Comments on: Kleenex At The Altar

By: Daniel C

Daniel C — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:23:55 +0000

I always found this type of prayer an extreme stumbling block since the rest of the congregation is staring at the backsides of the penitent

By: John D. Chitty

John D. Chitty — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:06:18 +0000

A few years ago, I sent a question to Ask the Expert at Christian History Magazine about the origin of altar calls. Here’s the link to their interesting answer:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/asktheexpert/may2.html

Suffice it to say the chronology can be summarized as follows:

Roman Catholic churches re-crucify Christ in the mass over an “altar”
Anglican churches retain the altar, occaisionally inviting folks forward “for prayer”
Methodists (Wesleyan pietistic Anglican revivalists) utilize it as a way to receive converts and excite more conversion.

However, the Reformed tradition renamed the furniture from which the Lord’s Supper was served, calling it “the table.” The Baptist churches of America largely descend from the Reformed Particular Baptists of England, so surely they originally called it the table as well. With the advent of revivalism, they would begin adopting the practice of “altar calls.” Considering the strong anti-Catholic vein in the more extreme forms of Baptist fundamentalism, I find it ironic that they would revert from the “table” to the “altar.” But of course, now that there’s such a strong antipathy towards Calvinism among them, I can see how they would be reluctant to return to calling their altars “the table.”

Of course, that brings up the whole transformation of “the altar” from the table from which the Lord’s Supper is served to the row of steps across the front of the sanctuary atop of which stands the “pulpit” (or rather, lectern). So for me the next question is, who stopped calling the table the altar and started calling those steps in front of the pulpit the altar?

And with regard to the standard issue altar Kleenex, perhaps Kleenex and other tissue companies, should market boxes of Kleenex for this specific purpose? Pictures of repenters kneeling? Exterior shots of church buildings? The possibilities are limitless…

Anyway, that’s how I see it.

By: Tony

Tony — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:14:01 +0000

This is really John McArthur’s study and they are waiting for him to sit down in that soft chair.

By: Melody

Melody — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:08:15 +0000

^ Haha, Jim. Although now that you mention it, could it be the speaker as well?? Everyone in Fundyland knows that it’s a mortal SIN to use modern-day sound devices!!

By: JimE

JimE — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:18:59 +0000

I find this very funny…..

I know that they are not worshiping the tissue box but……
it looks like they are all kneeling before the tissue box.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:49:58 +0000

Haha. I think Loren is right!

At the church I used to go to, they had tissues not on the “old-fashioned altar”, but on the first row of pews. I think the point was for those in need of consolation from tears. However, I think more people used them to blow their noses when sick.

You should see the church I go to now. (It’s part fundy, part not the way I see it so far.) They even have arm rests on the “altar!” Literally. You can kneel, and then plop your arms up there for comfort, and then grab a tissue if you need one! Kinda funny…

By: Loren

Loren — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:38:29 +0000

LOL @ Brendt. I had to look at the picture twice – but I think it’s one person…a lady sitting sideways and holding her skirt to make sure she’s ladylike.

By: RJW

RJW — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:09:43 +0000

I don’t know. . I guess no one was truly able to repent before the “altar call” or “public invitations” were invented.

Besides, where would we be today without having to stand through twenty five verses of “Just As I Am” each Sunday for years growing up!?

By: Dan Smith

Dan Smith — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:07:59 +0000

We would always have an alter call for the same three people. Of course, it was always for those who needed to get right with God, but we were a small church and never had visitors, so the fact is that it was the same people who always needed to get right with God.

Anyway, they always used tissues, and this post reminded me of them.

By: Stan

Stan — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:44:43 +0000

Where’s the altar in a church you ask? You’ve got to be kidding! Let me find the scripture reference for you. Hold on, I’m trying to find it. Be patient I’m still looking. Well, never mind, I’ll have to get back to you.

http://www.biblicalstudies.com/bstudy/ecclesiology/altar.htm