Seeker Sensitive:

One of the phenomena that has developed within the American evangelical church during my lifetime is that of the "seeker sensitive movement." The key idea in this movement is that the church should be accommodating its services to those who would be considered "seekers" of God. The assumption is that there are many who are seeking after God and that the church should be sensitive to this reality and adjust its worship to enable the "seekers" to feel comfortable when and if they come to church.

There is a valid point that I believe we must acknowledge from the "seeker sensitive" movement. There are those who are seeking after God. Beyond agreeing with that point though there is very little, if any, agreement with the "seeker sensitive" movement. There, indeed are seekers after God but the whole reason for the seeking is due to God's infinite grace and mercy.

The truth of the matter is God seeks us. After Adam and Eve sinned it was God who sought them out. (Gn. 3:8 - 9) In response to Cain's disobedience and unjustified anger for God's rejection of his sacrifice it was God who sought out Cain, not Cain who sought out God. (Gn. 4:6,9) Jesus declared during His earthly ministry "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

The fact that God seeks after us and not we after Him is further affirmed by the Apostle Paul in the book of Romans. Paul, in describing the nature of the human soul, says this about all men. "There are none who understand, there are none who seeks after God." Rm. 3:11 God is the seeker sensitive One. He seeks after men. If God did not seek us we would never, never seek Him. It is not in our nature to do so. We seek God because He first seeks us.

It is to this same disposition of heart to which we are called. In Mt. 28:18 - 20 Jesus said to His disciples "as you are going, make disciples, baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teach them all things whatsoever I have commanded." The process begins with making disciples, seeing people come to Christ as Lord and Savior. But, notice that our Lord says, "as you are going." As we go through the path of life to which our Lord leads every one of us we are to be engaged in seeking men, offering them the gift of salvation through the proclamation of the gospel.