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.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
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
