and the One who walks with me on it.

Friday, September 05, 2014

Seeker’s Church- Part 1

       These days I’ve heard the term seeker as if it is in the Word of God.  Now, the Bible does include the word seek, but I have not found the word ‘seeker’.  As a result of using the word, we have many churches that began having 'seeker friendly services'.  This is an attempt to make the unsaved as comfortable and services as non-threatening to him as possible.  Modern entertainment is often used to keep the unsaved interested such as up to date technology, superior lighting and sound.

       Well run programs are a must for kids and adults.  Shorter sermons focused on self improvement are more acceptable messages.  All of this is in hopes that the unsaved will accept the gospel. The focus of these services then becomes self instead of Jesus Christ.  ‘Come to Jesus, He’ll make your life better.’  In contrast, the Bible indicates Jesus seeks the lost and WE are to seek God, not ‘spirituality’ as is the new norm.    

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Lk. 19:10
But if you shall seek Jehovah your God from there, you shall find Him, if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Dt. 4:29
I love those who love me; and those who seek me early shall find me. Pr. 8:17
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness… Mt. 6:33
Seek Jehovah and His strength; seek His face continually. 1Ch. 16:11

       Jesus often offended people with His words- knowing He would do so before He said them because He is omniscient.  He lost disciples due to offending with His words: “From this time many of His disciples went back into the things behind, and walked no more with Him. (Jh. 6:66).  But these days, we’d rather be assured God loves us even though we sin instead of our need for repentance.

       Many great doctrines are shelved because they are deemed divisive.  There is nothing comfortable about the Truth.  Sin, hell, repentance and Jesus being the ONLY way to heaven are rarely if ever mentioned.  In love, Jesus always spoke the truth: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.(Jh. 14:6)  Some churches today go so far as to not have a cross because it could be offensive.  Without the cross we’d all be lost!!!

Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ. But I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in all things, and you keep the doctrines as I delivered them to you. 1Cr. 11:1,2
And He said to them, Follow Me… Mt. 4:19
For the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those being lost, but to us being saved, it is the power of God. 1Cr. 1:18

       We should follow Jesus Christ in these matters by showing love to the unsaved but doing that which Jesus did- tell the truth- boldly no matter who is offended or not.  We should follow Paul’s example as he followed Jesus and preached His doctrines.  We should follow the Holy Spirit’s leading “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.(Gl. 5:25) instead of man’s ideas of what is best.  “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God…” (1Cr. 3:19)

After all, do we really think we can do better than Jesus?