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SATAN AT THE ALTAR A huge mistake that we often make when giving invitations is the assumption that the sinner enters some sort of a "safe zone" once he steps out of the pew and heads down to the altar. While it is true that some people are saved the moment they take that first step, it is also true that Satan stands right beside others, leads them down aisle, and then gives them a false salvation experience to hang their souls on for the rest of their lives. The assumption that a sinner would not step out and go to the altar unless "he's ready" is a very naive and false assumption. Many people at the altar do not need to be there at all, and many people who never come to it DO need to be there, and Satan is working in all of this. There is simply NO SAFE ZONE, no place in ones life or church where Satan cannot enter and cause confusion and falsehood, and certainly not at a church prayer altar that isn't even mentioned in the New Testament! No, I'm not condemning the responsible use of altars in church services, but I am most definitely condemning the MISuse of them.If more believers understood this, then there would be more sound and permanent decisions being made. Rather than encouraging everyone to come to the altar so we can SEE some "results" (Heb. 11:6, 27!), it would be far better for us to encourage only those who are truly convicted and being dealt with by the Holy Spirit. We should never cater to those who are just looking for a religious moment where they can apply a bit of church salve to their wounds without ever truly doing business with God. Far too many preachers and personal workers fall for this deceit and play right along with it. In essence, they are dancing with the devil while thinking they are doing God's work. There is NO SAFE ZONE, and the church altar is often the devil's dance floor. If you doubt it, just count the number of conversion REPEATS that you've seen through the years. We can slow down, pray for wisdom, and do a better job. That's all I'm saying.