When one suggests the idea of an “altar call” to a tried and true Lutheran, most Lutherans will wrinkle their nose and balk at such a suggestion. It dredges up images of their youth, going to a more “decision theology"-based camp or church where they were shamed or bullied into walking up to the front of the church in order to “publicly accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.”
For the Lutheran – the concept is confusing. As children of God who have been baptized into a life of faith and have lived their life knowing Christ and accepting Christ since birth – this moment seems wholly unnecessary.
The hesitancy is not that a Lutheran is embarrassed to acknowledge Christ as their Lord and Savior, but the way in which most altar calls are performed suggests that they have not already done so. However, to sit back and not go forward might be interpreted as not being a “good Christian” or that they don’t accept Christ. So what is a Lutheran to do in these circumstances?
The “Altar Call” of Word and Sacrament
What few Lutherans and other denominations realize is that Lutherans perform an altar call in the midst of their worship service on a regular basis (and in some cases, every week). It is steeped heavily in their theology of Word and Sacrament.
In a “traditional” or liturgically-based style Lutheran worship service, there are several elements to this altar call that eventually will culminate in an invitation to come forward and partake in the body and blood of Christ.
Most services open with words of public confession that are uttered by the members of the congregation, followed by the pronouncement of the forgiveness of sins. In the middle of the service, the words of Law and Gospel are preached. If properly preached, the hearer is both convicted of their sin, but also hears the words of promise (mercy, grace and forgiveness) through Christ in the midst of their conviction.
Toward the end of the service, following the preaching of the Word and confession of faith (usually in the form of the Apostle’s Creed that states one believes in God the Father, Jesus Christ the son, and the Holy Spirit), the individual congregation member is invited forward to partake in the body and blood of Christ, to physically ingest and internalize God’s Word in Christ and promises of forgiveness and salvation present in the distribution of the bread and the wine.
Jesus’ Altar Call
Christ himself instituted this “altar call.” As he informs the disciples in John 6: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh…unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day…Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.”
When a Christian steps forward and accepts the bread and the wine – they are not only making their public gesture and confession of faith, but they are also actively taking part in the body of Christ, receiving and internalizing God’s Words of grace and forgiveness in their lives.
Reclaiming the Altar Call
For a Lutheran, it’s not just a gesture and public “acknowledgment” that they’ve received Christ – but they physically and literally receive Christ into their being! He’s not just in their hearts, he flows through every part of them.
Additionally, before one goes forward to partake, it is a time for self-reflection and self-examination. The penitent Christian, through communion, is not only acknowledging and confessing their own short-comings, failures, sinful life, but are confessing their need for Christ and need for forgiveness that they receive in the sacrament. It is not just a commitment to Christ, but it is a faith and trust that God’s grace is being poured out upon them.
Rather than balking at the idea of altar calls, Lutherans can use this opportunity for reclaiming and embracing the power inherent in their weekly altar call. The Lord’s Supper is a witness, a proclamation, and a delivering of promise all wrapped into one significant and meaningful event.
Readers may also enjoy "Lutheran Sacraments: Understanding the Use of Sacraments in the Lutheran Church."
