Comments on: The Downward Spiral of Seeker Sensitivity http://www.killerrobotninja.com/the-downward-spiral-seeker-sensitivity/ The Mind of Les Lanphere Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:28:18 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Britni Jaynes http://www.killerrobotninja.com/the-downward-spiral-seeker-sensitivity/comment-page-1/#comment-593 Britni Jaynes Sat, 14 Aug 2010 02:44:07 +0000 http://www.killerrobotninja.com/?p=1037#comment-593 loved this blog! loved this blog!

]]> By: Evan http://www.killerrobotninja.com/the-downward-spiral-seeker-sensitivity/comment-page-1/#comment-580 Evan Sun, 18 Jul 2010 11:45:26 +0000 http://www.killerrobotninja.com/?p=1037#comment-580 Les. Love it. I have finally found a small church that began from sheep congregating in search of the Truth; sheep that had gone to churches like the ones you mention in this post. If you click on my name, you'll find a post I wrote after pretty much calling it quits almost a year ago. Be blessed, brutha! Les. Love it. I have finally found a small church that began from sheep congregating in search of the Truth; sheep that had gone to churches like the ones you mention in this post. If you click on my name, you’ll find a post I wrote after pretty much calling it quits almost a year ago. Be blessed, brutha!

]]> By: Cory D. Jones http://www.killerrobotninja.com/the-downward-spiral-seeker-sensitivity/comment-page-1/#comment-521 Cory D. Jones Fri, 25 Jun 2010 10:27:19 +0000 http://www.killerrobotninja.com/?p=1037#comment-521 I have written on this subject before... Actually, I once wrote a nine page paper on the Christian character of a man who runs one of the biggest seeker-sensitive churches in America. I will let you guess who I'm writing about (it's pretty easy). Here are some clips... We'll call him Zach. - I stand in awe at the amount of power Zach wields, hiding behind his pulpit that stands upon false premises, preaching a doctrine that says, “God has not spoken definitively, telling us exactly what to believe. In fact, God does not care what we believe. God does not care about His own glory; He merely wants us to be happy in our sin.” - Zach may be a great motivational speaker, but in my opinion, as a leader of a church of God, he miserably fails the “above reproach as God’s steward” test. His marketing-driven, motivational speaking tickles the ears of the not-really-convicted-of-sin, drawing the self-serving seekers into his ‘church’, and sending them home with nothing more than pseudo-salvation. - “Sell everything you have… and follow me,” Jesus told the rich young ruler. What would Zach do in that situation? Would he give up his 47,000+ congregation, book deals, fame and fortune, and follow Jesus? Or would he autograph a book, smile, and give it to Jesus saying, “This will make you a better person.” Sound familiar? I end by comparing this particular preacher to 2 Timothy 4:3,4... It's downright CREEPY how they match up!! Les, I'd love to have you read it. I'd love to send it to you if you have an e-mail addy. Great post! I have written on this subject before… Actually, I once wrote a nine page paper on the Christian character of a man who runs one of the biggest seeker-sensitive churches in America. I will let you guess who I’m writing about (it’s pretty easy). Here are some clips… We’ll call him Zach.

- I stand in awe at the amount of power Zach wields, hiding behind his pulpit that stands upon false premises, preaching a doctrine that says, “God has not spoken definitively, telling us exactly what to believe. In fact, God does not care what we believe. God does not care about His own glory; He merely wants us to be happy in our sin.”

- Zach may be a great motivational speaker, but in my opinion, as a leader of a church of God, he miserably fails the “above reproach as God’s steward” test. His marketing-driven, motivational speaking tickles the ears of the not-really-convicted-of-sin, drawing the self-serving seekers into his ‘church’, and sending them home with nothing more than pseudo-salvation.

- “Sell everything you have… and follow me,” Jesus told the rich young ruler. What would Zach do in that situation? Would he give up his 47,000+ congregation, book deals, fame and fortune, and follow Jesus? Or would he autograph a book, smile, and give it to Jesus saying, “This will make you a better person.”

Sound familiar? I end by comparing this particular preacher to 2 Timothy 4:3,4… It’s downright CREEPY how they match up!!

Les, I’d love to have you read it. I’d love to send it to you if you have an e-mail addy.

Great post!

