts and even some of your own past altar call experiences.
I’d like to say that I agree with Shannon who expressed that she liked the idea of publicly sharing one’s faith with a group of people. I have no problem with the public statement of faith. However, I believe that that public statement is an important part of BECOMING a part of a community. That statement should be the starting off point of accepting the promises of God to an individual.
This thought leads me to my second point. I think that an altar call is, quite often, a time when communities are separated rather than joined. Think about it, people are called down because they ‘need God’ or some fundagelical phrase meaning that they’re ‘coming to Christ’, etc.
What tends to happen, though, with these altar calls is that two distinct groups of people emerge. There’s the jellyfish crew in front, and the bad Christians in the back (quietly scoffing at the vascilatting invertibrate at the front of the sanctuary.)
Here’s the thing: We all perceive that we need God. That’s why we came to Church to begin with. Yes, some of us need God through the community provided by Church-as-a-social-network, some of us need God in other ways, but, when it comes down to it–we came to church because we needed God. So, it seems strange that there would be a time for some people to ‘receive the holy spirit’ or ‘come to Christ’ (again) or to ‘hear what God has to say’. Why must we create a divide in our midst. We all need God.
We’ve got enough hurdles in our communities nowadays. We don’t need another. It’s hard enough trying not to be selfish, individualistic, consumer-driven, self-gratification-whores, why should we add another feature of division into our midst?
I’m not saying that it’s wrong to be an emotional person, or that we shouldn’t be sensitive to the moving of the holy spirit. I’m just saying that when we go about dividing our communities into groups of higher (the super-Jesus-y) and lower (the bad Christians) status, historically good things have not ensued. It’s almost as if sentimentality and being susceptible to emotional manipulation has become equivalent to holiness. And, not being down with running around hugging fellow churchmembers all the time, makes you less holy than others.
Division of the people has always been a result of sin. And, if like I do, you’re into being a participant in the creation and the inbreaking of the Kingdom of God into the here and now, you’re probably not so down with division. One of the features of the Kingdom that I see as essential is unity.
If we’re really interested with being Kingdom bringers (or perhaps helpers), we should be interested in creating good worship habits. Good worship habits bring people together, not split them apart.
This brings me to my conclusion:
Satan is happy every time there’s an altar call.
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Posted in faith at 9:59 am by
So, I’ve been thinking a little more about what, exactly, it is that drives me bonkers about altar calls. But, before I launch into yet another diatribe on the general sucky-ness of the altar call mentality. I’d like to say thanks to all of you who’ve shared your thoughts and even some of your own past altar call experiences.
I’d like to say that I agree with Shannon who expressed that she liked the idea of publicly sharing one’s faith with a group of people. I have no problem with the public statement of faith. However, I believe that that public statement is an important part of BECOMING a part of a community. That statement should be the starting off point of accepting the promises of God to an individual.
This thought leads me to my second point. I think that an altar call is, quite often, a time when communities are separated rather than joined. Think about it, people are called down because they ‘need God’ or some fundagelical phrase meaning that they’re ‘coming to Christ’, etc.
What tends to happen, though, with these altar calls is that two distinct groups of people emerge. There’s the jellyfish crew in front, and the bad Christians in the back (quietly scoffing at the vascilatting invertibrate at the front of the sanctuary.)
Here’s the thing: We all perceive that we need God. That’s why we came to Church to begin with. Yes, some of us need God through the community provided by Church-as-a-social-network, some of us need God in other ways, but, when it comes down to it–we came to church because we needed God. So, it seems strange that there would be a time for some people to ‘receive the holy spirit’ or ‘come to Christ’ (again) or to ‘hear what God has to say’. Why must we create a divide in our midst. We all need God.
We’ve got enough hurdles in our communities nowadays. We don’t need another. It’s hard enough trying not to be selfish, individualistic, consumer-driven, self-gratification-whores, why should we add another feature of division into our midst?
