In reading Gertie Pool’s letter on church responsibility I was impressed by her insight regarding the general condition of churches in Abbotsford. However, I would add that her observations extend beyond our city to include a sweeping agenda targeting churches throughout North America.
The ‘seeker sensitive church’ is a term used to describe the “lukewarm” attitude Gertie mentioned in her letter. With the phenomenal success the mega-church movement has had, the strategies attributing to mega growth have been adopted by many denominations to some degree. Entertainment with a variety of stage acts and loud music draws crowds. The focus on Scripture, which was once the defining factor in guiding the lives of believers, is no longer central in church activity.
Many of our churches now promote self-help gurus and mystics with their feel good philosophy peddled under a Christian label. It seems that anything endorsed by popular TV talk show personalities is good enough for the church when crowd appeal dictates the direction of changing doctrines. With the open door, feel good policy of many of our churches these new doctrines conflict with Scripture and what was taught 20 years ago.
Gertie ends her letter saying, “I strongly believe, however, that a neglect of vibrant church teachings on moral issues should have been included in this list”. While I couldn’t agree more it seems to me that this statement applies to the church, as it was 20 years ago. It is now a treasure to find a church unaffected by the mysticism sweeping throughout the churches in North America.
Evans Nicholson