Seeker Sensitive Ministry

Seeker Sensitive Ministry: It is all the rage now among churches. Churches are foregoing the preaching about sin, Hell and God, for a softer, gentler approach to ministry. Churches are evolving from the core valued taught in the Bible to fit the marketing strategies of the business world. Serving lattes and crumb cake with their scripture, seeker sensitive churches focus on the personal needs of people in the here and now, not the spiritual needs of people. Sermons are short, light and heavily decorated with humor. Pastors are becoming more like Jay Leno than Billy Graham. Seeker sensitive churches have gone so far as to say that churches need to remove the cross from the church's identity. Smaller churches look at the mega churches and try to figure out what they are doing right. Mega churches are able to offer lots of services; child care, workout rooms, private schools, fellowship groups. Mega churches are doing opinion polls to find out what people want in a church rather than looking to God to lead their church.

What does the Bible say about "seeker sensitivity"?

1. 1Peter 4:14 “If you are rejected for the name of Christ, Blessed are you, for the spirit and glory of God rests upon you."

2. Luke 6:22,23 “Blessed are you when men hate you, when they reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for Joy! For great is your reward in Heaven. . ."

3. 2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction."

4. John 15:18-20"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘a slave is not greater than his master,’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also."

Today, my dad challenged me to study Psalm 119. Although, I have read it many times before, one verse jumped out at me tonight. Psalm 119:139:

My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words.

Oh! that we all had a zeal for our enemies like the psalmist! Where is your church? Are your trying to make everyone comfortable? Are you trying to entertain instead of correct, rebuke and encourage? Are you focused on providing services or teaching eternal life?

One more passage....For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." Romans 1:16-17

We are all called to tell people about this gift we have been given by Christ. The Bible says some will be offended. We can not stay silent any longer! Let the Holy Spirit move!