Thats how I see it anyway.

I did a series on ‘church’ on my blog. If you would like to check it out, and maybe leave comments, feel free to. Click the link here.

Thanks for your comments. Always appreciated.

I am currently in a church that does “family” extremely well. When you say that “Church is about caring for people, relationships, etc.”, then you have described my current church to a “T”. Worship wise it is a blend of contemporary and traditional. We sing hymns, but lean towards more modern songs. We also have a couple of choirs. Are we seeker sensitive? Not according to the above criteria. We are part of the way there, and the rest is overcome by genuine friendliness.

The problem with the phrase “seeker sensitive” is that it has become such a monster, with people using it as an invective to describe anything that they don’t like at church that is different to the way things used to be. Maybe I should have used the term “visitor friendly” instead.

Your comment: “I just challenge us to not get caught up in methods, but to hear Him” is really what this post is all about, to get rid of artificial barriers to hearing what the gospel is all about. I don’t really care about the method, it is the message that is important, and if a church is doing or not doing things that is preventing the message from being properly heard, then it is an issue that needs to be addressed.

‘Being seeker sensitive means training greeters so that if there is a kids program, visitors will be properly directed there. Being seeker sensitive means roping off the last three rows of your auditorium for late comers. Being seeker sensitive means printing an order of service, so that visitors can follow along. Being seeker sensitive means that service times are properly communicated.’

I know your heart, I am just not sure where we get ‘seeker sensitive’ from? Bill Hybels? It might be better to just look what Jesus did and walk out church that we see in the NT. Biblically, it’s impossible to ‘go’ to church. Church is family, who we are in Christ. Church is about caring for people, relationship, etc. And, amazingly, that’s what Jesus was about.

I just challenge us to not get caught up in methods, but to hear Him. If we hear Him, I think most things will fall in place.

Thanks.

A few weeks ago friends of mine who were looking for a church, visited a church for the first time. The pastor spoke on “being friendly to visitors”, probably because he already had some negative feedback. At the end of the service, no one said “Hi” to my friends.

I had experienced the same thing at this particular church. Should I talk to the Pastor about it, knowing that others have had the same experience? I know that he tries, but the message does not seem to be getting through.

Another Pastor friend of mine recently had a church christmas social. He announced that church families could not attend unless they brought a non-churched friend. There was some grumbling, but the message got through.

Mike Bell