We need to dial down our altar call language.

I’ve been to more Christian youth events and festivals than you could swing a weasel at, and invariably there is always some form of “altar call.”

Whatever you (or I for that matter) might think about an altar call-type response for decision moments, I’m always troubled (translation: ticked, irked, vexed, miffed) by the language we use for a very particular phrase. It sounds something like this:

“If you can’t [stand up, walk to the front, put up a hand, pray out loud, dance the funky chicken—delete as appropriate] then you won’t be able to face the real challenges of living as a Christian.”

What on earth?!? I mean, seriously, are you kidding me?

There is no connection, at all, whatsoever, in-our-wildest-dreams, between standing up in a freakishly scary way at a youth event, and daily walking with and worshipping Jesus. Unless, that is, you’re trying to draw an immediate straight line between their conversion and their potential impending persecution or martyrdom.

Becoming a Christian is starting a relationship with Jesus. It needs a light touch. It’s new, it’s vulnerable, it needs time, love, patience, nurture, mercy, and even more love. It’s immensely personal, and it’s the first step on a long journey. Why would we double-underline that step with a moment that’s going to guilt-trip a bunch of young people, terrify a bunch more, and unhealthily inflate the egos of a lot of the rest?

I think, however, that we tend to see these conversion moments, metaphorically speaking, as marriage ceremonies, rather than first dates. When we give young people the opportunity to follow Jesus, we are inviting them into the earliest stages of discipleship. There will come times for public declarations of commitment, but that’s not the first step. We’ve got to give new converts time to find their feet, and really establish their relationship in a healthy way. We’ve got to set them up for a win!

When a young person accepts Jesus for the first time, it should come with a sense of joy, peace, and excitement to begin a new chapter of their lives. It should come with reflection, openness, and consideration. It should be presented with gentleness and hope. They should never, ever, ever, ever feel bullied into it, or feel pressured into furnishing that moment with unnecessary stress.

Discipleship is the process of preparing them to live as worshippers in a hostile world. Let’s not make that a pre-condition of beginning their new relationship with Jesus.

Ranty-Tim-out.