tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1064910842157504583.post4929060099138519548..comments2024-01-17T14:19:04.423+00:00Comments on Why I Left Christianity: Come on Down; God is Waiting!Lori G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00401861923744458664noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1064910842157504583.post-87522024113585639012011-01-28T16:30:33.604+00:002011-01-28T16:30:33.604+00:00Well said Grace. I went to a charismatic church o...Well said Grace. I went to a charismatic church once where they were laying hands on people and they were being slain in the spirit. They got to me and I wasn't feeling squat, but I felt the pressure to go backwards. Of course they had someone behind me to catch me. When their piano player played something on que that did it for me. I just can't look at that branch of Christianity in the same light as before.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1064910842157504583.post-45574035701864571552010-10-14T01:46:56.439+01:002010-10-14T01:46:56.439+01:00I have mixed feelings about these altar calls, Lor...I have mixed feelings about these altar calls, Lori.<br /><br />I think it's fine for people to come forward in church for prayer, and if they are looking for counsel.<br /><br />But, I don't feel this should be forced in anyway. God's spirit draws people to faith, IMO. Does He need altar calls to do this?<br /><br /> I've seen situations where this is abused, and people can be emotionally manipulated by the music, and preaching. It can be almost expected for young people, in particular, to walk down the aisle, and recite a prayer, as a kind of "fire insurance," oftentimes.<br /><br />In truth, people can do all this for the wrong reasons, check their mind at the door, and ultimately end up with a heart far from the love of God.Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17018475588969974790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1064910842157504583.post-58011285624814505692010-01-15T15:35:51.263+00:002010-01-15T15:35:51.263+00:00The Church that I attended as a child did not have...The Church that I attended as a child did not have alter calls (lutheran). But i did see this once. I went to a play, i think it is called heavens gates, hells fire. Basically they acted out a bunch of senerios about being saved and going to heaven or not a going to hell. By this point i was 15 and had already stop going to church for all the reasons that lori was questioning. I only went to this play because my friends family was taking me out to eat afterwords. At the end of the play the did an alter call. I believe that most of the people who went did because they were scared into being saved and i do not believe that Jesus would appeciate this. religions, beliefs, values, etc are not something that should be forced or scared into, they should be chosen by the individual. If not then it does not mean a damn thing. Also i agree that christians can be very judgemental. As i have said to many before if heaven is where people like you are going then hell can not be that bad.(I do not believe in hell anyways.)Courtneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03682075611156222334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1064910842157504583.post-87220358614527636882010-01-13T22:16:53.558+00:002010-01-13T22:16:53.558+00:00I agree with you--Christians are the most judgment...I agree with you--Christians are the most judgmental people I know. It always bothered me when people had a long alter call. Even when I was a Christian, I figured if you needed to get 'right with God', you could do it anytime. It's all about the emotions, though--alter calls are. You've just heard this big sermon, that maybe said something you really knew already and made you feel guilty...then the music, the lights, etc etc. It's all designed to heighten our emotions and make us feel something that maybe we don't really feel. That's how I look at the altar call...as a big show, for sure, but mostly a big manipulation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com