Does God ONLY move at the Altar?

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

That is sad, but I'm afraid what's even sadder is we don't have this happening BEFORE the altar service at home either.

Excellent point, Renda!!

When I was a new convert I attended a church where there were about three or four women always up at the altar during the song service to get prayed for. Crying, crying.

I didn't really think anything of it. Sometimes they would come and get me and I would go and get prayed for too.

I remember one occasion when one of the women came to my pew to take me to the altar. I told her I didn't need to go because I had laid my burdens down in the prayer room before the service.

I found out later that they hardly ever prayed at home and hence why they were always at the altar.

We need to stop by the prayer room first! Whether it is at church or our home. Preferably both! I can't get into the service unless I've been in the prayer room. It doesn't even matter if I've prayed at home. I guess it's just the collective worship/prayer and possibly breaking strongholds in other's lives before the service.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

That is sad, but I'm afraid what's even sadder is we don't have this happening BEFORE the altar service at home either.

We have some powerful prayer meetings in our prayer room before service.

Last Sunday was red hot! I just wish we could take what's happening there out into the sanctuary. Perrhaps one of these Sundays it will happen. No perhaps about it. It will happen.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by BoredOutOfMyMind

Mega churches do away with altars, and now have buildings suited to drama and watching movies. I am not at church for a comfortable chair- I am there to get an experience with God.!!!

Esther, do we invite "all to come" or do we agree "you are lost if you are too far in the back."
oloroid

I'm sorry for being dense but I'm not sure what you are saying here???

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Felicity

We have some powerful prayer meetings in our prayer room before service.

Last Sunday was red hot! I just wish we could take what's happening there out into the sanctuary. Perrhaps one of these Sundays it will happen. No perhaps about it. It will happen.

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!

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by BoredOutOfMyMind

Mega churches do away with altars, and now have buildings suited to drama and watching movies. I am not at church for a comfortable chair- I am there to get an experience with God.!!!

Esther, do we invite "all to come" or do we agree "you are lost if you are too far in the back."

oloroid

I love altar services and don't ever want to do away with them. Our Sunday morning altar services are always standing, not kneeling, but that's just because most of these people aren't from a "churched" background, and they just come up and pray standing up, which I really like anyway.

Our Wed. night times around the altars are much more intense, since we have "Encounter Services" on Wed. nights and more of a lingering powerful time in the Lord.

[Felicity]

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!

People are so hungry for the power and presence of God! When you have a service like that - one where the power and presence of God is on display so powerfully - people talk about it for days!! They get a whole lot more excited about that than any "event" or program that takes place.

I get MOST excited when I see new people coming to God and then see them growing in their walk with God.

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

Originally Posted by Esther

I'm sorry for being dense but I'm not sure what you are saying here???

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.

[Pressing-On]

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.

I've heard that quite a bit.

[Monkeyman]

The statement that the person making their way to an altar signifies their need and hunger is just plain dumb...ain't we the ones always saying that God knows the thoughts, intents???? I don't have to signal anything to HIM, get HIM out of your small minded boxes. The only ones getting the signal are those present in the sanctuary. You can make the best decision of your life right in your pew, the soundroom, the bathroom, tha balcony, prayer room...need I go on?? No

The only reason we do this practice is to bring a cohesiveness to our church service endings...it makes it an easy transition...and it is ALL tradition. Don't get me wrong, I love time in an altar and as a musician, I feel I should be there more often then not as to be plugged into the direction of my Pastor. But really folks, its just another tradition, it ain't holy, just like your pipe organs, hymnbooks, or my guitar.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Monkeyman

The statement that the person making their way to an altar signifies their need and hunger is just plain dumb...ain't we the ones always saying that God knows the thoughts, intents???? I don't have to signal anything to HIM, get HIM out of your small minded boxes. The only ones getting the signal are those present in the sanctuary. You can make the best decision of your life right in your pew, the soundroom, the bathroom, tha balcony, prayer room...need I go on??

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.