ALTAR CALL QUESTIONABLE AT A FUNERAL

Q: I've attended two memorial services in two weeks, both at non-denominational Christian churches (I'm Catholic). Toward the end of each service, both of which were respectful and quite lovely, the minister announced an "altar call," stating that Jesus was the only way to salvation, and that those who had not come to Jesus should do so at that very instant! This exercise lasted a good 10 minutes.

I'm a pluralist, so I don't believe accepting Jesus is the only path to salvation, and I was very uncomfortable for my Jewish and Muslim friends in attendance. Is this a new trend? Is it appropriate? It seems as though the minister was taking advantage of a captive audience. However, no matter how offended anyone might have been personally, no one was going to be disrespectful by walking out. - M., via godsquadquestion@aol.com

A: The "altar call" is one of the most distinctive and controversial elements of evangelical Christianity. It was "invented" about 150 years ago by American evangelist Charles Finney and popularized by Dwight Moody and especially Billy Graham. The people who come to the altar say a sinner's prayer and accept Jesus as their Lord and savior.

Interestingly, the objections of non-evangelical Christians like Pastor David Wooten (reformedevangelist.com) to the altar call apply even if a service is not a funeral. He finds the "invitation system" flawed because: it's not in the Bible; it's so new that it has no authenticity; it replaces careful, mentored contemplation of conversion, repentance and faith with an impulsive act; it's unnecessary for the Holy Spirit to do its regenerating work; it implies that those who don't come forward are somehow sinners; and it adds an additional condition for salvation that Jesus never gave.

I agree with Wooten's concerns and I agree with you that a funeral is no time for an altar call. People attending a revival meeting should expect an altar call and not be offended when it comes, but those attending a funeral are there to comfort the family of the deceased, not commit their lives to Christ.

Q: At a funeral I attended, the response to a Psalm read during the service was: "Remember me as loving you." I've been trying to identify which Psalm these words came from but have been unsuccessful. Can you help? - E., Hamden, CT, via a lovely card with seashells on the front

A: This statement is not from a psalm. The spiritual legacy of the Psalms is so rich that people often think any resonant, inspiring spiritual poem must be a Psalm. In this case, the funeral poem you heard is from a song from the Sufi tradition of Islam, the mystical part of the great Muslim faith.

The chorus of the song, in Arabic, is Ishq' Allah, Ma abud L'íllah , which means, "All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you."

From its original provenance as a Sufi song, the poem has become a contemporary song often played at Christian funerals. It is called "All I ask." The Benedictine monks of Weston Priory in Vermont produce lovely cards with this tender wish.

This wonderful song/poem/prayer reminds us that the spiritual insights of every faith can nourish and comfort those who are climbing the mountain up a different path. If anyone knows more about the history and authorship of this poem, please let me know and I'll pass it on. Please send our blessings of consolation to the family whose loss you helped to comfort.

Here are the words you seek: