The seeker-sensitive or seeker-driven movement is an evangelism strategy following the idea that everyone is searching for something and what they are really seeking is God. So a church, in an effort to be “all things to all people” (1 Corinthians 9:22), will arrange their Sunday gathering to cater to the interests of seekers.
They might incorporate pop culture, give away prizes, offer special programs, or follow certain data to attract the most people.
There’s just one eentsy, weentsy, no, make that gigantic flaw to this approach. Romans 3:11 says, “No one seeks for God.” Yup, this seeker doesn’t exist.
What these unconverted persons come to church seeking are the gifts, but not the Giver. They might want peace, justice, health and wealth, they might even be looking for religion. But they don’t actually want God. Not the Jesus of the Bible, nor His word. “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Church is for believers to worship God. It’s not for unbelievers who don’t seek God. Share the gospel with them, sure. But they aren’t the church until they’re born again.
But what about being “all things to all people”? This simply meant that Paul was mindful and considerate of others so he might share the gospel with them. It doesn’t mean he sang pop songs, coordinated dancers, and made sure everyone had the right amount of melanin.
Earlier Paul said, “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:23). That’s not very seeker sensitive, when we understand the text.
