Diet Church?
As Pam and I have been transitioning our family to a new church home, we’ve visited some new places. We are drawn to bigger churches (surprise) and some of them are in the seeker friendly mold. There is no doubt that the worship is lively and genuine in these churches but I never feel completely at home. I think it’s because it feels like “Church Lite” or “Diet Church”, a phrase I love that Pam coined a couple weeks ago.
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I am not against seeker churches.... They are certainly exposing many people to Christ who would not otherwise hear.
but.....
The scriptures are not read aloud. There are almost no hymns, sometimes not even the re-imagined kind like Wonderful Cross or Fairest. And Sin? (shhhh we don't talk about that .)
The teaching from the pulpit centers more on practical life applications for marriage and family (not that I’m against stronger marriages and families) than any inductive teaching.
The scriptures are not read aloud. There are almost no hymns, sometimes not even the re-imagined kind like Wonderful Cross or Fairest. And Sin? (shhhh we don't talk about that .)
The teaching from the pulpit centers more on practical life applications for marriage and family (not that I’m against stronger marriages and families) than any inductive teaching.
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I think I already knew this... but it's different when you are right there in the middle of it worshipping.
And so the question is this: In the drive to be a welcoming, non threatening place for people not accustomed to traditional church, have the seeker churches become a place where mature Christians should simply not bother to go? Is it like a steak lover going to a vegetarian eatery?
What do you folks out there think?
And so the question is this: In the drive to be a welcoming, non threatening place for people not accustomed to traditional church, have the seeker churches become a place where mature Christians should simply not bother to go? Is it like a steak lover going to a vegetarian eatery?
What do you folks out there think?
posted by Brian Keel @ 12:40 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
I would compare this to putting my kids in the public school system! Would I much rather have them in a Christian setting 24/7? Absolutely! But when would they learn to be salt and light and what would our schools be like with no Christian influence? If you pull every mature Christian out of a seeker church - who is left to disciple a new believer? Or how about this diet analogy - if you join Weight Watchers you have seasoned leaders who have been successful on the plan to help you with your own dieting quest. If there was no one talking about the success of sticking with the program and coming alongside to encourage you to not give up when you've just eaten a half gallon of ice cream - you'd throw the towel in for sure!!
I'm sure the apostle Paul was feeling the way you are when he talked about being spiritual babies wanting to get fat on milk and not the meat of our faith! But he was willing to come alongside the "babies" and grow them up!! To be a part of seeker church as a mature believer is a calling to ministry. Your needs spiritually would have to be met outside of Sunday morning services. On a separate note - we are so blessed by The Chapel! You really come to understand that when you visit other churches or have to find a new church home! I will pray you find where God wants to use you both!! and that you both feel a peace with your decision which doesn't always mean feeling totally comfortable!! I know of a job opening in Canton?! ;)
Maybe the "pulling mature Christians out" is actually the problem at some seeker churches—sort of like when a church stops preaching the gospel and all the true Christians leave. Then there's no one left to share the gospel and the church becomes a tomb.
Random thoughts:
1) I know we can say it's semantics, but really, there's no such thing as a "seeker."
2) The Willow-Back models are leading folks further away from traditional church and spiritual growth by both recently giving up on their mid-week worship/growth services.
2b) Both Willow-Back models are emphsizing small groups which is decidedly not seeker. Leans back more toward traditional Bible study.
3) The seeker notion lures by appealing to the flesh, but the "back door" aim is spiritual realization and growth
4) The seeker model is not effective since a)most people who go to a seeker church already profess Christianity and b)seeker church growth is not winning newly churched people as much as it is winning currently-churched people. Church attendence in the country has remained steady or declined over the last 20 years despite surging mega church numbers
5) Comparing church to school/weight watchers is a little apples and oranges.
6) Jesus's last command was to make disciples. This implies depth. His command was not to grow churches, or find seekers.
7) I think the seeker model is a fad.
interesting thoughts....
How about a baseball analogy:
Are the "seeker" churches benefiting from the new ballpark syndrome? You know, build a place with comfortable new stadium seats, cup holders, exploding scoreboards, no more poles to look around, new uniforms? If you build it, people come... even in Pittsburgh for a while.
Is it the high production values that attract? The "quality musicians", low end dress code (even on the platform), coffee cups in the worship center, cup holders (no kidding), video, etc., etc.
Are Christian being offered an experience that is too comfortable? Even as it applies to pulpit teaching? not too much convicting of people?
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