God's Word to the Wise

I think I’m safe in saying that the “Seeker Friendly” idea had its origin with Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Church and was popularized by Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church. They unintentionally were doing the work that only the Holy Spirit does. I say, unintentionally because I think their intentions were good, but their idea wasn’t Biblical. As is always the case when the foundation isn’t solid what is built upon it becomes damaged and ultimately fails.   

Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them” (John 6:44). In other words, the only way anyone can seek God is if the Holy Spirit has first stirred their hearts with a desire for God. It is God who draws people to Himself. 

I don’t know what the preaching was like before they changed the worship of God to a user-friendly experience. I can say with a strong degree of certainty that once the seeker-friendly worship was firmly in place, the depth of the preaching became shallow; milk not meat, and ultimately the Gospel disappeared. 

Jesus having died, taking on Himself God the Father’s just penalty for sin and imputing His righteousness to all who believed was replaced with the   NEW gospel which promised that Jesus would heal the wounds of living in this world and give their lives a purpose that would engender a sense of wellbeing, and restore their lost happiness.

The preaching of the new gospel filled church buildings to capacity and beyond and a false belief that this was evidence that God was blessing His church took root. I can’t shake the thought that millions of today’s evangelicals have not surrendered to the true Gospel.

What began as a way to attract the lost to church services has deceived many into a false belief they are right with God and can expect to live eternally with Him. 

People It is not too late to: “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)

For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)