Alter calls and the 'sinners prayer'.

The church i have recently started working at is one of many who believe in and practise the 'alter call' and the 'sinners prayer' method of bringing people into the kingdom.

Through my own personal study of the Bible and through excellent teaching from the likes of Ray Comfort, and through experience I have such a problem with these methods. As far as I am aware the church never used to practise them until fairly recent times. Wesley for example would preach his heart out and plead with sinners to come to Christ and then he would go home and leave it between them and God. He knew that immediate results could be deceiving so he didn't look for them.

I am so concerned about this- i think that it is the grief of God's heart I am feeling- i think!

Just this last sunday night we had a 'traveling evangelist' who preached the gospel. His message contained some truth but lacked such vital elements such as any mention of repentance, and then at the end, he did what most of them do. He got everyone to close their eyes and asked people to raise their hand if they wanted to receive Christ. He then said 'repeat this prayer after me' and then proceeded to tell people they were Christians for having done so.

I was grieved, i have seen the statistics, i know people who have 'prayed the prayer' and are nowhere with the Lord now. But what concerns me even more is that we are filling our churches with people who think they are Christians because they have 'prayed the prayer' or raised a hand in a meeting, and yet even though in some ways they might look like Christians on the outside, they are not converted, they are not truly born again, and are decieving themselves.
I fear that many of this generation will on that day hear those dreadful words 'depart from Me, I never knew you', and I fear that with the alter call, sinners prayer and decision card methods we are only adding to the horrors that will come to the deceived on that day.

What do you all think about this? Does it depend on the content of the gospel message-for example, do you think an alter call might be ok if the true gospel was proclaimed in full- is the problem the method, or the message?

amen

i think someone forgot to tell them about repentance...turning from sin toward God. the perception is all one has to do is say the prayer and it's all good...there is a lotof repentingto be done.

If you work there are you the pastor or associate pastor? Pastoring a flock is differnt from evangelizing, or even come in as an exhorter to a body of believers. There are different needs and anointings present at different times depending on the needs of the local congregation. Don't get caught up in cookie cutter methods, learn to hear and obey the voice of God and His present Word for each setting and don't let someone elses methods become your hang ups.

I am the youth pastor, and i started in August.

You say "Don't let someone elses methods become your hang-ups". It really has become a 'hang-up' to me because i believe it is such an important issue- i just really don't want to see people being deceieved, thinking they are saved when they are not. And so I do get 'hang ups' about the methods that many gospel preachers are using if I think they are damaging. Do you see what I mean?

I think your advice about listening to the Spirit in each situation was helpful, we really must listen to hear what our Father is doing.

Lastly it is very difficult for me to change things, as I am just the youth pastor and I am new and I am just one man. I have already voiced my concern to the Pastor and one of the assistant pastors. I just pray that the Lord will show them the truth on these matters

Just a few thoughts on alter calls.
I attend a freewill baptist church in Utah so you can probably guess we use alter calls at the end of some of are services and my pastor ask if any one would like to pray to receive Jesus as there savior to ask Jesus to be there master and lord of there life to ask Jesus to give them a new heart to forgive them of there sins.

then he adds it not special words, its opening your heart to a new life in Jesus Christ.then he ask that if they prayed with him that prayer to raise there hand again.

I occasionally sub for him when he is out of town and have done the same thing myself with some response.

Do i think that they are saved? yes. are they justified?yes.

is that the end, absolutely no its just the beginning of their new life with Christ.

that's when the job of the church comes. to disciple a new christian to teach them what that decision means.

its impossible to explain everything in one service.All i know is that the spirit of God drew them to that decision.

We do not pull any punches with new converts about the battles and sacrifice of being a Christian.

after they count the cost some stay and some don't.
we just do are best and let the spirit blow where it wills.
i believe many a great servant of God got his or her call at the alter call of an Evangelist.

To me rooting the new babe in the word of God
is the most important next step to there decision of following Jesus.

God bless and he does
jeff