THE 'SEEKER-FRIENDLY' CHURCH

We are witnessing a new movement in modern Christianity. 

Many evangelical church leaders have completely redesigned their buildings and changed their services in an effort to bring more people through the doors. They have adopted a 'consumer-driven' sales strategy ... offering worldly allurements to attract non-believers.  

They call themselves 'seeker friendly'. 

Basketball courts, movie nights, and gift shops are replacing altars and stained glass windows. This marketing scheme systematically determines which enticements are needed to 'reel them in'. 

The fallacy with this approach is the term 'seeker-friendly'. There is no such thing as an unbeliever who is truly seeking God on his own ... None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks God. (Romans 3:10-11) 

How can a sinner 'seek' God when by nature he doesn't understand his need? The Bible makes it plain that man only sees his 'undoneness' when God's Spirit convicts him of sin. Jesus Christ affirmed ... No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him. (John 6:44) 

But there are lots of people who do 'seek' to be entertained and assured that God loves them. They want to find a religion that accepts them 'as is' and doesn't require repentance. These 'seeker-friendly' churches are happy to oblige.  

A serious problem with this movement ... In their desire to be seen as 'loving', sermons focus on man's state of well-being instead of God's Word. The subject of sin and hell is avoided at all costs. The Bible is open to interpretation ... thus ensuring that no one is offended. The great doctrines of the faith are seen as 'divisive'. 

They are MEANT to be divisive ... 

For the Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

The bottom line is that these 'seeker-friendly' churches have placed man at the center of the religious experience. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been laid aside to make room for a humanistic corrupt theology.