The Altar Call: The Origins and Present Usage

by David Bennett

Overview

The Altar Call is a thorough examination of the public invitation practice within Christian evangelism. In addition to giving a comprehensive historical background that spans three continents, The Altar Call also poses the following question: If John Wesley, George Whitefield , and Jonathan Edwards are regarded as the great figures of modern evangelicalism, why did none of these important leaders practice the invitation system that became so important in so many later evangelical groups? This important study will be of interest to both religious scholars and lay people, who are curious about the antecedents, development, and current use of the altar call.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761818397
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/08/2000
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Regarded internationally as a leading authority in the field of precious stones and jewellery, David Bennett spent 42 years in the role of Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby's jewellery division, a post he held until 2020. During his prestigious career, David sold three of the five most-expensive jewels in auction history, as well as seven 100-carat diamonds, earning him the nickname the '100-carat man'. David has also presided over many legendary, record-breaking auctions, such as the Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor (1987), The Princely Collections of Thurn und Taxis (1992) and Royal Jewels from the Bourbon-Parma Family (2018).

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Foreword; Preface; Acknowledgments; Introduction
Chapter 2 Wesley, Whitefield and Edwards
Chapter 3 The Early Period
Chapter 4 "It was the best of times"
Chapter 5 Camp-meetings and Itinerant Preachers
Chapter 6 Theological Changes
Chapter 7 Charles Grandison Finney
Chapter 8 The Public Invitation in the British Isles
Chapter 9 Further Development
Chapter 10 The Altar Call in Australia
Chapter 11 Modern Usage
Chapter 12 The System's Rationale
Chapter 13 Counseling and Follow Up
Chapter 14 Christian Conversion
Chapter 15 Results Examined
Chapter 16 Problems with the System
Chapter 17 Recommendations
Chapter 18 Conclusions
Chapter 19 Bibliography; Index

What People are Saying About This

Mark Noll

Mark Noll, Wheaton College
David Bennett's history of the altar call is the best sort of engaged history. Many historians have commented on the practice of inviting serious inquirers to the front after a service of Christian proclamation as a part of making a decision for Christ. Until this time, however, no one has worked out the history of the practice so well, and only a few have evaluated its theological significance as carefully as it is evaluated here.

Editorial Reviews

Bennett's engaged history serves as a reminder that traditional practices should not be immune from scrutiny.

Doxology

David Bennett's history of the altar call is the best sort of engaged history. Many historians have commented on the practice of inviting serious inquirers to the front after a service of Christian proclamation as a part of making a decision for Christ. Until this time, however, no one has worked out the history of the practice so well, and only a few have evaluated its theological significance as carefully as it is evaluated here.

Mark Noll

David Bennett's history of the altar call is the best sort of engaged history. Many historians have commented on the practice of inviting serious inquirers to the front after a service of Christian proclamation as a part of making a decision for Christ. Until this time, however, no one has worked out the history of the practice so well, and only a few have evaluated its theological significance as carefully as it is evaluated here.--Mark Noll, Wheaton College

Bennett's engaged history serves as a reminder that traditional practices should not be immune from scrutiny.--Doxology

Bennett's "engaged history" serves as a reminder that "traditional" practices should not be immune from scrutiny.--Doxology

From the Publisher