Alter Call

Its always interesting when pastors make alter calls.  I didn't realize that alter calls were relatively new things.  I guess in the church I have grown up in we do an altar call every Sunday; encouraging people to come up to the front so that pastors can pray for you.  I think that these things can be good.  Sometimes you are just in a place in your life where you need prayer and you are afraid to ask one of your friends to pray for you or just want more people praying for you.  I think the moment you choose to accept Christ is a moment where you want prayer and guidance by another Christian in your life and a pastor at your church is a good person to ask.  However, I do not think this is necessary.  Someone could accept Christ in a parking lot, or a bus station or anywhere. It doesn't have to happen in a church building. You don't have to walk the aisle at your church for your relationship with God to officially start. I take it as a way to show others of your commitment to follow God.  I was kind of shocked to read that pastors rate their affectiveness by how many people walk the aisle after their sermon.  That is rediculous.  The kind of sermon any pastor preaches doesn't even come from the pastor, it comes from God.  It doesn't take a long, fancy, eloquite sermon to evoke the love of God in an unbeliever's heart.  In conclusion, I think that altar calls are okay but not necessary.