Should a church be seeker sensitive?

The question of whether a church should be “seeker sensitive” is an important one for church leaders and members to consider. At its core, it is asking how a church can most effectively fulfill Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Here is an overview of key factors church leaders should weigh when determining their approach.

Defining “Seeker Sensitive”

“Seeker sensitive” refers to churches that adapt their worship services and programs to better connect with non-Christians exploring faith. This could include using contemporary music, avoiding insider church language, and preaching relevant topical sermons. The goal is removing barriers to faith so seekers can understand and relate to the message of Christ.

The Biblical Call to Reach Seekers

Scripture makes clear that Christians are called to actively reach out to nonbelievers and make the gospel understandable and accessible. Jesus engaged people where they were, using everyday illustrations they could grasp (Luke 15). The early church worked to break down barriers between Jews and Gentiles to incorporate new converts (Acts 15; Galatians 3:28). Paul emphasized adapting his style to connect with diverse audiences (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).

At the same time, Scripture warns against compromising God’s truth to accommodate cultural trends. Jesus told disciples to engage the world without conforming to it (John 17:14-18). Paul stressed sound doctrine over ear-tickling messages (2 Timothy 4:3). So while adapting methods, the message itself must not be watered down.

Potential Benefits of a Seeker Sensitive Approach

When done well, seeker sensitive churches can have some significant strengths:

• They make it easier for non-Christians to understand biblical truths and feel welcomed.
• They can draw in and serve those who might not enter a traditional church setting.
• Their members often have a strong outward focus on serving those outside the church.
• They excel at addressing everyday life issues relevant to seekers in practical ways.

With thoughtful implementation, seeker sensitivity can be greatly used by God to draw people into genuine relationship with Him.

Potential Dangers of Over-Emphasizing Seeker Sensitivity

However, there are inherent risks churches should be wary of when prioritizing a seeker model:

• Watering down hard biblical truths to avoid offending.
• Focusing services on entertaining or comforting but not actually discipling.
• Spending lots of energy attracting crowds but not fostering real commitment.
• Prioritizing felt needs over deep biblical exposition.
• No longer training members for Christian maturity and service.

In extreme cases, a seeker sensitive church can begin to look so much like the world that it loses its purpose and fails to make true followers of Christ.

Key Principles for Healthy Balance

So how can churches thoughtfully engage seekers without going overboard into compromise? Here are some guiding principles:

• Keep expository preaching central. Verse-by-verse teaching through books of the Bible should form the core content. Topical series can supplement but should draw heavily from thorough biblical exegesis. (1 Timothy 4:13, 2 Timothy 4:2)
• Call for counting the cost. Preach both the kindness and confronting truth of the gospel. Make it clear following Jesus reshapes your whole life. (Luke 9:23-26, 14:25-35)
• Don’t assume biblical literacy. Carefully explain elements of Christian practice and theology seekers may not grasp. Define terms rather than using insider language. (1 Corinthians 14:6-9)
• Promote growth toward maturity. Offer clear paths for spiritual development into committed disciples. Measure success by depth of commitment, not just decisions. (Colossians 1:28-29, Hebrews 5:11-6:3)
• Equip members to engage culture. Teach believers how to understand and relate to the world around them without conforming to it. (1 Corinthians 5:9-11, John 17:14-18)
• Make unbelievers feel welcome. Create an environment where seekers can explore faith without standing out. Answering their questions should be a priority. (1 Corinthians 14:23-25)

Prayerfully considering these principles can help church leaders gain wisdom from Scripture on engaging seekers while not losing sight of the Great Commission to make disciples. Each church must carefully listen for the Spirit’s guidance to faithfully navigate this balance in their unique ministry context.

Issues of Motive: Why Does Our Church Want to Reach Seekers?

As church leaders weigh choices on whether and how to adapt their church’s approach to more effectively engage nonbelievers, examining motives is crucial. Scripture warns that the intentions behind actions matter greatly to God (Proverbs 16:2, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

Godly motives for desiring to reach seekers include:

• Compassion: Wanting outsiders to know the joy of salvation in Christ.
• Missional urgency: Recognizing the great urgency of reaching the lost before Christ returns.
• Obedience to Christ: Following Jesus’ command to share the good news with all peoples.
• Kingdom growth: Wanting to expand God’s kingdom by drawing more people to faith.

