"Seeker-Sensitive", But Seeking What?

Often we hear the term seeker sensitive applied to a church, a church service, etc. I do not care to discuss at the moment the positive or negative connotations of such language; rather, I desire to emphasize the ineptitude of "preaching" that aims to make the outsider "comfortable."

My inspiration in writing this is Mark Dever's commentary on pages 136-137 of Give Praise to God. Dever challenges, "We must go into our pulpits not trying to win our non-Christian friends' approval, but their souls." I concur that too often preachers are overly concerned about how they are viewed by those outside of the church. Should pastors desire a good standing in the community? Sure, Paul states as much as a requirement in I Timothy 3:7. But that verse speaks of how they are viewed in regard to their lifestyle, their reputation as a person and then as a pastor. When declaring God's truth, no overseer is to compromise the message for the sake of his reputation. Being "well thought of" (I Timothy 3:7) and being liked may very well be different traits.

Ultimately, proclaiming the gospel must start with proclaiming God's holiness and man's sinfulness. This, in itself, is not a popular subject in postmodernity. Many will despise this message. Many will not like the one who gives it. To risk sounding flippant, why does it matter? If one thinks you an enemy when you work for his good, will that change your desire to work for his good? Likewise, if one thinks you a friend when you work for his downfall, will that make you any more his friend? The point is this, the best you can do for another is aid his soul. As Dr. Ryrie said this morning (and I paraphrase), what is best is for God to be shown through a person. Your desire for God's glory and your love for your friend compel you to preach the gospel, unadulterated and without apology, to your friend.

Dever sites a Greek proverb: "The opposite of a friend is not an enemy, it is a flatterer." Do preachers today believe this. If so, we must concern ourselves less with comfort and more with confrontation. Not confrontation between us and them, but between their souls (their sinful souls) and the gospel. "How are they to believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" Preaching not comfort for sinners, but atonement for sin. Preaching not contentment in damnation, but death (and life) in Christ.