Softly And Tenderly: The Altar: A Place to Encounter God

To thousands of people, the beautiful hymn Softly and Tenderly will always be associated with an altar, a place where an encounter with God marked a turning point in their lives. Where did the idea for an altar originate? Has it played a significant part in Christian experience over the centuries? Is its use valid today?Questions such as these sent the author on a search for answers. The result is this book, which was not written with final answers in mind. The ultimate value and meaning of the kneeling altar as a means of grace rests in the heart of the beholder.The first nine chapters are devoted to the history of the altar starting with the initial altar built by Noah. Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Samuel, and David all used altars and in different ways. But for the Hebrew leaders the altar symbolized man’s encounter with God.In New Testament times the use of the Hebrew altar with its animal sacrifices was no longer needed for the followers of Christ. The symbolic altar, however, was there and was linked with the persuasive preaching of the apostles and Paul, laying a foundation for later use of the altar in the church. The historic portion continues through the centuries noting the contributions of Luther, Calvin, Arminius, Wesley, Edwards, and Whitefield. Their contributions were not to the use of a public altar, but they were to the spirit of the altar and altar call. It remained for Francis Asbury, Charles Finney, and Phineas Bresee in the 18th to 20th centuries to develop the public invitation and a public altar in conjunction with their evangelistic ministries. Cloth.
ASIN: 083411304X
VSKU: BVV.083411304X.A
Condition: Acceptable
Author/Artist:Les Parrott, Sr.
Binding: Hardcover
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: The item is very worn but is perfectly usable. Signs of wear can include aesthetic issues such as scratches, dents, worn and creased covers, folded page corners and minor liquid stains. All pages and the cover are intact, but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include moderate to heavy amount of notes and highlighting, but the text is not obscured or unreadable. Page edges may have foxing age related spots and browning . May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.