I’m not saying that it’s wrong to be an emotional person, or that we shouldn’t be sensitive to the moving of the holy spirit. I’m just saying that when we go about dividing our communities into groups of higher (the super-Jesus-y) and lower (the bad Christians) status, historically good things have not ensued. It’s almost as if sentimentality and being susceptible to emotional manipulation has become equivalent to holiness. And, not being down with running around hugging fellow churchmembers all the time, makes you less holy than others.
Division of the people has always been a result of sin. And, if like I do, you’re into being a participant in the creation and the inbreaking of the Kingdom of God into the here and now, you’re probably not so down with division. One of the features of the Kingdom that I see as essential is unity.
If we’re really interested with being Kingdom bringers (or perhaps helpers), we should be interested in creating good worship habits. Good worship habits bring people together, not split them apart.
This brings me to my conclusion:
Satan is happy every time there’s an altar call.
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the crooked saint said,
October 24, 2005 at 12:31 pm
Let’s imagine for a moment that the people initiating the altar call are not concerned with numbers or quotas or crossing off souls on their tic sheet. Let’s imagine they are really concerned with the lost. The altar call then is not a divisive thing, but a vehicle to bring forth those who are ready to allow God into their heart…and that’s good…to them.
I don’t like altar calls. But it’s hard to argue them from a community stand point because I would think those in charge of them would readily say the community is surrounding the people who are publicly giving into Christ.
It’s kind of like baptism to them. The community welcomes a child into the covenant. But the baby and parents are up front. The entire community is not.
I’m a product of the YCF conventions myself. I remember going the first time. None of my friends wanted to go to the night worship stuff. I went alone. I remember all these groups of friends hugging and slobbering all over each other. No one talked to me. I swore I’d get the nerve to go up to the altar at some point…and I did my third time. It was great…for about 5 minutes. Kind of like getting drunk for the first time. You realize why people hate hangovers. Accept crashing from a spiritual high is more like being lost at sea than having a bad head ache.
It’s amazing to me that the Reformed church is supporting this stuff.
ninjanun said,
October 24, 2005 at 1:18 pm
Two thoughts:
As far as altar calls go, my situation was similar to Nicole’s (who posted hers on your original jesusy-jellyfish entry) in that when I told my pastor, at the age of 16, that I had accepted Christ and wanted to be baptized, he still made me come down front that Sunday during the “altar call” to say as much in front of the congregation. I guess the public declaration of baptism which would take place later wasn’t good enough. I’ve seen this at other (southern baptist) churches as well: there’s an altar call, and someone comes down (pre-arranged) to say they’ve already accepted Christ at some earlier date, and now they want to be baptized. It’s almost as if the altar call aspect is for show; to demonstrate the preacher’s effectiveness at altar calls, and for him to be able to “have a hand in it, ” so to speak. That’s just my observation, of course.
Second, your thoughts on the altar call causing divisions between “good” Christians and “bad” christians and how everyone who comes to church is there because “deep down, they need God,” made me think of something else. In the deeply religious south, at least, there are many politicians and business men who go to church mainly for the social aspect of it. Of course, I can’t say for sure if that’s their primary reason for going, but as far as I can tell, they were always glad-handing people before and after service and “making connections.” Your thoughts on division made me realize that the Church separating itself from the world so much (at least in the South, probably other places) has caused those who want to get ahead/be successful/get elected to feel compelled to go to church. I mean, not only can they make all those great connections, they also know they are improving their image in the eyes of all those church folk, who then recommend said business man’s services to their friends. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard this sort of phrase: “Oh, you need an insurance agent/contracter/CPA? I know a guy who goes to my church who’s that; he’s a good Christian, he’ll treat you right.”
I guess the mentality is that, because they “go to church” they are a more honest and upright businessman or politician, and while they may be, the perception itself is divisive, because it sets up the criteria for “good” and “bad” based on the mutually exclusive (yet completely arbitrary) criteria of church attendance. A slick politician or business person can and no doubt HAS used this perception to their advantage.
Brandon said,
October 24, 2005 at 2:18 pm
Good points, crooked.
First, like I said, gathering around and welcoming into a community is, I think, a fruitful worship act. However, most altar calls aren’t that.
Second, I’m not sure many reformed churches are doing the ole’ altar call YCF method any more…Convention, as I understand it, is really a thing of the past.
