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Praying at the altar

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keys2heaven:
To all:

I still attend a Nazarene church, although I have been wrestling in my mind about withdrawing my membership. However, leaving the church is not the topic of this question. During our services, we often have a spot for an altar call (a time of prayer before God). Personally, I've never liked the altar call. Many find it humbling going before the congregation and submitting themselves to God when they ask for prayer. I, however, find it a bit too much like airing your laundry and very uncomfortable. Even though most don't know why you are up front, they know that it must be "bad". Then you end up getting asked questions about why you went to the altar.

So, does Ray have any teachings about this? I'd like to know if this is scriptural or ritual. And, if it is scriptural, does it mean I have too much pride because I don't want to go down to the altar? Why do I have to go down to an altar. You know, sometimes I like to talk to God just driving around town.

Peace,

Mike

PKnowler:
I don't know what Ray has to say about it but I wanted to give you my thoughts. There was a time when I loved going to the altar at church. I spent a lot of time there broken and seeking direction. I knew I could receive prayer there from my brothers and sisters in the Lord as well as just come before God on my own. I believe the spiritual significance of the altar was all in my mind. I perceived it as symbolically Holy and therefore it felt Holy.

I know I can worship and talk to God anywhere but sometimes I want to go to the altar (in my mind) or sit at His feet (in my mind), or fall on the Rock that is higher than I (in my mind). I no longer have to be in Church to do these things. Praise God!

That's my 2cents

Blessings, Paula  :)

Dennis Vogel:
This (homepage) email is in the spirit of your question, but does not address your question directly. It's titled "NOTHING Physical Saves Spiritually!" 

http://bible-truths.com/email6.htm#nothing

Dennis

longhorn:
I go to the "Altar" of the flesh once a day, twice after chilli with beans.

Longhorn

brothertoall:
What a great question or thought this is. I too realize now that it was more of a pride thing and also I felt I would be closer to God if I went down front with about a 100 or so people watching you do this.

 I too would wonder what is going on with the person that is going down there and what it was they did or did not do. I never asked anyone but I would still wonder what it was that caused them to go to the alter.

 Now I was in churches that when a lost or someone being drawn by the Lord, went down to the alter the preacher and 3 or 4 of his cronies would pray over this person and I never saw them explain the gospel to them.

 I will tell you my first expierience at the alter. The Lord was dragging me and it came time for the alter "call". I went down front and on that particular morning there were like 3 or 4 other preachers visiting that sunday. Well I no sooner fell to my knees and the preacher and 4 other preachers surrounded me and all I could hear for the whole 10 minutes I was down there was:

" Oh Lord",chiberish,chiberish,chiberish."Oh Lord",chiberish,chiberish,chiberish. To this day I can not remeber one thing they all said as they prayed over me. This I did know that I felt excited and knew my life was going to be different. The thing about it was that not one of those preachers told me how to accept the Lord but instead it was just a bunch of praying and very loud I might add.

 This bothered me because I would think I did not say the 10 second prayer and I constantly wondered if I was really what they call saved.

 Well to make a long story short this is where I am at now here at the forum and when I look back and remember that particular sunday I never imagined that God would bring me to the realization that He will save all and all those things I did were nothing.

 Thank you Father that you revealed your love to me and your truth through Christ by using Ray and this computer that is in an office that measures about 8' X 15' and it was just YOU and me.

bobby

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