Come To The Altar – Why?

Symbolism I can handle.

I dig it.  In its place, in its time, for its purpose, it is a wonderful and profound method by which we tap into something deep and enriching.  It suggests that there is something in a physical act, that relates to something way beyond the physical. With due meaning it can result in something beautiful, redeeming and energising.

There is the sense , however, in which something symbolic doesn’t quite hit the mark.  Sometimes it can become a bit too ritualistic and too much can be attached to it.

There were the days of ritual sacrifices where the shedding of the blood of an animal appeased the deities.  Such blood-letting was committed on something called an altar.  Nowadays the concept to some might seem rather barbaric and out of touch with modern sensibilities.  There are still cultures and religious persuasions that maintain its importance.

Indeed in some Christian circles, although there’s no need for the literal blood-letting, there is still a need to symbolically sacrifice ourselves to God on the altar.

My experience of it growing up in the church tradition I did was interesting.  In the home church, there was no altar as such.  It was more of a table.  The process would be more or less the same.  A stirring sermon had been preached.  A moving ‘closing hymn’ was selected.  The sermon and the hymn touched the hearts of some in the congregation, and as the chorus was sung again, the person leading the prayer – usually the elder of the church – would invite anyone in need of prayer to ‘come to the altar’.

People would kneel at the table.  The prayer would be made and at the relevant part the elder would place his hand on the shoulder of the person kneeling at the altar and ask God to help that person with whatever issue they needed.  More often than not that reason hadn’t been discerned at the time, so a generic request for God to do His work would be made.

This time of ‘coming to the altar’ would be significant for some of those who went there.  It was the sense that God had answered their prayers.  God had seen their situation.  Their step in going to kneel was one of submission and surrender.  As a result of that God would do His work and much rejoicing would take place.

For some.

As I said, I don’t mind those symbolic actions.  After all, in those cases, it is something done as an act of faith on the part of those who do it.  They believe it will be time for a divine encounter, and I don’t doubt that is what takes place.

I am intrigued, however, by how much the practice has become almost a traditional standard part of the service, as though it’s the prime route by which God does His business helping people with their issues.  It’s as though unless that takes part people don’t have a chance to have God work on their issues.

The altar call tradition certainly has its benefits, and I’m not suggesting that it should be disregarded.  I was, however, engaged in a conversation with friends over a person we know who has some challenges.  The suggestion arose that what that person needed was to come to the altar again.  I asked why.  It emerged that it was a traditional response to such situations.

The beauty of life in Christ and walking in the Spirit together as the family of God, is that useful though things like the altar call might be, we can believe God to still do His business at any time of day – and on any day.

It need not require an altar or a table made up as an altar.  It doesn’t need a rousing sermon and an appropriate song. It needs people believing God, identifying the need on behalf of a brother or sister, and being obedient to meet that need in prayer and faith.

It doesn’t always need a public audience.  It just needs sensitivity to the situation, compassion for the one in need and the confidence to approach the matter as needed.

I read some of the healing episodes in the book of Acts and wonder how it would have been different if the apostles felt the need to apply some of our modern church traditions.  Perhaps in Acts 3 at the gate called Beautiful, John would stop Peter as he approached the crippled beggar and insist that perhaps they had better wait for the closing hymn to be sung before calling the beggar to crawl down the aisle as an act of faith and receive his healing at the altar.

I jest of course, but I hope you get my point.  The very occasions of seeing God at work in the lives of those who go to the altar, should encourage us to know we serve the risen Saviour who is able to make a difference in people’s lives at any time, not just when an altar call is given.

Perhaps it should propel us into the church community and the wider world with the eyes to see and heart to be moved to address the needs we see to the glory of God.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden