Some Quick Thoughts on Altar Calls

December 12, 2023 Mario Villella Organization


This list was created in reaction to the question: “Mario, why don’t you do altar calls?”
  1. Depending on how you define them, I have done them in the past.
  2. I’m not 100% against them. So, even though I don’t plan on doing one soon, it’s possible I’ll do one in the future.
  3. Anyone who has heard the story of how I came to know Jesus knows that I was manipulated into a false conversion when I was little – so it makes sense why I’m sensitive regarding this issue.
  4. Unless defined broadly, altar calls didn’t exist for the first 1800 years of Christianity. The gospel is certainly able to spread without them.
  5. We’d never suggest people make their wedding vows in an unplanned emotional moment; we’d never rush them to say “I do” quickly before the closing song ends!
  6. Jesus said to count the cost when it comes to following Him (See Luke 14:25-35) so we probably shouldn’t pressure people into making a decision about Him quickly “while the mood is right.”
  7. It is possible to get people to respond to an invitation without them actually placing their trust in Jesus as Lord. This could result in a false assurance that they got saved when they did not.
  8. All methods of gospel preaching will produce some percentage of people who profess to trust Jesus and then fall away (See Mark 4:16-17.) Certain methods can maximize or minimize these short-term conversions.
  9. Methodical weekly Bible teaching can probably communicate the same salvation with less emotional pressure and false assurances.
  10. We can believe all of the above without criticizing other churches who do this differently than we do.
That’s a lot of ground covered in less than 300 words. I hope this was helpful to you.
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Mario Villella

Lead Pastor / Elder

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