But church leaders must also guard their hearts against impure motivations like:

• Pride: Wanting to impress others with large numbers.
• Greed: Hoping to increase offerings by attracting crowds.
• People pleasing: Craving acceptance and applause from attendees.
• Consumerism: Viewing faith as a commodity to be marketed.

Examination through prayer and submission to God’s Word is essential to purify motives and ensure changes come from a desire to see more people worship Jesus, not simply boost church programs. Right motives will lead to right actions.

Questions to Guide Decision-Making

As church leaders evaluate their ministry’s approach to seekers, asking probing questions can help apply biblical principles:

• What methods could we adapt to make it easier for seekers to connect without compromising truth?
• How can we explain potentially confusing elements of our worship services to newcomers ahead of time?
• Do our messages confront hard cultural issues the Bible addresses or shy away from controversy? Are we calling for costly discipleship?
• What next steps of growth do we offer new believers? How can we lead growing Christians into maturity?
• How well are we equipping our members to engage outsiders and answer their questions about Christianity?
• What parts of our programs are geared toward attracting audiences versus making disciples? How could we shift the emphasis?

Asking these kinds of diagnostic questions can highlight areas of potential improvement and growth opportunities through seeking the Spirit’s guidance.

Examples of Healthy Balance

Though most churches tend to lean seeker sensitive or traditional, some model what a balanced approach could look like:

• Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington D.C. uses an expository preaching model but explains theological terms clearly during services to aid seekers. Their informal attire and variety of community groups help newcomers connect.
• Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City offers classes on vocation, singleness, dating, and cultural issues that engage professionals. Their prayer lines offer personal support to non-Christian attendees.
• EastLake Community Church near Seattle intentionally trains members to build relationships with unchurched friends and interact on spiritual topics. They encourage inviting seekers to services.
• The Village Church in the Dallas area provides online venue options with modern music for seekers alongside more traditional on-campus services.

While not perfect, these churches aim toward healthfully adapting to reach seekers without drifting into compromise. Elements of their approaches could spark creative ideas for other leadership teams.

Perspective: God Works Through Both Traditional and Seeker Sensitive Churches

God sovereignly works through faithful churches of all types—traditional, contemporary, seeker, and everything in between. Biblical principles, not stylistic preferences, should guide decision-making. A church driven by the Spirit, grounded in God’s Word, and characterized by authentic community has tremendous potential to draw seekers regardless of format.

At the end of the day, only God can change hearts and enable spiritual rebirth. The most attractive church to those exploring faith may not be the flashiest, but the one where the presence and transforming power of God is most evident. Rather than competing to draw crowds, churches should seek God wholeheartedly, preach Christ crucified boldly, and let the Lord build His kingdom as He chooses.

The body of Christ is diverse, and different approaches will appeal to different demographics of seekers. Some find immediacy and relevance most engaging. Others crave historical rootedness and liturgical depth. The church’s calling is not methodology, but faithfulness—presenting the unchanging gospel in ever-changing times. As Paul wrote, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6).

The seeker versus traditional debate has divided many churches unnecessarily. With prayerful dependence on the Spirit, biblical fidelity, and Christ-centered motives, a church can thoughtfully steward the unique gifts and context God has given them to reach their community for Christ—whether through updated methods or timeless truths. Their aim should simply be to live out this call as faithfully as possible before God.

Key Takeaways on The Bible and Seeker Sensitivity

In summary, here are key biblical perspectives for churches to consider regarding seeker sensitivity:

• Adapting wisely to communicate truth clearly is biblical, but compromising core doctrine is not.
• Drawing in seekers is good, but making committed disciples must remain the priority.
• Authentic community and worship should be more attractive than entertainment and comfort.
• Both expository depth and cultural relevance are important—it doesn’t have to be one or the other.
• Any adaptations should aim at removing barriers to the gospel without watering it down.
• Motives matter tremendously when assessing approach and assumptions.
• Absolute answers are elusive—seeking biblical wisdom for each context is key.
• God can use faithful churches of all styles to draw seekers to Himself.

With prayer, humility and God’s Word as their guide, church leaders can make Spirit-led decisions on how best to reach their community for Christ. Relying on the Lord rather than methods or metrics is the only way thriving ministry flows.