Through the years since Saddleback Community Church (1980) and Willowcreek Community Church (1975) came on the scene, there has been a lot of discussion regarding whether or not the church is “seeker sensitive,” and to what degree. Many good things have developed from the seeker sensitive idea. However, there are still very good reasons Christians need to consider the topic and its implications for local church ministry today.
What does it mean to be a “seeker sensitive” church?
A seeker sensitive church intentionally tries to address the felt needs of attenders. This approach to doing church came about through the church growth movement whereby various strategies where adopted by churches in order to facilitate numerical growth.
Churches, especially Baptist churches, are quite unique in their style of ministry. As with many other aspects of church life, it is difficult if not impossible to generalize the seeker sensitive approach of ministry simply because churches come in so many different shapes and sizes. Biblically defined, the church is the people not a building or organization. It is simply the fellowship of Christ followers.
So, what’s the big deal about a seeker sensitive worship model?
In short, the seeker sensitive model of worship has changed the way churches conduct regular worship services. Some for the better, and some for the worse.
The Pros
- A seeker sensitive church is in touch with the lost community.
Churches do well to speak to people where they are. It is important to establish credibility with the community by first recognizing where they are and what practical issues they are dealing with. Churches go a long way to reaching their community by first creating a platform through which they can personally identify with the lost.
- A seeker sensitive church is aware of the blind spots in their traditions and make intentional efforts to address them.
Every church has traditions and every church has a reputation. A seeker sensitive church recognizes that their traditions have established their reputation. They are able to address their blind spots and reach their community by creating a church culture that is welcoming and inviting to the spiritual seeker.
- A seeker sensitive church assumes nothing about a person's spiritual background.
By starting with a blank slate, a seeker sensitive church communicates more clearly than a traditional church in how the gospel addresses every day life. Seeker sensitive churches communicate their message more clearly than traditional churches simply because they do not assume that their attenders have ever darkened the doors of the church. For example, the formal welcome given during the service in a seeker sensitive service is typically much more explanatory and inviting to the casual attender then the "welcome" in a traditional church service. Churches that don't have visitors and guests regularly can get out of the habit of explaining how and why we do certain things in our liturgies and worship practices. The church growth movement ushered in these type changes out of necessity simply because so many new visitors were attending services with little or no frame of reference to church life.
The Con's
- A seeker sensitive church can turn worship into a performance.
True worship involves the heart, the body, the emotions, and the mind. However, true worship does not involve performing for entertainment. In an effort to become more culturally relevant, seeker sensitive churches have incorporated many aspects of contemporary entertainment. As churches use modern music and technology the atmosphere and sound of worship can easily become more performance driven. The seeker sensitive church must make an intentional effort to keep the main thing the main thing in worship. Jesus must be at the center of it all!
- A seeker sensitive church can water down the gospel.
In an effort to make the gospel accessible and understandable to the average attender, the seeker sensitive church can inadvertently water down the message too much. Seeker sensitive models cross a critical line when they fail to preach the true gospel which encompasses a seriousness over sin. Seeker sensitive models must never compromise the essence of the true cost of following Jesus as a faithful disciple. It is far too often the case that seeker sensitive churches end up playing games with church—where everyone is happy, chipper, and smiling. If seeker sensitive churches are not careful they will begin faking the whole experience and lose sight of the heart of worship. If we say we believe the Bible we must preach the whole Word of God with seriousness, reverence, and conviction. Encountering God is not to be taken lightly!
- A seeker sensitive church can easily lose people in the crowds.
It is unfortunate that in many seeker sensitive churches vast numbers of people get lost in the crowds. Churches that adopt such models can easily begin to lower the level of commitment. Sadly, many people settle to merely attend worship without ever committing to the fellowship of believers. Over time the seeker sensitive model can create a community that fails to take church membership seriously.
"It's all about me! Isn't it?"
- Perhaps the most serious objection to the seeker sensitive church is the reality that people can begin to think that church is all about them, their personal preferences, their needs.
Church is not about us! The Body of Christ is about Christ being exalted in our lives as individuals and corporately as a community. There is no question about it biblically—the church is established by God for the glory of God!
The way we "do" church says a lot about what we believe. Christians must be vigilant and aware of the temptation to make things about us. Our flesh (our sinful nature) and our enemy (the Devil) are always looking for an opportunity to turn the tables and make a situation more about us and less about God. In and of itself the seeker sensitive model does little to combat this way of thinking. Churches who adopt such a model must be intentional to prioritize the supremacy of God in the regular gathering of believers.
There are other positives and negatives to the seeker sensitive model. What would you add? Join the conversation today.
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