Proclamational Social Gospel - Part 3

Part 1, Part 2

This is now Part 3 in the series on “The Proclamational Social Gospel.” In this post I would like to examine, briefly, present day church growth strategies, and in Part 4 and 5 what the Church’s Primary and Secondary mandates are, according to the Word of God.

I. Present Day Church Growth Strategies

Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 “I will build My church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it…”

Francis Schaeffer once said “Tell me what the world is saying today and I’ll tell you what the church will be saying in seven years.” Schaeffer knew the danger of what happens when you deny the authority of Scripture only to redefine Christian faith in light of “the vain philosophies and traditions of men.”

David Wells has said that “The fundamental problem in the evangelical world today is that God rests too inconsequentially upon the church. His truth is too distant, his grace too ordinary, his judgment too benign, his gospel too easy, and his Christ too common.”

There is a trend taking place today that is taking Evangelicalism by storm. It is known by a popular term called “the church growth movement”.

It could be purpose driven, or seeker sensitive, or mission or missional-driven, or disciple-making churches, or cell groups, or a “new way of doing church”, or the 21st Century church, or Evangelism driven etc....

But what exactly is this “New way of doing Church?”

This movement can be defined as: The use of modern marketing techniques by the church, in order to draw large numbers of people by meeting their "felt needs".

The church then “converts” them, and “disciples" them through the use of modern organizational management techniques, so that they can effect "change" in the community, and the world.

The church members then become agents of social change, or “change agents”. These types of churches are “planted” after a survey has been taken of the surrounding community.

The “felt needs" of the community are then compiled, and the church is customized, so to speak, around meeting those needs.

Some questions that I have are: Is it ever acceptable to pattern a church after the felt needs of unbelievers, when the Apostle Paul stated very clearly that the task of the church is to perfect and to edify the saints? (Ephesians 4:11–12)

Just a thought here: would unbelievers be so anxious to join a church where sinning was punishable by physical death? (Acts 5:1-11)

Furthermore, are we to use worldly surveys and techniques to become more attractive to the people around us? (1 Corinthians 1:20, and Romans 12:2)

These churches often do not have any religious symbols, such as crosses, stained glass windows, and pews, so as to make the unbelievers more comfortable, and the surroundings “less intimidating.”

Remember: the cross is an offense (Galatians 5:11), and the preaching of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18).

The environment is visually stimulating, often with multiple video screens, drama, dance, and skits to portray “Biblical concepts”.

The pastors “dress down” in order to set the audience at ease, they pace back and forth as they speak, wearing mobile microphones.

The pastors often give handouts with fill-in-the-blanks to be used during the message – this results in people rarely bringing Bibles to church.

We went to a Seeker Sensitive service earlier this year. We’re sitting in the parking lot watching everybody stream into the building. We began to notice something very strange. NO one was carrying a BIBLE!

The only person carrying a Bible was our son!

Multiple Bible versions are used, in order to put the right “spin” on the message, and the King James Version is usually avoided due to the “difficulty in newcomers understanding it”.

And what about the content of the Sunday morning message? The messages speak of Jesus’ love and grace, often His deity is minimized, and the fact that He is a righteous judge is usually avoided. Sin is often characterized as “wrongdoing”, “wrong choices”, and “mistakes.”

The true pastor is to act as a messenger from God, bringing God’s truth and message to the people, regardless of whether it is what they want to hear. (II Timothy 4:1-4) No Other Gospel

The end result is a watered-down message, with “feel good” half-truths, and no condemnation or conviction of sin is preached to the listeners. Those who “accept Christ” are not accepting the Christ revealed in the Word of God, but rather a false Christ, a Christ of grace and love, and not of judgment, who exists to meet their needs and heal their hurts. Jesus becomes a servant of theirs, rather than them becoming servants of Him. (see Crossroad Article)

It is reported that Jonathan Edwards' sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" was read in a quiet, calm voice. God is Sovereign in Creation, Providence and Salvation - He does not NEED us; He uses us in spite of who we are.

For further reading, click here, and here