I did this during the interim pastorate, and I did it just last Sunday when guest preaching at another church. It’s not a sin.īecause I don’t believe that people must make a decision for Christ? No, I think people must decide to repent and believe in order to be saved.īecause I don’t think Jesus calls us to make a public profession? No, people must publicly profess their faith, which is why Jesus instituted baptism.īecause I think inviting sinners to repent is inherently manipulative? No, I believe preachers should invite non-Christians to repent and believe throughout their sermons. Why not?īecause I think altar calls are wrong? No, I think a pastor is free to give one. I told this brother and the rest of the elders that I wouldn’t do an altar call. I remember a long, meandering car ride with one sweet brother-a good friend to this day-devoted to the question. I was now one month into an interim pastorate, and people were beginning to ask whether I would ever give them. We asked for a response from Jonathan Leeman, editorial director at 9Marks and a PhD candidate researching ecclesiology.īefore I had arrived, the previous pastors had always given altar calls.
I am often unsure and uneasy about how to conclude a message, not wanting to commit the errors common to revivalism and without giving unnecessary offense at the same time.Ĭould TGC offer any principles for retaining a strong theology of conversion when concluding services in churches accustomed to public invitations? As a seminary student, I have opportunities to preach in churches where it is customary to give an invitation at the conclusion of the message.