An exhortation is a public invitation to accept the Christian faith in a religious ceremony. Some believe this practice has its roots in the Bible, while others believe it is a more modern tradition.
The history of calling forward in the present age
The roots of the forward call go back to the Revival movements of the 18th and 19th centuries, especially in the United States and Great Britain. During this period, pastors such as George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, and Charles Feeney pioneered movements characterized by fiery sermons and calls to repentance and personal faith.
One of the earliest recorded examples of a call to action occurred during the Great Awakening in the American colonies. George Whitefield, a prominent preacher known for his powerful speeches, often asked listeners to come forward to publicly declare their faith. In these gatherings, which were often held outdoors, people would walk to the “bench of repentance” or an area designated for this purpose to pray and seek salvation.
This practice gained more attention with Charles Finney, the prominent leader of the Second Great Awakening. Finn’s innovative methods of evangelism placed great emphasis on the human will and the power of persuasion. He gave emotional sermons and long revival meetings, and employed a system of inviting people to come forward and publicly declare their commitment to Christ.
Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the calling forward in evangelical circles continued to evolve and adapt. As a visible sign of conversion and commitment, this practice was institutionalized in the structure of revival meetings, evangelistic jihads, and finally regular church worship. With the spread of evangelism worldwide, the act of calling forward became synonymous with the proclamation of the gospel and the call to discipleship of Christ.
The call to the front provided a public platform for individuals to publicly declare their faith and receive the approval of the community of believers. For many, coming forward symbolized a decisive break with the past and a commitment to a new way of life.
Critics have expressed concern about the practice’s potential for manipulation, sentimentality, and superficiality. Questioning its biblical basis, some have argued that this practice places too much emphasis on a moment of decision rather than the ongoing process of Christ’s discipleship.
The place of the call forward in the Bible
Throughout the Bible, altars have significant religious and symbolic significance in the context of worship and sacrifice. These sacred structures served as focal points for offerings to God and places to meet God.
In the Old Testament, altars played a prominent role in the worship of the people of ancient Israel. The book of Genesis records numerous examples of ancestors, such as Abraham and Jacob, building altars to offer sacrifices and worship God. For example, after God promised him the land of Canaan, Abraham built an altar at Shechem and another at Bethel (Genesis 12:7-8; 13:18).
However, the regulations regarding altars become more precise within the framework of the Mosaic Law. In Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, God gives specific instructions regarding the construction, location, and use of altars in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple.
In the tent of meeting, which served as a portable shelter for the Israelites during their wanderings in the wilderness, there were two main altars: the bronze altar of burnt offering and the golden altar of incense. The bronze altar was located in the courtyard and was used to sacrifice animals and was a symbol of atonement for sin and submission of the worshiper to God. The golden altar of incense, located in the holy place, was used to burn fragrant incense and symbolized the ascension of the people’s prayers to God (Exodus 30:1-10).
When Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, he followed these instructions and built a magnificent bronze altar for burnt offerings (1 Kings 8:22-64). This altar played an essential role in the sacrificial system prescribed by the Law of Moses.
In the New Testament, the concept of altar takes on a different meaning as the focus shifts from physical structures to spiritual realities. The main altar in the New Testament is no longer a physical structure, but the cross of Christ. Inspired by the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, Hebrews presents Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice whose blood brings forgiveness and redemption to mankind (Heb. 9:11-14; 10:10-14).
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