Seeker Friendly Church Leader Admits They Have Done It All Wrong - Feedback

Seeker Friendly Church Leader Admits They Have Done It All Wrong

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Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.

Posted On: 11/10/09 10:07:00 AM

Age 35, WA

Not all so-called seeker-friendly churches are like what you describe. The ones I've been to (in varied places like Texas, New York, and Washington) are each very Biblical. Sure, the modern music is there, and people are encouraged to dress comfortably. But the messages preached are straight from the Bible. And it's more than milk. Besides, our church is very much into small groups, which is where much of the "meat" comes from anyway. My opinion is that as long as the Gospel is preached, including a Salvation message, then the marketing, clothing, and musical styles are irrelevant.
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Honesty - Turn the Magnifying glass on Baptists

Posted On: 04/24/08 10:46:28 AM

Age 40, LA

Bob, I am very disappointed in your article. I am not in disagreement with you major point, but in how you slammed them. Turn the magnifying glass on Southern Baptists of which i am and was raised. You really think our churches are full of mature Christians? Give me a break. If our churches were full of mature Christians then there would have never been this type of breakaway groups to begin with because the people would have been reaching and discipling their neighbors. Check out the latest stats on the SBC and how well the largest protestant denomination is doing with all of its mature Christians. See Ed Stetzer's article at http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2008/04/the_end_of_the_beginning_1.html Be careful how you judge. For you will be judged in the same manner you judge. Billy Stevens
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Re: Seeker Friendly Church Leaders Admit They Did It All Wrong

Posted On: 04/02/08 05:33:06 PM

Age 53, KY

I agree with Mr. Burney's assessment of the New Church Growth Movement. As a member of a Christian Missionary Alliance Church for nine years I saw how the church slowly changed from being Bible based and God centered to entertainment based and man centered. God have mercy on the souls of pasters that led their flock into this movement. After leaving the CMA Church we attended an Independent Christian Church. After a year in this church we again saw the Purpose Driven Methods being secretly introduced and eventually, after the slow change away from traditional worship, they did the full 40 day introduction. We left that church to find our present church and are now confronted with the same thing happening. I feel sorry for the mature church members that have the spiritual discernment to know something is wrong, but don't know what to do or how to stop this cancer in the church. I pray "Come Lord Jesus". Brenda
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help

Posted On: 03/27/08 09:23:37 PM

Age 38, VA

I have been going to my church for almost ten years, and they have been doing the seeker-sensitive stuff. On easter my pastor did a drama, with some movie clips of the passion throne in. It wasn't a typical Easter drama, too long to explain. The more I have grown in my faith the more I disagree with this method. I would even say it's sinful and unbiblical. People need to hear the truth of God's Word preached, not a bunch of dramas and skits and movie clips, and jokes etc.. We need to wake up individually and then as a church. Christ gave us clear orders, but Americanized Christianity is blowing it! There are exceptions, some are staying faithful.
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I Disagree

Posted On: 03/03/08 09:21:00 AM

Age 21, AZ

For the last two years I was helping lead worship for a 300 person congregation at a Pentecostal Church. Depth, Healing, and Personal Spiritual Growth was the purpose of every message, Bible study and worship service. Now, I am interning to become a worship leader for a 7000 person congregation at an Assemblies of God church that is labeled as "Seeker-Sensitive." Although I believe that the seeker-sensitive model does not always produce a strong depth to one's spiritual walk in the general congregation, I also believe two other things. 1. Since this culture has changed, people don't want the "traditional" way of doing church. Whether that is wrong or right on their part is not the issue... it's just the fact. So, should we change to a seeker-sensitive mode and save people who might die and go to heaven without the best understanding of scripture? Or should we stick with the old way of doing things because it's been the "correct" way of doing things for years before us and not save as many people... but go to heaven knowing that the few we did save were spiritually strong. 2. Many people think that just because a church is seeker-friendly must mean that the pastors there are all about numbers, money, and creating a cutting-edge atmosphere. That's not true. Now at a "mega-church" I am now behind the closed-doors and have seen the hearts of the pastors there... they are 100% sold out for God and have a burning passion for as many people to come to Christ... they are reaching out to the lost by getting onto their level, with pure hearts, desiring to serve God. Isn't that what Jesus did? He got onto the same level as us sinners. He ate dinner with the prostitutes, tax collectors, theifs, etc. But Jesus only discipled a core group of 12. Jesus traveled and saved a lot of people... He didn't stay in one place and focus on discipling a whole town. Aren't we to lead like Jesus? I think we need to disciple believers... don't get me wrong... I grew up too long not knowing why I believe what I believe and I understand the importance of it. But instead of analyzing a ministry that was given by God and putting it down... instead of having this battle of old vs. new, wrong vs. right, traditional vs. emerging... let's embrace the fact that God called us each to a different type of ministry. For some it might be to save people by the thousands... for others it might be to grow deep with a few hundred. God made us all different... I believe He made us all to have a different type of ministry as well. So why are we arguing with each other about which ministry is better than the other? Just do what God has called you to do and stop putting the other ministries down. Neither is right or wrong. They are just different. They reach out to different types of people and receive different types of results. Let's grow up and get over ourselves all ready. Seriously. This is for GOD isn't it?
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I Disagree

