One time while preaching a revival for an Assembly of God I called out the pianist for prayer. He was a young male who was playing as the altar call was taking place.
He responded with anger and denial. He was the pianist and he was not supposed to be called out. Have you seen people who hid behind musical instruments during altar services.
It always amazes me that the congregants are being swept away in the spirit, their needs are being met yet there are groups that are not supposed to be approachable. Ministers sitting on the platform, people who are assigned duties as ushers etc.
Have you seen this in your Church of God?
Oh yes I watched a worship leader who was also a Pastor’s wife living in total rebellion to God. An evangelist called her off the stage to pray over her. While he was praying I watched her swaying to the music and I heard the Spirit say, “she is hiding from Me behind the music.” She finally left God and left the church.
it was a series of planned services!
I tried once. I was playing bass at a CoG in WV and had decided I was giving up my calling to ministry. Mark Casto was preaching and I was standing directly behind the pulpit. I noticed he started pacing and looking at me repeatedly. I started playing harder in hopes that he would understand how “vital” I was to the altar call… He didn’t even call me. He pointed sternly directing me to stand in front of him and placed the mic down and said, God did not call you to fail and don’t you EVER deny your calling again!” After that I experienced a once in a lifetime experience with the Holy Spirit that became a landmark for me on my spiritual life.
And then sometimes, the opposite is true. There was a woman who called people out for prayer, but anyone could see she was a fake. One man, sitting there, said, “I am not going up there should she call me out.” Moments later the word came out, “BRO so & so, COME FORTH.”
I have a big file folder of “calling folks out” a lot should be thrown into file 13
I had a pastor who used to jokingly say that artists and musicians would not make it into heaven. I did meet a lot of snooty music majors at Lee.
I hid behind the drums for years.
at camp meetings the backslid pastors served on the usher committee and while the preaching is taking place they are huddled in the back somewhere counting money!
No, but I’ve seen it in some AG.