There is a cultic teaching and practice in the Christian churches, undetected and unquestioned for a long period of time. It is the teaching of self-made renewal and self made commitment. These are vows, promises, dedications, pledges, loyalty vows, and commitment made publicly as demanded by the preachers from their congregations. People are compelled and required to make such decision in order to avoid any form of condemnation or rejection by the church. The people are forced to make public:

• Dedication of self to God
• Promises to do something
• Pledges to give something
• Vows to fulfill within a perio
• Renounce practices or vices
• Confess personal sins
• Promises to serve God

The preachers who practice these have developed the art of salesmanship and negotiation by godly coercion rather than by doctrinal persuasion. Because of spiritual and doctrinal ignorance, the congregation accepts such practice as the will and the way of God. Such people are like Jephthah who made an irrational and foolish decision for God in order to get divine approbation and favor (Judges 11:30-31, 34-35). 

Vows may never be taken rashly. This principle was enforced by the example of Jephthah and clearly stated in Proverbs 20:25.A vow is meant as a voluntary obligation or promise made to God. It is generally taken on condition of receiving special favors from God. Often during sickness or other kinds of affliction the vow is made to God during the time of severe adversity and extreme weakness.

It is then to be carried out when the calamity is over or the desire is granted (Gen. 28:20-22; Num. 21:2; I Sam. 1:11; 2Sam. 15:8). The conditions of the vow are the following:

A consciousness of entire dependence upon the will of God and of obligation of gratitude;

• That it is something which in itself is lawful;
• That it is something which is acceptable to God;
• That it is something which tends to the spiritual edification of the one who makes the vow.

 Who may take such a vow?

The person assuming the vow must be competent, that is having sufficient intelligence. A child or a person with an unbalanced mind may not take it.

The vow may be assumed only after due deliberation. Being an act of worship, it may not be taken rashly or aggressively.

It must be voluntary and betaken cheerfully.

 In the pre-canon period, a vow was lawful under three conditions:  First, from the nature of a vow, being a promise made to God. It may be an expression of gratitude for some favor already granted or a pledge to manifest gratitude for some blessings desired, should God see fit to grant them. Jacob vowed that if God would bring him back to his father's house, he would consecrate one tenth of all he possessed to God, such vows  abound in the Jewish Old Testament times (Psalms 65:1, 76:11).

Second, the vow is lawful because the Bible contains many examples and many injunctions to their faithful observance. This is sufficient proof that on proper occasions vows are acceptable in the sight of God (Deut. 12:6; Eccl. 5:4; Gen. 28:20).

Third, the lawfulness of the vow is also evident from the fact that the baptismal covenant is in the nature of a vow. An element of vow is also clearly implied in the celebration of the Lord's Supper. In both sacraments there is a consecration to Christ and a vow to be faithful to him. The same is true of the marriage covenant, because the promises therein made are not merely promises made between two parties, but an oath and a vow taken before God.

Revival is the work of God the Holy Spirit in the life of believers (see Tract No. 11). It is not the result of human manipulation and scheming. Anything that can be imitated and copied is not from God. Satan has produced enough fake revivals, fake renewals, fake loyalty and fake zeal for God. These preachers are giving their congregation fake love and devotion, loyalty or commitment to God.

Christianity is a personal relationship with God, and everything in this spiritual relationship is private affairs of every believer. The Christian giving, serving, working, praying and other activities are all personal affair. The Christian loyalty or commitment to God is very personal.

The hypocrite prays for an audience to hear and see, he serves to be noticed, he works to be commended, and he gives to be accepted. His commitment is a show for all to watch. Nothing is genuine. Christian commitment involves your free will decision. You use your free will to believe and accept the free gift of salvation, and you will continue to execute your free will in making daily decisions pertaining to your Christian walk of life.

Your loyalty or dedication to God has nothing to do with the altar call enforced by some preachers. They are demanding decision that rightfully belongs to God from your souls.

God does not act apart from human free will and never does He force anyone to make a decision to accept His grace or do His plan and purpose. The altar call is not biblical or spiritual but human viewpoint based on demonic doctrines. Arrogant preachers wanted statistics and data to boast about. Their objective is not the spiritual growth or maturity of believers but statistics to gratify ego.

They made salvation very easy for the worldly and unregenerate (by stepping forward, laying of hands, filling an acceptance card, or by raising their hands). They made the Christian loyalty or commitment so simple for the carnal or unbelievers (making signing up a dedication card, stepping forward, etc). No wonder, their churches are rapidly growing numerically. Numerical growth is not sign of spirituality or blessing from God.

These preachers keep the Bible doctrine from the people so that they can continue to manipulate and abuse them. When the Catholic Spaniards came to this country, they kept the Bible from our forefathers. When the Protestant American came, they kept the Bible doctrine from our fathers. Now, the devil continues to keep the Bible doctrine from believers. Anyone who keeps away the Bible doctrine from the people is the devil's advocate. Such preacher will give his people fake doctrines, service, worship and fake dedication. Fake loyalty and commitment leads to reversionism or carnality.

Some preachers play the role of God in the life of others. They have forced decisions using their human persuasion ability and demonic wiles. Such coerced decisions give them the feeling of superiority and spirituality. They wanted to show others churches that they are the great servants of God. They are building their own kingdom not the kingdom of God, and their ministry is the monument of their greatness.

Public act of dedication or commitment is always unreal and under the guise of spirituality. An unbeliever who wanted to make an impression on a person he is courting can easily raise his hand and step forward to accept Christ. A person who is trying to impress the person he loves can easily step forward or sign a card and will pretend that he is ready for a new life. More than ninety five percent (95%) of those who usually came forward to accept Christ went back to the world. Coerced commitment is not acceptable but a sin against God and it cannot produce genuine decision of the soul for God.

When you come forward in response to the call of the pastor to dedicate your life, you are committing a sin of hypocrisy no matter how sincere you decision might be. Your act is blasphemous since God never functions in that manner. You are committing the sin of idolatry since you are responding to a man thought he is using the name of God.

Whatever your decision for God, let it be your free will decision apart from  coercion or manipulation. These preachers are good in guilt building techniques and playing with human emotions in order to get their most wanted decisions for statistical purposes. The statistics is the monument of their arrogance. Your are personally accountable to God so let it be your own decision.

Copyright ©2003-2007   J. R. Cherreguine Bible Doctrine Ministries