162
“Tell me what the world is saying today, and I’ll tell you what the church will be saying seven years from now.”
—Francis Schaeffer
10 comments
Ouch! lol Now you’ve gone to meddlin’. :p
This makes my stomache turn because it is true. In an effort to be socially relevant and seeker friendly, we have discarded the very glory of God: His complete fullness. We have replaced it with a shell, really, an idol we have made with our own minds with the part we think people would be comfortable with. YUCK! ( we and our is collectively the Body of Christ, not an individual).
You know, I got caught up in the anti-“seeker sensitive” rhetoric for a while.
In a way, there is truth to the fact that we have skewed the truth of the Gospel to make it appealing to those who want to appear “relevantly righteous” as though Jesus is a merit badge to be pinned onto the sleeve of some social programme.
Shame on those who would put such a false front on Christ’s message of reconciliation!
However, Jesus’ message of salvation was targeted at true seekers and locked out those who only wanted an “experience” or tidy religious framework for self-gratification.
He said:
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
In other words, I am the answer for all those who labor under the burden of their sin–Come, I’ll lift it since you recognize your own inability and frailty.
I dunno. Sounds pretty “seeker sensitive” to me ;o)
Heather,
First, by seeker sensitive, I meant what I believe most mean when they say it. A gospel which is not THE Gospel. Where God is all loving, no wrath, come to Him just as you are and stay that way, no accountability required, live a life of sin and irreverance and the preaching is likely psychology with God mixed in. And one can do this because God is not full of power and wanting to impart it on His Body, He is not full of miracles wanting to impart it on His Body, He is not a jealous God wanting a faithful lover, He is not God full of righteousness and judgment who must rule accordingly in addition to being full of love, grace, compassion and mercy.
And not to push a point. But the Bible states the only way we can come to God is if He draws us. So to look to make Christ “friendly” for those who are seeking or looking around for any type of religion that suits them is to throw pearls to swine in addition to neglecting the flock. To those that He draws, we have the responsibility to show them the full and real God of the Bible, or we are in danger of being bad stewards to those He has sent us.
I guess this is the very long version of what I meant in the condensed, up there. Sorry for the novel, Kelly and Heather
Hmm. I would’ve said 10. Seven is scarier.
My husband says we should be seeker sensitive…..to the One Who seeks our worship!!!! 🙂
My husband says we should be seeker sensitive…..to the One Who seeks our worship!!!! 🙂
Kelly L,
I gotcha. I do know what you meant by “seeker sensitive” and I agree that a distortion that does not require that we be broken first is not a loving message at all.
I just got thinking about it and realized that “seeker sensitive” is kind of a misnomer. 🙂
Guess I need to be careful how I phrase things.
My apologies.
Heather,
No apologies needed. I thought after I posted the 2nd one “I hope she knows I wans’t being snotty.” It takes me so long to explain what I mean that I try to condense it, then I am vague. (Or so says my hubbie ;}) I always enjoy what you have to say and know (or think I do) your heart.
Hope mine was clear, I wan’t trying to be defensive, but concise.
Word Warrior,
What a true quote! .