Seeking God

redleghunter said:

We see a lot from Christian publications to knowing churches locally some coin the term we are “Seeker friendly churches.”

Is there a problem with promoting this slogan? Oh sure one could say we welcome everyone to hear the Gospel in our church. I think that is exactly the evangelist approach. But what about telling people “we are seeker friendly?”

What do the Holy Scriptures say? A lot. In the OT prophets encouraged Israel and Judah to repent and seek out God.

In Isaiah the prophet says:

Isaiah 55:
6Seek the LORD while He may be found;

call on Him while He is near.

7Let the wicked man forsake his own way

and the unrighteous man his own thoughts;

let him return to the LORD,

that He may have compassion,

and to our God,

for He will freely pardon.(NASB)

Also Jesus said to seek the Kingdom first and
God’s righteousness:

Matthew 6:

31“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.(NASB)

But King David in Psalm 53 says:

1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,”
They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice;
There is no one who does good.

2God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there is anyone who understands,
Who seeks after God.

3Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.(NASB)

David echos the same sentiments in Psalm 14.

The Apostle Paul with the OT Scriptures in mind also said:

Romans 3:

10as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;

11THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;

12ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVEBECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”(NASB)

Then we have Jesus say:

Luke 19:

9And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. 10“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (NASB)

So what’s going on here? We are told and encouraged to seek God yet we are also told no one seeks God. Then Jesus says He seeks the lost.

What do you think?

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redleghunter said:

Thank you for that explanation.

Based on your comments, what are your thoughts on the remainder of the OP?

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redleghunter said:

We see a lot from Christian publications to knowing churches locally some coin the term we are “Seeker friendly churches.”

Is there a problem with promoting this slogan? Oh sure one could say we welcome everyone to hear the Gospel in our church. I think that is exactly the evangelist approach. But what about telling people “we are seeker friendly?”

What do the Holy Scriptures say? A lot. In the OT prophets encouraged Israel and Judah to repent and seek out God.

In Isaiah the prophet says:

Isaiah 55:
6Seek the LORD while He may be found;

call on Him while He is near.

7Let the wicked man forsake his own way

and the unrighteous man his own thoughts;

let him return to the LORD,

that He may have compassion,

and to our God,

for He will freely pardon.(NASB)

Also Jesus said to seek the Kingdom first and
God’s righteousness:

Matthew 6:

31“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.(NASB)

But King David in Psalm 53 says:

1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,”
They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice;
There is no one who does good.

2God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there is anyone who understands,
Who seeks after God.

3Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.(NASB)

David echos the same sentiments in Psalm 14.

The Apostle Paul with the OT Scriptures in mind also said:

Romans 3:

10as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;

11THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;

12ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVEBECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”(NASB)

Then we have Jesus say:

Luke 19:

9And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. 10“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (NASB)

So what’s going on here? We are told and encouraged to seek God yet we are also told no one seeks God. Then Jesus says He seeks the lost.

What do you think?

Click to expand...

redleghunter said:

We see a lot from Christian publications to knowing churches locally some coin the term we are “Seeker friendly churches.”

Is there a problem with promoting this slogan? Oh sure one could say we welcome everyone to hear the Gospel in our church. I think that is exactly the evangelist approach. But what about telling people “we are seeker friendly?”

What do the Holy Scriptures say? A lot. In the OT prophets encouraged Israel and Judah to repent and seek out God.

In Isaiah the prophet says:

Isaiah 55:
6Seek the LORD while He may be found;

call on Him while He is near.

7Let the wicked man forsake his own way

and the unrighteous man his own thoughts;

let him return to the LORD,

that He may have compassion,

and to our God,

for He will freely pardon.(NASB)

Also Jesus said to seek the Kingdom first and
God’s righteousness:

Matthew 6:

31“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.(NASB)

But King David in Psalm 53 says:

1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,”
They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice;
There is no one who does good.

2God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there is anyone who understands,
Who seeks after God.

3Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.(NASB)

David echos the same sentiments in Psalm 14.

The Apostle Paul with the OT Scriptures in mind also said:

Romans 3:

10as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;

11THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;

12ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVEBECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”(NASB)

Then we have Jesus say:

Luke 19:

9And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. 10“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (NASB)

So what’s going on here? We are told and encouraged to seek God yet we are also told no one seeks God. Then Jesus says He seeks the lost.

What do you think?

Click to expand...

redleghunter said:

We see a lot from Christian publications to knowing churches locally some coin the term we are “Seeker friendly churches.”

Is there a problem with promoting this slogan? Oh sure one could say we welcome everyone to hear the Gospel in our church. I think that is exactly the evangelist approach. But what about telling people “we are seeker friendly?”

What do the Holy Scriptures say? A lot. In the OT prophets encouraged Israel and Judah to repent and seek out God.

In Isaiah the prophet says:

Isaiah 55:
6Seek the LORD while He may be found;

call on Him while He is near.

7Let the wicked man forsake his own way

and the unrighteous man his own thoughts;

let him return to the LORD,

that He may have compassion,

and to our God,

for He will freely pardon.(NASB)

Also Jesus said to seek the Kingdom first and
God’s righteousness:

Matthew 6:

31“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.(NASB)

But King David in Psalm 53 says:

1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,”
They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice;
There is no one who does good.

2God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there is anyone who understands,
Who seeks after God.

3Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.(NASB)

David echos the same sentiments in Psalm 14.

The Apostle Paul with the OT Scriptures in mind also said:

Romans 3:

10as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;

11THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;

12ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVEBECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”(NASB)

Then we have Jesus say:

Luke 19:

9And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. 10“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (NASB)

So what’s going on here? We are told and encouraged to seek God yet we are also told no one seeks God. Then Jesus says He seeks the lost.

What do you think?

Click to expand...

bcbsr said:

Seeker sensitive churches have a tendency to modify the gospel to accommodate the view of seekers so as to not offend them in some way. Problem is they may as a result remove essential elements of the gospel.

Take for example Rick Warren, in his series on the Purpose Driven Life. In the video tape with goes along with the book Warren has people pray a prayer at the end of the first session that goes like this:"Dear God, I want to know your purpose for my life. I don't want to base the rest of my life on wrong things. I want to take the first step in preparing for eternity by getting to know you. Jesus Christ, I don't understand how but as much as I know how I want to open up my life to you. Make yourself real to me. And use this series in my life to help me know what you made me for"

Then Warren goes on to say:"Now if you've just prayed that prayer for the very first time I want to congratulate you. You've just become a part of the family of God."

This is the gospel according to Rick Warren. Nothing about sin. Nothing of Christ's death and resurrection. Nothing about acknowledging Christ as the Son of God, nor as Lord, nor as Savior. While the prayer is appropriate for seekers, such a prayer does not make one a Christian. A person becomes a Christian through faith in Christ - faith which is based upon information which Warren does not provide. For faith comes from hearing the message of the Bible.

Seeker Sensitive churches tend to do that kind of thing.

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