What is an altar call? Why do we do them?
I think in order to answer that question we need to look at how and why altars were used in the bible. As we look through the old testament we see that altars were used for sacrifice and dedication. The book of Leviticus gives detailed instructions about how, when, and what to sacrifice on the altar. Fortunately, because Jesus died on the cross for our sins we no longer are required to offer burnt sacrifices. As a result, though I think we often forget the weight and significance of sacrifice. We also forget that God still often requires sacrifices, they are just less tangible and often harder to walk out than killing an animal. An important thing to remember is that the offerings made by the Israelites were a deeply personal thing. In Leviticus 1:1-5 we see as part of the instructions for the sacrifice the bearer of the sacrifice was to lay his hand on of the animal as the priest dispatched it so they understood the weight of their sins and the cost to make them right with God. For the Israelites, these sacrifices were performed in the temple (or in the tabernacle when they were wandering through the desert) and as such was performed as a part of their worship to God. God, in His kindness and mercy, accepted their sacrifice that was offered in faith, that it would be a sufficient sacrifice. The other instances we see in the Bible where altars are erected are times of dedication. We see in Genesis 35:7 Jacob built an altar to dedicate the place because he encountered God there. In Exodus 17:15-16 we see Moses build an altar to dedicate the place where God won a battle against the Amalekites. These altars of dedication were built to recognize encounters with God. They marked the location and were named to signify what God had done in that place. They served as reminders to God's people of His power and amazing feats.
So how do we translate that into today’s idea of an altar call? An altar is a place of a personal encounter with God. In the Old Testament altars were tied to a location and you had to go to that place, but today in the new covenant God has made with us we can have an altar experience anywhere. The front of the church, kneeling in your pew, kneeling at the foot of your bed, driving your car, mowing the lawn, sitting at your desk at school or work, God will meet you where you are. An altar is a place where we lay down our own will in favor of doing the will of God. We sacrifice ourselves (Roman’s 12:1-2), our wants and desires and we seek His wants and desires. We often think of an altar call as a call to salvation where we dedicate our lives to God, and while it is that, it is also a place to come and seek God’s will for our lives and to rededicate ourselves when we have gone astray. At the altar, God provides grace and strength to make decisions and to walk them out. One of the things I like about old testament Altars of dedication is they could return to that place when they needed a reminder of how good God is. We generally do not have those types of monuments in our lives, but we can still bring those events to our memory when we need reminders of God's power and greatness. One suggestion I have for this week is to keep a journal, write down your thoughts and feelings and the things you feel like God is doing and saying to you so you have something to go back and remind yourself of what God is doing in your life.
When we go to camp this week there are going to be many opportunities to respond to altar calls. Camp is going to be a lot of fun and we are going to build some great relationships with each other, but the fundamental purpose of camp is to have personal encounters with God (these things are not mutually exclusive by the way). With this in mind, I want to encourage all of you to come expecting to encounter God.
Let's look at Luke 8:40-56,
Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”
But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”
Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”
When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”
They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
In this passage, we see two people, Jairus and the woman who would not stop bleeding, who came into the presence of Jesus with a need and an expectation that their needs would be met. The Bible is full of passages about praying and coming to God with an expectation that He will answer us. (one of these examples is Luke 18:1) This week is all about encountering God so it is time to prepare our hearts and expect God to do something in our lives. We all have needs and this is the time to bring those to God, and if we do not know what we need then our prayer should be for God to show us our need.
So we go to camp, we encounter God, and we come home excited, on fire, and passionate for the things of God. Then what? If we follow the normal pattern that high lasts for 3 or 4 days sometimes a week or two but then we go right back to where we were or worse we sometimes swing back the other way and turn further away from God then we were when we left for camp. It's hard to keep up the prayer life and regular reading of God's Word. My dad described it to me like this once, "We are vessels created to carry the presence of God, but I am broken and weak and when He fills me up I just leak it all out". How do we do it? How do we keep from losing the passion and the presence of God in our lives? Let's turn to the instructions that God left for us to find these answers.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God
Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another
Romans 14:19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
1 Corinthians 14:26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up…
These passages give us the keys to maintaining the presence of God in our lives and keeping our focus on Him. Talk with each other about the things of God. Encourage each other in Christ. Share with one another the things God did in your life when you were at the altar. Then revisit those altars and remind your friends what God did in their lives when they were there. In my dad's description earlier he told me the solution he found is "when I leak if rather than letting it just pour out of me onto the ground if I pour into others, God is faithful to keep constantly refilling me"
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