The #1 Cause of False Conversion

One evangelism night at my Assemblies of God church in the 90s after the presentation, two couples came forward to the altar. One was married heterosexuals, and one a lesbian couple. After that commitment at the altar, some interesting things played out. Within two weeks the lesbian couple was attending the “metropolitan church” in downtown San Diego. A sister in the choir lived next to them so we in the choir, were able to follow the Lesbian couples spiritual progress. The heterosexual married couple was full of questions, and aggressively engaged every Bible study we had during the week. They had A LOT of questions! After 1 1/2 years the married couple were pretty solid Christians. I have long critiqued AMERICAN 🇺🇸 EVANGELICAL TRADITION of the altar call. Our experience and practice is driven too heavily, by the habits in North American Evangelicalisms tradition. Evangelicalism in the United States was heavily formed by Methodism and the need for emotionally intense preaching(sinners bench, enquirers seat, forerunners of the altar call), caused by settlers passing thru choke point towns. Decisions were needed in One (1) nights emotionally appealing preaching. See Mark Nolls’ histories of North American religion. The early church (2nd thru 5th century) made them catechite(s) and they were watched for 2 years to see if Christianity “caught” with the catechite before baptism. Emperor Constantine (who fulfilled Paul’s dream of legitimizing Christianity) was never baptized until his death bed cause he kept going to pagan temples. For North American religious history check out Mark Nolls’ books.

See: Charles G. Finney and his "New Methods".

I’ve seen this happen way too often. Evangelicalism turns into manipulation

Wow. yes.

I have witnessed this at IFB and Pentecostal churches where the pastor just demands that people come to the altar, like you people ain’t leaving until someone comes forward. I would refer to it as Spiritual Bullying. They repeat phrases “I know there are people here…”

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Do you employ an “alter call” at the end of your sermons?

I grew up in this. Left for college and walked a lost life with false assurance for 20 years. Even got a Masters in Theology from Liberty. I came to see the Cross when I was 37, because a humble friend pointed me to the Bible and helped to disciple me.

I somewhat agree, but what about the true convert that comes from this?

I understand the question and have had this discussion many times. If the Gospel is presented, God can use that, for certain. But the method which seeks to employ manipulation is using an ungodly and sinister method to drive a response that is based on the sensation of the moment and not the work of the Spirit. That should be rejected and avoided.

Preach!

It’s a shame that the emotional altar call replaced communion as a response to the Word. Charles Spurgeon wrote in his autobiography that he aimed to have communion as often as possible even though it was sometimes difficult considering his popularity among the general public.

Don't even get me started on Big Eva idolatrous blasphemers.🤨

Do you believe in free will?

I asked you a direct question

And I answered with humor, as I often do. If you wanna argue, go elsewhere

Arguue? — again: do you believe in free will?

My initial answer was humorous, but also obvious. I don’t believe in free will as is often defined. If you are interested in what I believe, go read the Bondage of the Will by Luther and the Freedom of the Will by Edwards. They summarize my position well.

Your clip suggests otherwise. I encourage you to do better

Suggestion heard and unheeded.

Fantastic. As a missionary I don't do this.

The holy spirit aint real you all..its a false conversion being stirred in people. Matthew 12:31-32 and Mark 3:28-30 discuss the idea of a "blasphemy against the Spirit" that is unforgivable, contrasting it with the forgiveness of other sins and blasphemies.

I agree. You however, need to find some hypnotic, emotionally, driven music, to take your mind off of biscuits.

*Charles Finney enters the chat. 🤣

I agree about 85%. My children both prayed for Christ's forgiveness in their own beds. I prayed on a linoleum kitchen floor after VBS. Those are as holy alters as any. I'm not mad about an altar call, though.

Hard to trust a man that can't trust his belt

But Keith, aren’t we just trying to get them to “invite Jesus into their hearts?”

Excellent insight!

This is why no longer face the congregation during the last song for a “alter call” and instead just sing with the church.

I agree and would add it is as dangerous as any false religion, any idolatry or anything else that leads you away from the God who has revealed Himself in Scripture.

It should be a hard and fast rule in every church that there will NEVER be any musical accompaniment during any prayer.

I disagree, an emotional response is just as valid as an intellectual response. You don’t get a response at all from the dead. Now the issue is the lack of viable soil for the roots to grow. Jesus talks about this in Matthew 13:18-23

It always makes me scratch my head when Calvinists talk about the causes of false conversions. Like, if you preached differently would they be genuine conversions? Is God not the cause of false conversions? Preach it better to be sure you get the right outcome.

Make disciples. This is completely different than asking Jesus into your heart - which is nowhere in the Bible...

Amen!