Spirt and Truth Ministries

SEEKER FRIENDLY

For a number of years now, the overarching goal of the Christian community has been"church growth." Frankly, I'd prefer never to hear that phrase again. The term"church growth" seems to relate better to General Motors than to the Body of Christ. The Lord always has been more interested in quality than quantity. What's in the hearts of the people in the pews is more important than how many people are warming the pews. God gave Gideon a sobering lesson in church growth, taking him from 32,000 members clear down to 300. Again, God was looking for quality.

One philosophy that has successfully driven church growth is "seeker friendly" services. Give the people what they want, and avoid anything that might disturb their equilibrium. An influential congregation in the Midwest, one of the nation's largest, is relentlessly seeker friendly. The core church family meets in openness on a weeknight. That way the Sunday service can be conducted in a way that appeals directly to the felt needs of the people who've been drawn in. Obviously, if its numbers you're after, this system works. Unfortunately, what people feel they need doesn't always correspond to what they actually need.

Jesus testified that there was no greater born of men than John the Baptist. Was John seeker friendly? Let s see how he did evangelism.

"When he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he denounced them. You brood of snakes! he exclaimed. Who warned you to flee God s coming judgment? " Matt. 37.

Is that any way to build up your baptismal class? John's call was not to develop the largest congregation in Jerusalem, but to prepare a people for the soon coming of the Lord. We have an identical call on our ministry today.

PLAY IT SAFE

Another surefire way to increase membership rolls is to "play everything safe" when it comes to worship. Don't ever do anything that might offend someone; they might not return.

For three years my wife and I attended one of the most influential congregations in the nation. It was quite enjoyable. The building itself was beautifully designed and appointed. There was strong preaching and a large group of talented musicians. True, we missed the colorful ministry of banners, and the joyful sight of people dancing in the Spirit. The music, though quite lively, obviously had a predetermined level beyond which the musicians were not allowed to go. But we took comfort that this was a safe place to bring our friends and visiting loved ones. We knew it was unlikely they would be offended at anything taking place during the service.

Then one day it dawned on us that we are not here in this world to play it safe. Serving God wholeheartedly has never been the safest course to pursue. In fact, it often can lead to martyrdom. Let's take careful note of Christ's first recorded worship service after he came out of the wilderness of temptation.

"Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit's power. Soon he became well known throughout the surrounding country. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by everyone." Luke 414, 15.

Everyone was praising Christ. Isn't that what we all crave? Isn't that worth playing it safe for? But one factor was a foretoken of trouble ahead¾Jesus was newly anointed by the Holy Spirit. The Comforter has never proven to be a real comfort to mere pew warmers.

When Jesus stood up and read from the scroll of Isaiah he was still on safe ground.

But then Christ blew it. He dared to make a clear application of the Scripture just read.

"Probably you will quote me that proverb, Physician, heal yourself ¾ meaning, Why don't you do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum? But the truth is, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown."

"When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. Jumping up, they mobbed him and took him to the edge of the hill on which the city was built. They intended to push him over the cliff . . ." Vs. 23, 24, 28, 29.

Jesus was very intelligent, so I know he didn't just blunder. Even in his own hometown he cared too much for the people to merely play it safe.

THE MUSIC TEST

Someone pointed out that every great move of God, which since Pentecost have been moves of the Holy Spirit, produces trouble and opposition. In fact, tribulation is part of the Father's plan to make his current move widely known. Nothing brings a matter into the spotlight like conflict.

 And nothing conjures up debate faster than music. We all have a love for music¾ except for the music we hate. Talented musicians know that no matter how hard they try, they can't please all the people all the time. Tastes vary too widely. Thus we always have strong disagreement about what constitutes "good music."

 Taking note of this, God wisely has used music to produce the necessary conflict to properly publicize his work. The great moves of the Spirit have brought with them a new music. At the time of the mighty Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther helped fuel it by birthing new worship music. The magnificent strains of "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" may sound decorous in our own day, but back then the piece was considered so wild and sensuous that it made the brethren gnash their teeth.

 During another great awakening, the Spirit moved upon the Wesley brothers to compose hundreds of new hymns. Today these beloved offerings are considered prim and proper, but to many contemporaries they were nothing but trash.

RENEWAL MUSIC

Today we are experiencing the mightiest move of the Holy Spirit since Pentecost, and knowledgeable church members should anticipate a new form and style of music. One that is fittingly joyful and upbeat. That music is already here, and predictably it has produced controversy.

I've heard some visitors to a Renewal service proclaim, "I sense the earnestness of the worshipers, and the power of the preaching, but I just don't like that music. It's too loud; too exuberant. Aren't drums out of place in church? Is this decent and in order?" Well, that depends on whose standard of decency and order, God's or man's. The church has been in a state of depression so long that anything above a whispered"Amen" sends shivers up and down rigid spines.

Years ago I attended a congregation where every meeting resembled a funeral service. I learned exactly when to leave home so that I would arrive just in time for the closing hymn of what was called "song service." It was deadly boring. Now I attend a Renewal congregation and I'm always there before the worship music begins. It's too joyful and soul stirring to miss.

By the way, Renewal music usually appeals to young people, and it is helping to bring back to church many who had left because of terminal boredom. Isn't that something to praise God for? Much of the negativity toward Renewal music comes from those who are elderly; it isn't the way it used to be in the good old days. Good old days? Come on! Those of us with gray hair had our opportunity to run things, and we didn't do very well. Isn't it time to step back and let the younger people have their turn? They couldn't mess things up much worse than we did. If we can't be as wholehearted about the worship music as they are, let us at least not make up a party of the opposition. Who knows, if we just open our hearts a bit we might learn to praise God with fullness of joy.

Would you like to know what God considers good worship? Then just read Psalm 150. That's the kind of victory party that will take place on the sea of glass before the Kings throne. If you plan to be there, you'd better get used to such an atmosphere now.

POTTERS WHEEL

For the past few months I've had the privilege of worshiping each week at a new congregation, the Potters Wheel. Here we praise the Lord loudly and fervently. No matter how hard the week may have been, worship lifts our hearts up to the throne room and prepares us for sharing the Word. Those so moved wave banners to God's glory, and some dance in the Spirit as did David before the Ark. And as we are admonished to do in Psalm 150.

Is Potters Wheel "seeker friendly?" We certainly don't go out of our way to offend people, but we probably don't qualify as seeker friendly. However, more importantly, I trust we are "Holy Spirit friendly." We want him to feel totally welcome in our midst.

Do we "play it safe" at Potters Wheel? No, at our services there is something to offend everyone who comes looking to be offended. On the other hand, I think there is something to bless everyone who comes looking for a blessing.

Don't let old traditions and habits keep you from receiving fully what God is doing today!

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