Altar Calls?
Early in the 1970s Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was the speaker at a
ministers' conference in the USA and at a question session was
asked the following question:
Q During recent years, especially in England, among evangelicals
of the Reformed faith, there has been a rising criticism of the
invitation system as used by Billy Graham and others. Does
Scripture justify the use of such public invitations or not?
A. Well, it is difficult to answer this in a brief compass
without being misunderstood. Let me answer it like this: The
history of this invitation system is one with which you people
ought to be more familiar than anyone else, because it began in
America. It began in the 1820s; the real originator of it was
Charles G. Finney. It led to a great controversy. Asahel
Nettleton, a great Calvinist and successful evangelist, never
issued an "altar call" nor asked people to come to the "anxious
seat." These new methods in the 182Os and were condemned for
many reasons by all who took the Reformed position.
One reason is that there is no evidence that this was done in
New Testament times, because then they trusted to the power of
the Spirit. Peter preaching on the Day of Pentecost under the
power of the Spirit, for instance, had no need to call people
forward in decision because, as you remember, the people were so
moved and affected by the power of the Word and Spirit that they
actually interrupted the preacher, crying out, "Men and
brethren, what shall we do?" That has been the traditional
Reformed attitude towards this particular matter. The moment you
begin to introduce this other element, you are bringing a
psychological element. The invitation should be in the message.
We believe the Spirit applies the message, so we trust in the
power of the Spirit. I personally agree with what has been said
in the question. I have never called people forward at the end
for this reason; there is a grave danger of people coming
forward before they are ready to come forward. We do believe in
the work of the Spirit, that He convicts and converts, and He
will do His work. There is a danger in bringing people to a
"birth," as it were, before they are ready for it.
The Puritans in particular were afraid of what they would call
"a temporary faith" or "a false profession." There was a great
Puritan, Thomas Shepard, who published a famous series of
sermons on The Ten Virgins. The great point of that book was to
deal with this problem of a false profession. The foolish
virgins thought they were all right. This is a very great
danger.
I can sum it up by putting it like this: I feel that this
pressure which is put upon people to come forward in decision
ultimately is due to a lack of faith in the work and operation
of the Holy Spirit. We are to preach the Word, and if we do it
properly, there will be a call to a decision that comes in the
message, and then we leave it to the Spirit to act upon people.
And of course He does. Some may come immediately at the close of
the service to see the minister. I think there should always be
an indication that the minister will be glad to see anybody who
wants to put questions to him or wants further help. But that is
a very different thing from putting pressure upon people to come
forward. I feel it is wrong to put pressure directly on the
will. The order in Scripture seems to be this - the truth is
presented to the mind, which moves the heart, and that in turn
moves the will.
- D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
