What is the motivation?
There are many people who answered an altar call out of fear of eternal damnation.
Instead of being motivated by:
- the weight of their sin
- their need of a savior
- their love of God
Relationships aren’t built on fear; they’re damaged and ended by fear.
Emotionally charged altar calls are the same way. Fear of hell as the priority creates a fear of God rather than a love for Him. It’s hard to cultivate a relationship in that environment. Eventually any faith planted in that soil will start to erode. It’s easy to walk away from a faith that roped you in with damnation.
True repentance that changes a person is rooted in the overwhelming love of the Father. He loves you so much that He pursues you, calling you out of the world and unto Himself. He reveals the burden of your sin and the freedom He offers through His son, Jesus. And that great love is what should motivate us to love Him in return and give Him our lives. To live in obedience to His word as a testimony of His Spirit in us.
Not to avoid hell.
To gain an eternity with Him.
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.“ 2 Timothy 1:7
“You will know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:16
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