Posted On: 03/03/08 09:14:21 AM

Age 21, AZ

what is relevant

Posted On: 01/23/08 12:32:54 AM

Age 54, TX

what is being irrelevant, condoning your carnal lifestyle or hearing the truth
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Re: Seeker Friendly Church Leader Admits They Have Done It All Wrong

Posted On: 11/05/07 08:11:22 PM

Age 47, MO

No question, Doctrine is vital. The Word of God is clear on it. Yet here's a doctrine - Jesus said in Matthew 18 that the way to go to someone with an issue is first of all one on one. This is a doctrine of the church - just as vital as anything Paul wrote. But now, some in the line of believers think that if they have a problem with another Christian leader, they can bypass the first two steps of the Matthew 18 process outlined by our Savior and skip to part 3 and "tell the church via e-mails" Pardon me, but I can't find that patience and kindness from 1 Corinthians 13 in this tactic. I can't also find the doctrine followed in slamming believers before making every effort to live at peace with others (and I know that some of these guys would sit down with others truly concerned, and attempt to do so) in using media to slander the name of someone that they simply have "read" or heard others jump down their doctrinal throats. Seems like the plank is ignored while villainizing the speck ... That really helps another doctrine - Jesus asking our Father for us to be one... No...it appears we don't want to be one - we want to write columns...much easier than "making every effort..." It'd sure be refreshing to hear many of these columnists spreading other's "written errors" start their articles with where Jesus would go after their church.
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Re: Seeker Friendly Church Leader Admits They Have Done It All Wrong

Posted On: 11/05/07 09:23:33 AM

Age 55, CA

I have been praying for the church to awaken to Kingdom ways and not mans programs for the last thirty years. There have been many wanders who seperated from the church becuase they were grived and the Holy Spirit was grived. This is most exciting news I have heard in many years. Awaken the Church to truth Lord...awaken!!
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Re: Seeker Friendly Church Leader Admits They Have Done It All Wrong

Posted On: 11/02/07 09:03:39 PM

Age 53, TX

Hallelujah...This article gave me a breath of hope at a dark time. I've been ill for ten years. I spent years in the beginning trying to find a church home, having just moved to this new city. At first I was received, though not very enthusiastically, but quickly once it was learned that my illness was life threatening, I was met with closed doors. I learned that I wasnt' a very good poster girl for "answered prayers". When I sought to find the reason that it was so hard to find a church, I read that churches have taken a new approach and that the people want anonimity. Yes, there was definately an air of "unreachable" everywhere I looked. I had moved from a smaller town where the church was strong so I assumed this was just a problem with big cities. Although I wasn't asking for assistance, it was presumed that I would be more of a burden than an asset to the church members that I spoke to. I don't know much, except that Jesus must be awfully sad. I found that the focus was on what the church wanted as if it were a separate entity and not the body of Christ, it's people. I had viewed Sunday services as a tool to support one another and be filled with Christ's spirit to help us deal with all the stress from the upcoming week. I thought that church was there as an umbrella for its members, but actually found its members catering to issues that actually affected very few. The people that really need the church were basically deserted.Instead of anonimity, what the church needs is community. I hope this information is used wisely to regroup and once again be the instrument of Gods peace. Peggy
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