Thanks to Pastor - Seeker Sensitive Movement

Subject: The Seeker-Sensitive Movement

The Seeker-Sensitive Movement

by John MacArthur


What exactly is the seeker-sensitive movement? In a nutshell, it's the
push within churches across the country to make worship services more
"relevant" and therefore more attractive to the world. It's the driving
force behind the marketing ploys and high-tech entertainment gimmicks
churches use to promote growth.


As you read this, you may be asking, "What's so dangerous about trying
to attract unbelievers to your church?" It certainly sounds benign.
After all, what's wrong with making church a more inviting place for
unbelievers to visit? Where's the danger in spicing up worship services
to keep people interested and, more important, coming back?


But the seeker-sensitive movement is anything but benign. In fact, it
can be deadly for any church that falls under its influence. Let me
share a few reasons.


One of the most common-and most alarming-characteristics of a
seeker-sensitive church is in the way it minimizes and downplays the
teaching of God's Word. In seeker-sensitive churches, where the goal is
to bring people in and keep them there, Bible teaching is cut short or
worse, cut out. Why? Because advocates of the movement believe people
today are too busy to sit through lengthy expositions of God's Word.
Their attention spans are too short to hold them through a long sermon
without becoming bored.


Sadly, the content of the message is cut short as well. Visit a
seeker-sensitive church and you won't hear a lot about sin or judgment.
You won't learn much about the holiness of God or the importance of
obedience, either. You're more likely to hear a sermon on human
relationships, success in the business world, or how to make your life
in this world more satisfying. That's because if a church's primary
focus is to encourage unbelievers to attend, it will invariably soften
the truth to make it more palatable. It will skirt the hard teaching of
Scripture on matters of repentance and the cost of discipleship,
choosing instead to focus on God's grace and how easy it is to become a
believer.


Another area that suffers when a church adopts a seeker-sensitive
approach is the tone of the worship service. To appeal to a broader
audience, many church leaders are taking their cues from the world.
They're adopting the same entertainment and marketing devices the world
employs. Film clips, skits, comedy, pyrotechnics, light shows, and an
over indulgence in music are just some of the trappings of the
seeker-sensitive church. God is no longer the center of
worship-entertainment, "felt needs," and fleshly desires reign supreme.


The effects of seeker-sensitive methodology on the church are tragic
because they undermine the very purpose the church is supposed to serve
in believers' lives. According to God's Word, when His people gather, it
should be to worship Him, hear His Word, and encourage one another.
Sunday to Sunday, the meeting of the church is the context in which sin
is exposed and forgiveness is found. It's where believers engage in
biblical ministry and exercise their spiritual gifts and where Christian
men and women form the relationships through which they exhort each
other toward greater Christlikeness.


But when churches sacrifice substance for style-when even well meaning
pastors soft-pedal the gospel to keep people in the pews-churches
stagnate and eventually die. Instead of being a place where men and
women grow spiritually by coming under the influence of God's Word,
seeker-sensitive churches become mere shells filled with false converts
and malnourished Christians. Once a church exchanges its God-ordained
mission to preach the Word, which is the only source of spiritual life,
for a marketing manifesto to fill pews, it surrenders its claim to
divine power along with its effectiveness in the world.


I wish I could tell you that the seeker-sensitive movement has affected
only a handful of churches, but the truth is far worse. The movement is
currently sweeping through the evangelical landscape, threatening
churches in communities around the world. Perhaps you find yourself in a
church that's tinkering with it even today. Or maybe you're looking for
a church or you know someone who attends a seeker-sensitive church.
Whatever your situation, the seeker movement is so pervasive that you're
sure to encounter it sooner or later.

Wonderful wedding .. :-)

Benjamin & Weifang, now Mr and Mrs Soh ' s wedding was a wonderful event on 29 and 30th May 2004. It was a blessing to be serving on their wedding team as usherer and "montager".. :-)

Shocking news and rethink of life

One PSA colleague just died suddenly this week (at age 33). It was not due to an accident nor a terminal illness.

I only just got to know who he is the week before his death so this is really shocking as he looked fine and all..

This kind of thing really shows truth in what the bible says about how we should treat our short life.
--- from the bible ----
Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."

James 4:13-15 (NKJV)

Lunching out..

When it is approaching lunchtime and you din really know.. Time really flies by on a busy work day..

Chenji hands over a gift..

"Lawrence, I know u like this... So, for you.."

-- it' s Lao Si Chuan Ma La Niu Ruo Pian (Old Si Chuan Hot and Spicy Beef)

It' s really good if you ever tried it! :-)

Chenji says "Shut up.."

*shhhggghhh*

It' s Chenji' s FAULT

He made me create this blog! :P

Wedding Montage

For Benjamin and Weifang and I' ve never done this b4..

Had some fun doing it though, just hope they like it.. :-)

First posting

Well, here goes my first posting..

I was once here b4 but lost track/ interest/ energy/ time to continue.. So, they deleted me and here I am.. back once AGAIN! :-)