Are Altar Calls Biblical?
Are altar calls biblical? If they aren’t, then why are so many evangelical churches doing them? The altar is mentioned often in the Scriptures, but there’s no mention of an altar call. Then again, we’re not told that the 3,000 who were saved on the day of Pentecost came forward to some sort of ‘altar’ or place of prayer. The problem I have with modern-day altar calls isn’t so much the call to come forward as with all the trimmings that come with it – music to stir the emotions, counselors coming forward to encourage a response (and to stop the preacher from looking stupid if there’s no response). Add to that the fact that many altar calls aren’t calling people to repentance, but to a happier life-style, and it’s easy to see the damage that is being done to the cause of the gospel.
Preach sin and Christ to sinners not altar calls. As Spurgeon says,
No sinner looks to the Saviour with a dry eye or a hard heart. Aim, therefore, at heart-breaking, at bringing home condemnation to the conscience and weaning the mind from sin. Be not content till the whole mind is deeply and vitally changed in reference to sin. (The Soul Winner)
For more on this subject, see the Trust’s booklet The Invitation System by Iain Murray.
Latest Articles
The God Who Makes Bitter Things Sweet 31 July 2026
The Israelites had just walked between the walls of the water of the Red Sea and watched as the Lord washed away the whole Egyptian army. They sang a song of triumph on the far shore of the sea, rejoicing in the fear that had fallen on the surrounding nations (Ex. 15:14-16) and looking forward […]
In the Christian Life, There is No Escape from Divine Chastisement 7 July 2026
The fifth of six posts containing the substance of teaching given by Albert N. Martin at the 1984 Banner Youth Conference, presenting a basic biblical theology of the Christian life. There is no escape from divine chastisement as an integral factor in the Christian life. The author of Hebrews underlines this point: ‘You have forgotten […]