SEEKER FRIENDLY - by Calvin Wulf
Living for God
I have decided to become seeker friendly. Now, I am not a newcomer to the church growth movement. I attended a conference on church growth in 1979 that was presented by Peter Wagner and Win Arn near the Fuller Theological Seminary campus in Pasadena, California. So I have been tuned in to the seeker friendly strategy for a long time, or at least I thought so.
Seeker friendly strategies have been criticized from many directions. I have heard them all with great understanding and humility. But recently, I listened to a critic who got me thinking. Perhaps we have overlooked the seeker friendly strategy that is at the core of what or who we profess to follow.
Jesus said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Have you adopted this practice as your primary seeker friendly strategy? Public opinion tells me that this particular teaching of our Rabbi is not widely followed.
Christians are generally seen as hypocrites who argue viciously with one another and as people who spread hate. Please don't write this off as lies of the devil. If you don't believe me then just pick up a copy of the book, "unChristian," by David Kinnaman, President of the Barna Group. He chronicles behaviors and attitudes among Christians that undeniably explain the reasons for such public opinion.
The problem is simple. We pass off a casual, "Hi how are you?" greeting on Sunday morning as Christian love for one another. We say an amen, then return to business as usual, buying and selling as if there were nothing wrong. If that is how we love our church folk, then how do we love our Sunday morning visitors or non-Christians?
We not only fail at authentic love for one another, but we fail even more miserably at showing non-judgmental love to our neighbors. The public opinion that we have is the public opinion we deserve. Think on that for awhile.
If you consider my words to be harsh, then answer this question. What would Jesus say? "Everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another." If we take these words to heart, then our love would be obvious to everyone. Where are these disciples?
I have decided to become seeker friendly by learning how to love my brothers and sisters and then loving my neighbors the way I want to be loved. That is how everyone should behave who is saved by the one who loved enough to die for the whole world.
How would you become seeker friendly? Tell us what you think by leaving your comment.
Tags: Living for God, Christian Community, Reflecting Christ
Posted by Calvin and Lisa Wulf at 2/27/2008 2:07 PM 
Categories: ALL CALVIN'S ENTRIES,Living for God
Tags: Reflecting Christ Christian Community Living for God
Categories: ALL CALVIN'S ENTRIES,Living for God
Tags: Reflecting Christ Christian Community Living for God
Calvin,
Great point. It hurts to consider how many times I have tarnished the name of Christ by my lack of love. I want to learn to love like Jesus does. I want it to go beyond the talk and the "requirements" of Sunday morning.
I think followers of Jesus can make a tremendous impact in our communities if we love those who claim Christ and those who don't in the way Jesus does.
Reply to this
Thanks Dave, I really appreciate your honesty. We proclaim Christ best to a confused and hurting world when we love the way that Jesus does.
At His Mercy,
Calvin
Reply to this