Seeker Sensitive Presuppositions Part 4

Presupposition Four: If We Give People What They Are Looking for in a Church, We Are More Likely to Get Them Converted Than If We Continued To "Do Church" in the Traditional Way.

This is another point that may be lost on those who are committed to a man-centered, "free-will" theology, but it is, nevertheless, biblical truth. The reality is, at the end of the day not one of those whom God had marked out for himself will be found outside the fold. Pay close attention to Paul’s teaching in Romans 8:28-30. He wrote,And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.He informs his readers that those who love God are those who have been called effectually by his grace. We know this call is not universal but effectual because those who are called are also declared righteous (v.30).

This is not true of those who are merely invited by the proclamation of the gospel. He then informs us that this call is according to God’s electing purpose. Even if we should assume the word "foreknew" refers to no more than God’s foresight of what decision sinners would make in response to the gospel, the number of those who would believe would be equally as fixed as if we understood God’s choice to be without condition in its objects. Whatever "foreknew" means, only those who are thus foreknown will be called, justified, or glorified.

It matters not what means we use or fail to use, God will ultimately save all those he has chosen and foreknown. Of course, those who defend the seeker-friendly movement might argue that God also foresaw their use of non-biblical means to accomplish this end, but if God is certain to glorify all his chosen ones, why not accomplish his work using the means he has prescribed?Jesus said, "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd (John 10:16).

He doesn’t say he will bring them only if someone will be clever enough to devise new methods of "doing church" so that the goats will feel comfortable with the sheep. No, he is certain to bring them to the fold as we, his people, are faithful in employing the biblical means he has prescribed.