Voice of Truth - Seeker Friendly
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I want to look at a term that has been used a lot lately. Seeker friendly church is a term used to describe a church that includes many different things to draw people in. Some things include: bookstores, food courts, bowling alleys, Starbucks and the list goes on and on. The idea is to get people to church and then maybe they will hear the gospel and turn to God. Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church was one of leaders who started this movement. He now admits this approach is not working as well as he thought. It has worked great at drawing huge numbers to church. But they are not reaching the lost. What does the Bible say about this?
Romans 3:10-11, "10as it is written,
THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;"
Most of us are familiar with verse 10. Verse 11 says there is none who seeks for God. These churches are bringing people in, but the problem is God is not drawing them. As a result, they don't understand the gospel even if they hear it. If no one seeks for God, how does anyone come to know Christ?
John 6:44, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day."
The Father draws us to Him. This is not a popular position and many will probably disagree with it. That is okay. Many take credit for their choice to follow God. In my opinion that lessens the grace of God. It becomes something you did, and not something that God has done in you. If not for the work God did in me, I would have never realized my sins. I would still be lost in my sins. It truly makes me more thankful to God to know He drew me. It also makes me want to serve Him more.
What does this mean for our churches? We need to worry less about programs and amenities. We need to focus more on reaching those God is drawing. We need to find where God is working and join Him there. The best place to reach those people is not in our church building, but out in the world where they live. Let's be churches who are known for our love of Christ, not by the programs we offer.
Romans 3:10-11, "10as it is written,
THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;"
Most of us are familiar with verse 10. Verse 11 says there is none who seeks for God. These churches are bringing people in, but the problem is God is not drawing them. As a result, they don't understand the gospel even if they hear it. If no one seeks for God, how does anyone come to know Christ?
John 6:44, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day."
The Father draws us to Him. This is not a popular position and many will probably disagree with it. That is okay. Many take credit for their choice to follow God. In my opinion that lessens the grace of God. It becomes something you did, and not something that God has done in you. If not for the work God did in me, I would have never realized my sins. I would still be lost in my sins. It truly makes me more thankful to God to know He drew me. It also makes me want to serve Him more.
What does this mean for our churches? We need to worry less about programs and amenities. We need to focus more on reaching those God is drawing. We need to find where God is working and join Him there. The best place to reach those people is not in our church building, but out in the world where they live. Let's be churches who are known for our love of Christ, not by the programs we offer.
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