Does God ONLY move at the Altar?

Originally Posted by Felicity

How was it a dumb statement? I meant it exactly as you say here - that it signifies to people a person's hunger, need, desire, what have you.

Of course God knows -- and you're right -- He can meet us and deal with us anywhere.

Don't be offended, Sis. Felicity! I have said much the same thing. MM is brave, throwing such large stones at two highly intelligent and spiritual people as we are. The reality is that the step out is more of a yielding to the hunger than a signifying of their hunger. I can be hungry and thirsty yet never yield to that hunger and thirst and I will die hungry and thirsty. Now, the altar is not the only place this person can yield but often times the public step in that direction breaks down the barrier between the hungry and the prepared feast of God's grace and mercy! It isn't a Dumb statement... but calling it such was rude!

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

I thought this may get more imput.

Seems no one is really interested in The Altar anymore.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

I've seen it happen and it's awesome! Our senior high SS class broke out into deep, deep prayer and interceding and we entered the morning worship feeling we were in the thorn room - - it was electric and contagious - - one of the most intense services I have ever been in without a single person saying a word.

There were people laying face first on the floor - - I believe that was the most saturated spirit filled place I've ever been in. We experienced a different level that day!

Did you mean throne room?

Or was this a painful experience?

[Esther]

Originally Posted by BoredOutOfMyMind

I heard the comment.

"Some folks are not saved, they don't even know how to come to the altar!"

Uhhhhh, by this reasoning, those in the back row are lost?

Is the soundman hopelessly lost also since he is in the back corner?!?

I wonder if the ushers are beyond all hope.

Oh gotcha!

Some are some are not.

It is not about location. IMO

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by Felicity

How was it a dumb statement? I meant it exactly as you say here - that it signifies to people a person's hunger, need, desire, what have you.

Of course God knows -- and you're right -- He can meet us and deal with us anywhere.

By dumb, meaning that some folks say that the person walking up front is signaling God that they are making a move towards HIM, they are letting HIM know of their intent of a change of heart and direction of their life. YOU and I have both heard this stated from pulpits everywhere. You AND Phil NEED to chillax, no one is sayin that felicity & phil are dumb, sheesh, drink a coffee will ya! Man....rude??? Whatever.
It is a signal to OTHERS in the building, not God...HE DONE KNOWS ALREADY
Capice? good, I'm outta here, sheesh.

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by philjones

Don't be offended, Sis. Felicity! I have said much the same thing. MM is brave, throwing such large stones at two highly intelligent and spiritual people as we are. The reality is that the step out is more of a yielding to the hunger than a signifying of their hunger. I can be hungry and thirsty yet never yield to that hunger and thirst and I will die hungry and thirsty. Now, the altar is not the only place this person can yield but often times the public step in that direction breaks down the barrier between the hungry and the prepared feast of God's grace and mercy! It isn't a Dumb statement... but calling it such was rude!

Whatever phil, whatever. Sheesh...

Originally Posted by Monkeyman

Whatever phil, whatever. Sheesh...

You obviously couldn't understand what I was writing because my tongue was so firmly planted in my cheek or perhaps the smilies I used were inadequate to indicate to you the condition of my heart when I posted

Now come on back and play. We enjoy having your toys in the sand box!

[NLYP]

Originally Posted by BoredOutOfMyMind

The asking others to come to the front is a Wesleyian philosophy. Yet, I have heard recently "you should come down to the altar to find God!"

Is God limited to only 10 feet in front of a pulpit, or can he fill "all the house where they are sitting?"

Do you have an altar at church, or only steps to the platform instead of an altar?

Is the altar dated to be abandoned?

ANYPLACE you find to offer up something to God becomes an Altar.
My car has been an atlar, my desk has been an altar, my floor, my closet.

ANYWHERE a connection is made between the human soul and an Omnipotent God becomes an altar.

[AmazingGrace]

If not going to the altar was a sign of not having a walk with God or not submitting or any of the such our church would be full of sinners because there isnt room for hardly anyone around the altar in comparrison to the amount of people we have. By the time the youth and the choir are there it is full and then there are another 500 people trying to get up there and that just aint happening! We have many many powerful services with most of the congregation standing/ sitting in their pews.

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

Ok, so we have it.

Churches of 500 do not have an altar anymore.

NYLP is content to worship at the Mountain, or in Jerusalem, or anywhere....