The Deformed Theology of Seeker Sensitivity

Operation Rock Steady ^ | Don Matzat

[Gamecock]

[svcw]

Nice read. Our pastor was just preaching on this very thing. He asked the congregation to show him where Christ says anything about self esteem.
My brother who is a pastor calls these churches "the feel good ministries" or "the name it and claim it crew".
We are to be humble for Christ.

[walden]

So true, thank you for posting this.

[apackof2]

Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard pointed out that a man who is remote from his own guilt and failure is also remote from God, because he is remote from himself.

Or the one who is painfully aware is closer to God.
Thank goodness for the Holy Spirit who leads all that are willing into the the Truth and to the great grace of our heavenly "Abba " Father

Wonderful article, thanks

[apackof2]

investment research. For more details, see my homepage.

Investment research? Sounds interesting but where does one find your homepage?

[day10]

Thanks for the ping - that was good stuff.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

BTTT!

[Kevin OMalley]

read later bump

[P-Marlowe]

We are living in a society permeated with the concept of self-esteem. The gurus of humanistic psychology have convinced us that feeling good about ourselves is one of our basic felt needs. A positive self-image has become the sine qua non of human growth and success. Many evangelical churches, including many who find their roots in the Reformation, have attempted to Christianize such thought.

If that is "seeker sensitivity" then I am against it. Any Church which tells sinners that they ought to feel good about themselves is doing those sinners no good.

On the other hand, if by "seeker sensitivity" you mean that a Church goes out of its way to bring people to a place where they can be confronted by their sin, where they can be presented with a well preached gospel message and where they can be given the opportunity to respond to the gospel and exercise saving faith in Christ and where they can grow spiritually through the teaching of the whole counsel of God, then I'm all for it.

I think that one of the problems in the critique of "seeker sensitive" churches is that authors such as the one above do not clarify what the term means. They just lump all churches that might be viewed as having an open door to those who are not yet saved as being "seeker sensitive" and then slander those churches by claiming that they do not preach the gospel.

Well I dare say that if a lot of those who are critical of "seeker sensitive" churches were to think back, they'd realize that they came to Christ when they did because someone had been sensitive to their condition and went out of their way to be sensitive to their spiritual quest and to point them in the right direction and to bring them to the place where they had to confront the risen Lord.

Carry on.

[pro610]

Danish Philosopher Soren Kierkegaard also said that God does not exist.

Kierkegaard philosophies of confusion is being used in today,s "New Age" Church Growth Movement
The Fuller theological seminary seems to have adopted many of his ideas.
Kierkegaard only could understand God from what he called a "leap of faith" and not from being Born Again.
In fact it is the opposite

[LibertyGirl77]

These accusations are true of many numbers-obsessed congregations, but not every large church is a health-and-wealth, grace without repentance church. The church I attended until very recently is huge, and considered "seeker sensitive," but the reason it is "seeker sensitive" is that it preaches the basics, over and over again, for those who have never heard them before: 1. You are a sinner (like EVERYONE else). 2. Christ died to forgive your sins. 3. Believe this, and you shall be saved and have eternal life.

It gets to be repetitive after a while for those of us who are longtime believers (hence my looking for a new church), but it attracts thousands of people weekly who want to hear the Truth. The pastor is not touchy-feely or humanistic -- in fact, I have many times witnessed people get up and leave in the middle of the sermon because what he said was "offensive" to them (regarding homosexuality or abortion being sinful, or the idea that those who have been given much have much responsibility, etc.). He doesn't sugar coat the Truth, He just preaches it in a way that's easy for anyone to understand. And as a result, 10,000 people show up every week.

I ust wanted to point out that while it's trendy to bash "mega churches," not every huge church is a sham.

[LibertyGirl77]

I did not mean to capitalize "He" when talking about the pastor. Oops. How I long for an edit function!

[Dr. Eckleburg]

You have a beautiful family. Our great comfort is knowing we'll all be together again one day.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

A person who is not willing to face his sickness will not desire the services of a physician.

Amen, Gamecock. Great article.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

I think a good answer to the problems inherent in mega churches is simply to build lots more smaller churches rather than one, monolithic church.

Centralized power is rarely a good thing. Checks and balances are always desirable.

[PetroniusMaximus]

Seeker-Sensitivity / Church Growth Movement is the new Liberalism.

Just wait and see.

[LiteKeeper]

This describes Willow Creek and Rick Warren. I think the "Purpose-Driven" movement is one of the worst things to happen to the church in a long time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pro610]

There was an article in my local paper on Fuller Theological Seminary by associated press writer
Richard Ostling Titled:
"Fuller opens a window on emerging Christianity
( I tried to find it on the net but had no luck)

Here are a few excerpts
***"its clear the older emphasis of soul-winning alone is fading these younger evangelicals intend to combine evangelism and social action".***

***"To reach young adults evangelicals are creating"postmodern" fellowships that shed most traditional forms of organized religions"***


They boast of their 4,900 students from many denominations and their 3500 graduates round the World.

Just imagine, We now have thousands of Little Soren Kierkegaard and Peter Drucker existentialists out there not trying to win souls but teaching them to take a
"Leap of Faith"

[TigersEye]

The secular humanists of the West laid this self-esteem/positive self-image crap on Eastern philosophies and spiritual traditions too where it has no true basis. It should be no surprise that "New-Agism" has been found to be a deep infection in Western religions.