Third, I love that three of us now used YCF and nobody tried to correct us and tell is it’s supposed to be YFC. (Ne’er the twain shall meet, eh?)
So, my point, in short, is this: community celebration of growth in Christ–cool. Community seperation in the name of growth in Christ–not cool.
the crooked saint said,
October 24, 2005 at 2:26 pm
Hey man, I’ve still got my Calvinist Federation Tattoo…and my “How to blow up a non-Reformed Church in 3 Easy Steps” handbook next to my Bible.
Angel said,
October 24, 2005 at 5:16 pm
But you know, just like everything else, I think the church is about division, unfortunately. It really struck home when you said “I’m just saying that when we go about dividing our communities into groups of higher (the super-Jesus-y) and lower (the bad Christians) status, historically good things have not ensued.”
It’s not just in altar calls where you see this division of “I’m more in tune with God than you.” Hand-raisers vs. conservative worship, miraculous healings vs. chronic illnesses, it just goes on. Somehow “the chosen few” are more holy and in line with God’s plan than others–and it does nothing about unifying Christians, but stroking egos and alienating the “lesser Christians”.
Oops is my bitterness showing?
dorsey said,
October 24, 2005 at 8:35 pm
Hell, Jesus was about division.
He separated drunks, whores, junkies, thieves, murderers, etc. from the decent, hardworking, churchgoing folks. The latter group He told to fuck off. To the former, He handed the keys to the kingdom.
Brandon said,
October 24, 2005 at 9:27 pm
Dorsey,
Possibly my favourite quote ever. You don’t mind if I use that, do you?
dorsey said,
October 24, 2005 at 10:39 pm
Not at all, bro. Good post.
Jacke said,
October 26, 2005 at 7:48 am
Interesting. I disagree with you about the alter call, though.
I do think there needs to be room for all kinds of Christians, the “good” ones and the “bad” ones. Cute.
I just think there IS room, no one, presumably, forces anyone to go to the alter but the Holy Spirit. I was totally unaware that there were people in the back row that might be considering me a “jelly fish” because I felt the Holy Spirit draw me to the alter for prayer, which is why I usually go. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t run to the alter at the drop of a hat, rather the Holy Spirit pulls me there, as a matter of fact, His pull has been so strong at times I thought I might pass out if I DIDN’T go.
Worship is a state of mind. I don’t really understand how you could view an alter call as divisive. Scratching my head over that a little, but your blog is a refreshing change of pace because I’m with you, the Body of Christ should be unifying rather than splitting off into little groups of politically associated schizms. I’m just not sure in the current climate that that is even possible, has it ever been possible?
I think you might be reaching a little to assume that those “jelly fish” down front are as concerned about your “bad Christianess” as you seem to be about a divide they never even considered might exist. I don’t personally think when they are praying they are talking to God about those heathen in the back who refuse to go to the alter. Geesh, maybe I’ll ask some of those “jellyfish” about that sometime.
You’re an interesting character.
Jacke said,
October 26, 2005 at 8:10 am
Ooops, I have more to add after reading a few more of the comments. Feeling divided, as though some people are holier than other people is just an individual’s perception, isn’t it?
I mean, how can you expect the altar call to be given up because one or two people in the Church *perceive* that those who go down front, or those who lift their hands, or those who shout amen, for that matter, are “holier.”
The sooner that all of us realize that we are not to judge others, the better. Judging someone and putting them in a little slot because you perceive them as “holier” (or think THEY think they are holier) is no better than someone you think is “holier” judging you as a “bad” Christian because you DON’T do those things. We are all in the same boat, we’re all human beings and we are all doing our best to hold it together. Some better than others.
Could it be that those who go to the altar (see I spelled it right this time, I CAN learn) are those same less reserved people you meet at the office? The ones more likely to tell you about their private lives, while inside you are rolling your eyes thinking “way too much information?” Some people find it easier to display emotion than others, that doesn’t make them better or worse, does it?
I hate to go to the altar and only go when I feel God’s Spirit calling me to go, I’m one of those reserved people in my real life.