In the modern day church we find at the closing of the service they have what is called “opening the church doors” or an “alter call.” This is not practiced by all denominations but there are some that do. The opening of the church doors or alter call is church wording for people to come to the front to make a profession of faith.

When the pastor has gotten to the point at which he invites people to the front to receive Christ, we should be there to assist. This doesn’t have to be one particular person. It can be a deacon, minister, evangelist, or even a servant for Christ. The requirement for whomever helps the pastor at this time of the service is one that has trusted in Christ as savior.

As the person that is assisting the pastor, at this time, comes forward there are some things that must be taken into consideration. The first and most important item to remember is to be in the right mindset. The right mindset consists of focusing on God, not man. Many times we begin to think about friends, family, and new visitors and how they need to be saved. We all have been there. We think more about the person and why they need Christ instead of God Himself.

Here is something to help us in getting in the right mindset. God’s desire is that we bring glory to His name at all times. Exodus 9:16, “And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.” This scripture reveals to us two things. First, we see that God will have His name glorified. Second, His will, will be done…no matter what. Remember, God is the one that is all powerful. Not man. This is the correct mindset to be in. This is a mindset where we understand that God is the one in control and the one that will have His name glorified.

By having a mindset on who God is we can start to see that we have very little to do with the process of salvation. This leads into the second item that we must take into consideration. Its not about us. This is a hard pill to swallow sometimes because we feel as though if we say the right thing or pray the right prayer then the person, as they come to the front, will come to Christ. Again, remember that the focus is on God (the right mindset). That means that we are merely instruments in the hand of God. Let me give an example.

Acts 8:26-38, “26And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.”

In this scripture we find that Philip was instructed where to go and what to do. Philip was told to go to the Eunuch and Philip began clarifying the scripture. Here’s what we need to take from this. Philip was listening to what the Lord wanted and he was obedient. Philip would never have been able to do this without being in the right mindset about the Father. Philip was an instrument in the hand of God.

This is a great lesson for us as we are dealing with people that come to the front of the church. Just be an instrument in the hands of God. Whether we are to read scripture, pray, or listen to the person that comes whichever it is it must be what God wants. Not what we want.

Remember, it is God that draws the person. John 6:44, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” It is God’s job to draw that person. Sure, people will come based upon emotion. But that isn’t what we want. We never want to give someone a false sense of eternal security. We can’t guilt people into believing in Christ. This means that the pastor shouldn’t talk someone into it just as much as the person assisting the pastor at the front. The person can only be drawn by the Father.

Also, the heart of man is deceitful and wicked (Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”). This is a condition of the heart that only God can fix. Paul puts it another way. Romans 8:8, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Because of the condition of the heart this is why we find in 2nd Corinthians 5:17 that we become new creatures in Christ. Again this is only done through the work of God.

We find that it is impossible for man to save himself. Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” Through this one scripture we see the truth in our salvation. It isn’t about us. Through God’s sovereignty He has chosen to display His grace and mercy upon us. Ephesians 2:8-9, “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

In closing, it should not be a surprise that salvation is because of God. We have to remember the truths regarding salvation at all times. Whether we are located at the front of the church in order to assist the pastor or if we are in the streets, its not about us. It isn’t the beautiful words that we can use. It isn’t how soft we speak or how well we are liked. What it is about is remembering that God is in charge. God does want His name declared in all the earth and all we have to do is willing to be an instrument. How awesome it is to be instruments, just as Philip was, in the hand of almighty God. What greater place is there to be then in His hands?