]]> By: Bruce http://www.killerrobotninja.com/the-downward-spiral-seeker-sensitivity/comment-page-1/#comment-491 Bruce Wed, 19 May 2010 16:51:58 +0000 http://www.killerrobotninja.com/?p=1037#comment-491 This is amazingly accurate, and I've been to a church where this has sadly happened. The pastor actually yelled at people for not bringing people to the church and said, in effect, "it's good to spend time with God for X amount of hours, but if you don't share it with anyone it's worthless," which is true to a point. The last I heard, the pastors were asking for funds to do some kind of church reality show. It's a somewhat dubious claim, but judging from the church's current state it wouldn't surprise me. My only disagreement here is in saying a seeker-sensitive church is "no longer a gathering of believers, but a repository for the lost to get saved." I don't believe it's an "either/or" situation, but that the church should be a place for feeding the sheep and recovering the one lost sheep described by Jesus in His parables. It is a dual-obligation. This is amazingly accurate, and I’ve been to a church where this has sadly happened. The pastor actually yelled at people for not bringing people to the church and said, in effect, “it’s good to spend time with God for X amount of hours, but if you don’t share it with anyone it’s worthless,” which is true to a point. The last I heard, the pastors were asking for funds to do some kind of church reality show. It’s a somewhat dubious claim, but judging from the church’s current state it wouldn’t surprise me. My only disagreement here is in saying a seeker-sensitive church is “no longer a gathering of believers, but a repository for the lost to get saved.” I don’t believe it’s an “either/or” situation, but that the church should be a place for feeding the sheep and recovering the one lost sheep described by Jesus in His parables. It is a dual-obligation.

]]> By: Christina Ketchum http://www.killerrobotninja.com/the-downward-spiral-seeker-sensitivity/comment-page-1/#comment-445 Christina Ketchum Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:15:00 +0000 http://www.killerrobotninja.com/?p=1037#comment-445 You got me thinking here Les. BTW, your web design is super cool! I am glad to see your writing is just as remarkable. You got me thinking here Les. BTW, your web design is super cool! I am glad to see your writing is just as remarkable.

]]> By: molloaggie http://www.killerrobotninja.com/the-downward-spiral-seeker-sensitivity/comment-page-1/#comment-441 molloaggie Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:46:10 +0000 http://www.killerrobotninja.com/?p=1037#comment-441 Just finished listening to your interview on Issues, etc. Your article is very insiteful. Just finished listening to your interview on Issues, etc. Your article is very insiteful.

]]> By: Lubee http://www.killerrobotninja.com/the-downward-spiral-seeker-sensitivity/comment-page-1/#comment-414 Lubee Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:38:11 +0000 http://www.killerrobotninja.com/?p=1037#comment-414 "Eventually the organization as a whole is entirely bankrupt of any meaningful truth about God. The audience has full bellies of entertainment and a sentimental God, and the sheep are starving to death. As uncompromising believers leave, they’re mocked on the way out. The mentality becomes unashamedly ‘us against them’." ..............Dang Les. Such strong usage of reality against itself. This church methodology is self destructive. I agree with Josh too. And you. Praise God for truth and that it breaks falsehood. “Eventually the organization as a whole is entirely bankrupt of any meaningful truth about God. The audience has full bellies of entertainment and a sentimental God, and the sheep are starving to death. As uncompromising believers leave, they’re mocked on the way out. The mentality becomes unashamedly ‘us against them’.” …………..Dang Les. Such strong usage of reality against itself. This church methodology is self destructive. I agree with Josh too. And you. Praise God for truth and that it breaks falsehood.

]]> By: Joshua http://www.killerrobotninja.com/the-downward-spiral-seeker-sensitivity/comment-page-1/#comment-405 Joshua Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:14:05 +0000 http://www.killerrobotninja.com/?p=1037#comment-405 This is amazingly accurate, and I've been to a church where this has sadly happened. The pastor actually yelled at people for not bringing people to the church and said, in effect, "it's good to spend time with God for X amount of hours, but if you don't share it with anyone it's worthless," which is true to a point. The last I heard, the pastors were asking for funds to do some kind of church reality show. It's a somewhat dubious claim, but judging from the church's current state it wouldn't surprise me. My only disagreement here is in saying a seeker-sensitive church is "no longer a gathering of believers, but a repository for the lost to get saved." I don't believe it's an "either/or" situation, but that the church should be a place for feeding the sheep and recovering the one lost sheep described by Jesus in His parables. It is a dual-obligation. This is amazingly accurate, and I’ve been to a church where this has sadly happened. The pastor actually yelled at people for not bringing people to the church and said, in effect, “it’s good to spend time with God for X amount of hours, but if you don’t share it with anyone it’s worthless,” which is true to a point. The last I heard, the pastors were asking for funds to do some kind of church reality show. It’s a somewhat dubious claim, but judging from the church’s current state it wouldn’t surprise me. My only disagreement here is in saying a seeker-sensitive church is “no longer a gathering of believers, but a repository for the lost to get saved.” I don’t believe it’s an “either/or” situation, but that the church should be a place for feeding the sheep and recovering the one lost sheep described by Jesus in His parables. It is a dual-obligation.

]]> By: Scott Diekmann http://www.killerrobotninja.com/the-downward-spiral-seeker-sensitivity/comment-page-1/#comment-404 Scott Diekmann Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:10:31 +0000 http://www.killerrobotninja.com/?p=1037#comment-404 You nailed it Les! You nailed it Les!

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