Gideon's Well: Seeker Friendly Churches

Monday, June 30, 2008

Seeker Friendly Churches

How many people know what I mean by a "seeker friendly church?" Is it wrong to use the things of man to bring people into a church, then preach the gospel and give an altar call? I have heard of some unusual ways of getting people to hear the Word such as a paint ball ministry and playing hard rock music to attract the people that enjoy that type of music. How do we know when the methods used to attract new people into our church have crossed God's line? I think that when we use methods that cause people to come to church for something other than God we have crossed that line. Matt 6:33 says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (KJV) If we bring people into a church through a paint ball ministry or because we offered them gas cards, as one church recently did, have we caused them to seek something other than God and His righteousness? We as Christians who know Jesus Christ and presumably the Bible are supposed to be using Christian methods to bring people into our churches. Jesus never offered people anything other than food, healing and the Word. We need to have the power of God in our churches, that is what will bring in the new people. John 12:32 says, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." (KJV) Jesus will draw all men unto Him but only when the power of God is at work in the church. The power of God is very weak in most churches today. Those churches are not seeking God first they are seeking ways to bring more people into their specific church and even if their motives are pure their methods are not. We need to allow God to bring the people into the church(es). We need to use the methods Jesus used to make Himself noticed by the people. Even TV ministries can be used in the wrong way to draw people to the church. I am not saying they are wrong, only that they can be used in the wrong way.
Jesus is the only one that can bring people into the body of Christ. He does it in His own way and in His own time. We need to honor Him and allow Him to work through us while we do our work following the example He set. We cannot allow ourselves to use methods that bring people to a church for any other purpose than Christ Himself. Jesus fed the poor, healed the sick and the lame. He unstopped the ears of the deaf and opened the eyes of the blind. If we work in this way Jesus will honor our efforts and the power of God will be in the church. When people outside the church hear and then see with their own eyes that people are being healed then they will come to the body and want to be part of it for God, not only for what they can get from the church.

1 comment:

robertnew said...

Gideon I agree. But I will say that there is a gray area on each side of the line especially when dealing with youth for example. I'll use your paintball ministry as an example. I know a church who started groups, such as a paintball ministry, for their youth. It was a place for the kids who were Christians and liked to play to get togehter. Some of their friends started coming and playing with them, then started coming to youth group meetings.

From there they started coming to church, then one of their families started coming. Now that family are all Christians and very active members.

So I guess it is kind of like what you said, it comes down to intent. Very good post, I enjoyed it.

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