My brother Jeremy Sarber posted some good thoughts recently about seeker friendly churches. He concluded that
This model for the church begins with a misguided priority of simply getting warm bodies in the pews on Sunday. I do understand their reasoning. After all, Jesus said that heaven rejoices over every sinner that repents (Luke 15:7). Even so, the end result tends not to be the conversion of sinners, but the conversion of the church for the worse.
I heartily agree. It seems clear to me that evangelism is not a purpose of the local church gathering; it is a byproduct.
The church exists primarily “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;” (Ephesians 4:12).
Believers are commanded to gather together and “stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Some may argue that the purpose of the church was given in the Great Commission. In my opinion, the Great Commission is given to individual saints, and is part of the “work of the ministry” for which they are equipped when gathering with a local church. I suppose that by extension, the Great Commission is a purpose of the universal church (all believers).
In addition, 1 Cor. 14:24 “But if . . . an unbeliever . . . enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all;” assumes that the unbeliever’s entrance into a church is merely incidental. It does not suggest that believers should invite unbelievers, it simply suggests that unbelievers who happen to wander in may be convicted simply by the truth that is being communicated. Can you see this scenario taking place in a seeker-friendly church?
A more subtle challenge exists for the missional church movement, who try to meet in small, non-threatening groups and interact with the lost on their turf as it were. They too must be careful not to compromise their message by focusing too much on creating a “safe” environment for unbelievers.
Great thoughts. Have been struggling with this issue lately, as well. Seems that “church” has become an endless series of regularly scheduled public evangelistic meetings.
Unfortunately, my observations match yours.
I appreciate the thoughts above. The purpose of the Church is for the equipping its members, ie. discipleship. If a church is not equipping its members then it has misplaced priorities. I like the model of church that Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones displayed while in pastorship. The main point was to preach the necessity of the Gospel above all such programs and meetings. I feel there is a direct correlation between the entertainment and false conversions in our churches today. Look forward to reading more of your blogs, keep up the good work.
Thanks, Jason!
Ian,
Again, thank you for your observations. I was a sinner who “wandered” into a church service 26 years ago. I was immediately convicted of my sinfulness even before the Word was preached. Don’t know if That would be the case today if I walked into that same church, since it has somewhat taken on the seeker friendly model.
Individual believers had witnessed to me several times prior to that (the Great Comission), and most likely had prayed for me. Thankful that their churches and pastors had prepared them to do the work of the ministry.
Praise the Lord, Jay. What a testimony to the power of a biblical model for church!