THE preacher is earnest, the sermon stirring, the congregation increasingly involved in the challenge of the message presented. Skillfully and deliberately the speaker's words are channeled to the personal needs of his hearers. An appeal is made for decisions and rededications. Many, if not most, of the congregation signify their response to the appeal by standing. A dedicatory prayer is offered, a hymn is sung, and the congregation disperses. The preacher is warmed by the response to his call. He believes that the Spirit of God has taken possession of the lives of the majority of his hearers.
How often is this story repeated at camp meetings, Week of Prayer meetings, special anniversaries, and church dedications.
But what is the enduring effect? Perhaps if the preacher were to listen to the lunchtime conversations of some who responded, or note the frivolity and careless behavior on Saturday evening by others, serious questions might arise in his mind regarding the real response of his congregation.
How fearful is the responsibility of one who, motivated by the Spirit of God, challenges the lives of his hearers in matters of eternal consequence! Too frequently in sufficient thoughtful preparation has preceded the appeal. Too few ministers understand the nature of the psychological response to such appeals.
The altar call makes its most indelible impact upon the youth, for it is at this age level that the burden of decision making and choice is most intensely experienced. Motivated by an idealism rarely matched at earlier or later ages, youth tend to respond with great personal involvement. As the love of Christ is unfolded to them, not only is their intellect challenged but there is also considerable concomitant emotional response. No man or woman can experience the love of Christ in his life without reciprocating that love. This emotional response, like all human emotional responding, is associated with bodily changes mediated by the sympathetic nervous system. These changes stimulate and facilitate behavior by the secretion of adrenalin into the blood supply, increased heartbeat and breathing rate, and improved muscle tone.
Don't Let the Fire Go Out
Thus a genuine response to the call of Christ brings with it an automatic preparation for action. The soul cries out for some thing to do to reinforce the commitment. Frequently we fail to provide for the challenge of this situation, sending away those who have signified their acceptance of Christ without any opportunity whereby they might reinforce their decision in fruitful Christian endeavor.
Yet after the service has ended, the motivated energy is still present, the desire for activity persists. Often confused and unguided, the youth fall prey to other activities, unsanctified and unprofitable. Discouragement and frequently embarrassment occur, and the end result is worse than if no challenge had ever been presented.
The appeal for personal surrender has a very real place in preaching the gospel, but never should such a plea be made without the provision of some task whereby the commitment is reinforced. Very frequently a special series of meetings, such as the Youth Week of Prayer, is concluded by a consecration call on the final Sabbath after noon, yet this is regularly followed by a Saturday evening program where the young people "can let their hair down." Surely such a program militates against the Spirit-inspired response of a few hours earlier! How much better if the youth are provided with the opportunity to witness their faith. Apart from the results of such a witness, there would be a much greater likelihood that the decision made would be of lasting and enduring effect.
Translate the Call Into Action
The SDA Bible Commentary on Matthew 7:24 emphasizes this need for suitable follow up: "It is a dangerous thing to hear a divine command if what is heard is not translated into action, for hearing inevitably brings with it responsibility for cor responding action."
Ellen G. White frequently expresses this relationship between commitment and service. "All who receive the life of Christ are ordained to work for the salvation of their fellow men. For this work the church was established, and all who take upon themselves its sacred vows are thereby pledged to be co-workers with Christ." --The Desire of Ages, p. 822.
Christ's ministry was built upon the principle of reinforced commitment. When calling Peter and Andrew, He said, "Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men" (Mark 1:17). Later, when Christ personally questioned Peter regarding his love for Him, Peter was directly commissioned to feed the lambs and the sheep (John 21:15-17).
The last counsel of Christ to Nicodemus in John 3:21 was, "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." Similarly, the rich young ruler was challenged with a task when he sought the way of salvation. "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me" (Matt. 19:21).
The apostle Paul, in his conversion experience, recognized the vital need for action when he inquired, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6). Before he spent preparatory time in Arabia he witnessed to his newly accepted faith. After his eyes were restored he straightway "preached Christ in the synagogues" (verse 20).
Unfortunately, many of our young people yearn to follow Christ but do not know how. They have but vague understanding of what to do when the Master calls. Discouragement and despondency take over from their initial enthusiasm. Resistance to the subsequent calls by the Spirit follow, and their eternal destiny is in jeopardy. The ministry is confronted with the challenge of not only presenting the love of Christ but also of providing training and opportunity for the love of Christ to be expressed in the living witness of our young people in active missionary endeavor.
