Today’s “seeker church” has been designed to attract as many non-believers as possible. To accomplish this goal careful attention has been given to eliminating what might be considered offensive concerning the Gospel message. On the day of Pentecost, this was not Peter’s concern. He preached:
“You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know — this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. (Acts 2:22-24)
Conviction of sin is a large part of the Gospel. If it were not then the message of the cross would make no sense. The true message of Christ leads to repentance:
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:37-42)
Has the Gospel lost its power? Or has the message of the seeker church replaced the true Gospel, leading large numbers of people astray? Compare the seeker pastors to the Apostle Paul:
You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers. As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers. (1 Thessalonians 2:9-13)
The Gospel of Christ must be preached faithfully without a huge burden on the congregation. It must be preached in truth so that it will continually strengthen the believers. To do otherwise will risk the salvation of both the preacher and the listeners.
Preaching the Lectionary 