I wonder if some evangelists and pastors use altar calls for their own benefit--to see the fruits of their labor, as it were. I know that's probably not the motivation of the majority, but I'm sure it happens.
I'm sure you're right, on both counts. I'm sure that, to most, this is how they labor to be used by God to bring people to the (very Biblical) realities of conversion, saving faith, and union with Christ. But I'm equally sure that others revel in the crowds; and that partially accounts for the long, drawn-out, manipulative invitations with which I have sometimes seen fellows shame Christ.
Now, what do you think about his implication that converts virtually go through a catechism class before they're baptized, or granted access to the Lord's Supper? I lean his way, but on the other hand, I just don't SEE that explicitly in the NT. Acts 2 certainly paints the portrait of a sermon, an "invitation," a response, and a massive baptismal service immediately following. That pattern is repeated. Certainly no idea of the weeks, months, years and even decades that often separate conversion from baptism today. Or again, Communion. It celebrates our union with Christ, and His death for us. When did that happen? At conversion. How long should we force people to wait?
Asking that they undergo baptism, to attest to conversion, makes Biblical sense to me. But as I just suggested, I don't know if I'm Biblically warranted to put a lot of requirements on the former. As I read in the Bible, there just will be phonies, until the Lord comes back. I can't prevent it. I can do all I'm worth not to give false comfort, but even the Puritans had that "judgment of Christian charity" on others' profession of faith.
I axe you.
Dan
(c8