There are three great powers of the mind, which in their normal action follow clearly defined psychological laws. When we work in harmony with these divine laws as found in nature,—whether in the physical, mental, or spiritual realm,—we shall be assured of greater success than when we work blindly or ignorantly, hoping in some way to attain our ends.
Three distinctive powers of the mind are the intellect, the emotions, and the will. With hend, reason, analyze, and judge. By the emotions we experience love, hate, joy, sorrow, conviction, remorse, peace, happiness, delight, pain, anguish, despair. With the will, or volition, we choose, decide, determine, and act.
Briefly then, with the intellect we know and understand, with the emotions we experience remorse and conviction, and with the will we choose right and obey God. This is the basis for a statement which repeatedly appears in the Spirit of prophecy, which says that "everything depends upon the right action of the will."
1. Object of Altar Calls.—In considering the purpose of the altar call, it is necessary first to understand the normal working of the human mind. When spiritual truths are presented and apprehended by the intellect, it is the purpose of God that they shall create or awaken certain emotions. For example, when the righteousness truth is presented, it is in harmony with the law of the mind that emotions of love and longing and hungering shall be awakened. When the facts concerning sin are set forth, it is in harmony with the same law that hatred, fear, abhorrence, and loathing are aroused. These emotions are designed of the Lord to lead to choice and action. Those who work for others should understand these laws of the mind, and work in harmony with them. It is possible to be religious without emotion, to accept the facts of the gospel and come to a decision without normal feelings, but this results in a cold Pharisaism. It is possible to awaken lively emotions which lead to profession of faith and action without a clear, definite knowledge of the truth, but this results in fanaticism. It is possible to have an intelligent comprehension of the truth, and keen emotions, without coming to a definite decision and corresponding action, but this results in weakness, vacillation, and moral paralysis, and in its ultimate conclusion, to the unpardonable sin, which is "the persistent refusal to respond to Heaven's invitation to repent."
It is the operation of this law of the mind that must be the basis of intelligent altar calls. When the truth of God is presented, and the Holy Spirit brings to the mind clear rays of light, emotions are awakened in the soul which God designs shall lead to immediate response in gratitude and obedience. This will always result in definite progress and growth in the spiritual life. But when the intellect is enlightened and the emotions are aroused, if there is no corresponding decision, no obedience, the will is benumbed or paralyzed and eventually atrophied, as described in "Steps to Christ :"
"Every act of transgression, every neglect or rejection of the grace of Christ, is reacting upon yourself ; it is hardening the heart, depraving the will, benumbing the understanding, and not only making you less inclined to yield, but less capable of yielding to the tender pleading of God's Holy Spirit"— Page 33, pocket ed.
The object of the altar call is to encourage each individual to act definitely and immediately in response to the light imparted and the emotions which the Holy Spirit has awakened within. That response may be the renunciation of definite sins, or the surrender of the life to God, or obedience to additional light.
2. Preparation And Method.—It is evident from the foregoing statement that the first essential is to set before an audience the truths of God's word in the most simple, forceful, and logical manner. We know that it is the living word of God, attended by the Holy Spirit, that produces conviction and conversion. We also realize that some men are much more successful than others in bringing people to decisions. Personally, I do not believe that the most successful altar calls are the result of a long appeal, with the minister pleading, coaxing, urging, begging, and even threatening the people. On the contrary, I believe the more fully the meeting is under the control of the Holy Spirit, the less this human effort will be seen. The most wonderful altar scenes I have ever witnessed were occasions when scores of men and women came forward under the irresistible constraint of the Spirit, with no urging at all from the speaker. A divine conviction was upon them, and no appeal or urging on the part of the speaker was necessary. Thus it was under the great revival movements of the past century.
In order to have the work done in this way, it seems to me that the speaker must decide upon a definite goal before he begins the service. Again and again, when I have heard men speak, I have wondered all during the discourse and after, what their subject was. I always try to anticipate before a preacher has talked long what his ultimate goal is. I believe a minister should know just as definitely before beginning his sermon where he is going and where he would lead the people, as he would know his destination if he were to get into his car and start for Detroit. He should have clearly in mind what he wants to lead the people to decide upon. That does not mean that the Holy Spirit will not flash additional light into his mind while he is speaking and lead him on farther than he intended to go; but it does mean that he cannot expect to get people firmly established upon some point of truth, without having that truth clearly in his own mind as he talks.
Sometimes I hear a man speak in an interesting, intelligent manner upon some subject ; and then just at the close he introduces an altar call, not upon the subject presented, but just a general call for reconsecration. Again, I hear a man give a lively discourse, interspersed with stories and experiences that create many a hearty laugh, finishing up with a serious altar call, perhaps with a touching story that brings tears. However large the response, I seriously question the value of such calls. I do not think anything is gained by making altar calls too common. We may well heed the instruction found in "Gospel Workers:"
"Do not divest the truth of its dignity and impressiveness by preliminaries that are more after the order of the world than after the order of heaven. Let your hearers understand that you hold meetings, not to charm their senses with music and other things, but to preach the truth in all its solemnity, that it may come to them as a warning, arousing them from their deathlike sleep of self-indulgence. It is the naked truth that like a sharp, two-edged sword cuts both ways. It is this that will arouse those who are dead in trespasses and sins. He who gave His life to save men and women from idolatry and self-indulgence, left an example to be followed by all who take up the work of presenting the Gospel to others. God's servants in this age have been given most solemn truths to proclaim, and their actions and methods and plans must correspond to the importance of their message. If you are presenting the Word in Christ's way, your audience will be deeply impressed with the truths you teach. The conviction will come to them that this is the Word of the living God."—Page 356.
I do believe that it is helpful and very important to lead the people to commit themselves definitely upon every truth as it is presented in a clear, logical manner. This may be done in several ways. Sometimes a show of hands is sufficient. At other times it is well to have the people stand. And sometimes it is best to have an aftermeeting to give further instruction.
3. Results of Altar Call.—I believe that an altar call, properly conducted, should and will make a solemn and lasting impression upon the minds of the people. It will stand out in their memory as a sacred landmark on the way to the heavenly Canaan. It will mark another milestone in definite spiritual advancement toward the ideal of a Christlike character. It is a time when the Holy Spirit reveals the deadly, malignant nature of sin in a new and more vivid light. There is solemn heart searching and a deep conviction, and the sins God has pointed out are denounced forever. It is an experience that brings a new and deeper consciousness of the presence of Jesus, and the reality of His love and power to transform the life. From such a meeting the people go out quietly with subdued voices, humble hearts, and a deep longing to cherish the abiding presence of Jesus.
* Paper presented at Presidents' Council, Battle Creek, Mich.
