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

by A. Leslie Parrott Jr.

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.

228 pages, Hardcover

First published June 15, 1989

About the author

Father of author Les Parrott III.
Usually credited on covers as Leslie Parrott or Les Parrott Sr.

Dr. A. Leslie Parrott, Ph.D., was president of Olivet Nazarene University and Eastern Nazarene College from 1975 to 1991. He followed in the footsteps of his father, A. L. Parrott, who had also served as the university’s president from 1939 to 1948.

In addition to his work as an educator and minister, Parrott was a prolific writer.