I ran across your discussion via a google search on Finney and his “mourning bench”. My reason for this research is twofold. First, I was raised in a church where the “altar call” was a prominent feature. Secondly, I reject this as much as I do “the sinner’s prayer” because neither are scriptural and barely historical, which makes them new traditions of men.

Finney, while completely sincere and very effective in putting folk, as did Jonathan Edwards, in fear of their unltimate fates if they did not convert, implemented a lot of philosphical ideas and approaches. One very telling admission on his part is found in his memoirs where he essentially says the “mourner’s bench” effectively replaces baptism. Now that is completely heretical and unscriptural. No where in the scripture is baptism said to cease or be surpassed by any other form of public confession or profession.

I noticed Haoran’s comment regarding Acts 2 and that very historical and scriptural event has been the pratical basis for my maturing belief in baptism being efficacious to conversion. As a result, I am very predisposed to the ana-Baptist approach to the gospel.

Since many Baptist groups have as close a relationship, historically, with these as they do with the Puritans, I have issues with Calvinism.
This is primarily due to the excessive persecution of ana-Baptists, generally, by Calvinist rulers and the Roman Catholic church during the 16th and 17th centuries. These pious and faultless (in the words of their persecutors) folk were dispossessed of homes and countries because they believed in baptism for believers only and that infant baptism was of no effect.

I enetertained Calvinism for quite some time, but cannot reconcile it with scripture. But, I do appreciate that even if you folk are wrong theologically, I believe your heart is in the right place and you hold scripture in high reverence. I just wish everyone would believe the whole Bible. If that would happen, where no one picked out just the verses they like and ignored the ones they cannot explain or reconcile with their belief systems, we would see a truly united Christian church.

Peace in Christ.

I would agree that public baptism is a public declaration of faith. The problem with the altar call is that respoding to that public invitation is often viewed as faith itself. Assurance is given on the basis of having prayed the prayer, not whether or not you are believing, trusting in Christ. The altar call can be used in a good way, I would allow. But it is not a Scriptural means, and both the history behind it, and the widespread abuses of it would make me hesitate to use it.

The same is not true of Baptism, it is a divine prerogative.

I hope that answer helps. Sorry I was so late in answering.

Blessings from the Cross,

Bob Hayton

I was just thinking about the believers in Acts 2. They were called to (1) repent and (2) be baptised.

Even given the particularly unique workings of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, I would suspect that baptism spoken of is a physical water baptism. (not the Spiritual baptism that cannot be seen or ascertained.)

Isn’t the act of being baptised in water quite similar to that of coming forward at an altar call: i.e., a public declaration of faith, a symbolism of cleaning, and announcing your intention to live God’s way and follow Jesus? [and join the community of believers]

I don’t know if you see old comments like this one, but if you ever reply, plz send me an email too, I’d appreciate it!