EPISODE 104: Q&A

Date: 3/2/2022

Listener’s Question

Two questions that are related: How do denominations differ? Why don’t we do altar calls at Gateway?

Protestant denominational differences (primary differences)

1. Theological
   1. View of salvation (free will vs predestination)
   2. Sacraments (Lord’s Supper and baptism)
   3. Old and New Testament relationship 
   4. Charismatic gifts
   5. Anthropology (marriage, sexuality, etc…)
2. Ecclesiological
   1. Independent congregations vs connectionalism
   2. Plurality of leaders vs singular leader
   3. Role of women in the church
3. Practical (how theology and ecclesiology play out)
   1. Purpose of the worship service (discipleship vs evangelism).
   2. Purpose of the church (Great Commission, Great Commandment/Social Justice)
   3. Altar calls — more of a baptistic tradition though Charles Finney did influence the idea. But for the first 1700-1800 years of Christianity, altar calls were not a thing. Billy Graham made this a much more popular idea with his crusades in the 20th century.
      1. Why don’t we do them?
         1. We don’t see them in Scripture,
         2. It puts more emphasis on man’s decision than on God’s.
         3. We do give a call to respond to the gospel each week.
         4. We do give a call to come forward for prayer each week to everyone (I often wonder why more Christians don’t come forward for prayer).