Last week I wrote about the eucharist, commonly called the Lord’s Supper or Communion.
This week we will talk about the altar call and ministry in the assembly. It’s kind of a funny name, “altar call.” In the New Testament there actually isn't an altar nor any examples of people coming forward in the assembly for ministry. There also isn’t any reference to lay burdens down at the altar. The imagery is a very priestly picture of one person helping another to lay down his or her burdens and to pass off his or her guilt to the scapegoat. However, there is nothing in the New Testament that suggests the early church did anything like it.
At the same time there is plenty in the Bible about bearing one another's burdens, of praying for one another, even calling the elders together to anoint someone with oil for healing. Therefore the modern church’s imagery of an alter call isn’t necessarily wrong. It is about making time in our service to pray with people on a personal level, and as it is often in response to the message, a time where the word of God brings conviction. Hopefully, the response is genuinely Holy Spirit-led repentance, a recognition of need, or a genuine desire to request prayer for anything.
All of those are good, but what does it have to do with worship? Well, hopefully over the past several weeks we have seen how worship is much more than just the songs we sing. We have learned that worship affects our whole lives, as well as the lives of those we assemble with. So then, this gathering at the foot of the stage (also not in the Bible) for prayer and care is a great way to intentionally unload our burdens, find hope and healing, and care for one another. Over the years it has personally been of great benefit to me and others.
Let me invite you, to take advantage of an altar call. Make the most of it, without attaching any stigma of mourning or public confessions, but instead use it to bless and to be blessed as an act of worship in our assembly. With one thought, let us put our whole life at the feet of Jesus: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Next week I will focus on worship outside of the assembly (personal worship & lifestyle).
No comments:
Post a Comment