Creativity in outreach is a healthy thing if our creativity is consistent with the principles of the scriptures.
I did some research on this subject and have included some of the highlights I found. When you get down to the "turn of phrase" section that is my observation on this subject, but more specifically I address this subject as it pertains to the church I currently call my home church. Finally, the last section is an article I took from the late pastor, Dr. Hank Lindstrom.
Acts 2:42 is no longer the pattern text for what the church should do in its gatherings: namely, teaching the apostles' doctrine, enjoying fellowship together in the Gospel of grace, breaking the bread of the Lord's Communion and earnest congregational prayer. Our "new" read on this text would be that we meet in order to attract unbelievers through meeting their "felt needs" and making them feel better about themselves and our message.
The old Acts 2:42 agenda seems lame beside this baby-boomer agenda of drama, music, entertainment and self-help-oriented counsel. (Can we really call what is spoken in such services "preaching"? Helpful talks maybe, but not preaching in the sense we see in the New Testament or recovered in the days of the Reformation.)
One prominent seeker-sensitive preacher counsels,
Limit your preaching to roughly 20 minutes, because boomers don't have much time to spare. And don't forget to keep your messages light and informal, liberally sprinkling them with humor and personal anecdotes.
Marketing strategist George Barna states that Jesus and the apostles were market-sensitive and constantly sought to minister to felt needs. The illustrations used to demonstrate this are: Nicodemus and the woman at the well in John 4. Barna never states how these accounts parallel marketing, but simply asserts that they do. How can one read Acts and the Gospels and equate what one sees there with today's market-driven messages? Sermons in the New Testament are culturally relevant and personally powerful, but that is not the point. What is the common denominator of New
Testament preaching is its entire dependence upon Christ and the apostolic revelation.
Douglas Webster is surely correct when he writes:
The reason was its ability to sweep aside superficial felt needs and penetrate to deep-seated spiritual needs. Biblical preaching was God-centered, sin-exposing, self-convicting and life-challenging--the direct opposite of today's light, informal sermons that Christianize self-help and entertain better than they convict.
The Destruction of Congregational Worship
The whole "seeker sensitive" approach presumes that the Lord's Day church gathering is principally for recruiting the unchurched, or evangelizing the lost. This idea can be traced to the "revivalism" of 19th century American experience, where the focus during this era was then moved from the church gathering to worship God, to be edified, to receive the sacraments and to enjoy fellowship with Christ and one another, to "drawing the net," or getting decisions from the lost. This new "seeker-sensitive" approach is just a sharper and more carefully defined (dare we say, "neatly packaged") version of the same approach.
It is clearly not Reformational, but even more importantly it is clearly not Biblical. While we try to entice the world to come to church to hear the Gospel,the New Testament proclaims a powerful church worshipping God going out into the world in order to reach lost (cf. The Book of Acts). True revivals have historically proved again and again, if they prove anything at all, that a revived and healthy church reaches a dying and lost world through its own awakened people. The real problem is that we have a dying and sadly unhealthy church in the late 20th century and we are trying something, it seems at times almost anything, to bring back life.
The new way to do this is to attack the "traditional" church and suggest that our problem is to be found in what we do on Sundays. It is argued, "Contemporaneity will bring back the crowds, thus the life of our church." The real problem, however, is not what we do (i.e. in the so-called traditional service), but that we do what we do without power, without careful thought, and without integrity and passion. But a very important question begs to be answered: What really is the biblical reason for the church to gather in public meetings on the Lord's Day? A simple reading of the Scriptures gives an unmistakably clear answer--God-centered, Scripture-directed worship or in other words "Godly simplicity".
The modern church needs to give itself to such "Godly simplicity" in public worship, reclaiming its biblical heritage of liturgy through a thoughtful and scriptural informed pattern. This pattern must seek to intentionally glorify God, focusing upon him alone as we gather each Lord's Day.
"Turn of phrase"
The church I attend has deemed it necessary to change the way we classify certain things in the church. Here is a sample:
No longer is the area we have worship called a "sanctuary". It is now called an "auditorium". In looking in the Bible, the word "sanctuary" appears 132 times. Oddly, the word "auditorium" can not be found in the Bible.
No longer are we a "congregation" we are "friends and family". (Maybe we should be the MCI church then). Anyway, the word "congregation" appears 331 times in the Bible but the phrase "friends and family" is no where to be seen.
Instead of "Discipleship" it is now called the "next step". Now the great Commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28 says to make disciples. It does not say to lead people to a "next step". A next step can mean anything (including stepping in dog doo-doo).
Our worship team is no longer called a "worship team" (imagine the gall of a church to actually worship God in song). It is now simply called a "band". A band is something someone goes to see in a bar or night club to be entertained. Maybe we should charge a cover at the door of the "auditorium" to help supplement the offering each week.
When the piece of bread and cup of juice is passed each Sunday it is no longer to be referred to as the "Lord's Supper" but simply as communion. Question? To whom are we communing with? I suppose as long as we are communing with someone then it is a success... may as well keep the Lord out of it.
There are others but I think the point has been made. We as Bible believing Christians need to be aware of these very subtle changes that are being implemented and not be surprised down the road a year or two when we show up on Sunday and wonder 'who stole our church'?
So what is the point of all the above discussion. My concern is that the contemporary movement will alienate the strongest Christians. This will cause them to depart the church thus leaving the new believers and unbelievers (with itchy ears) at the mercy of what the contemporary church tells them as being the Biblical way to do things regardless of whether or not it is doctrinally sound.
Lastly, I have included an article from the late Dr. Hank Lindstrom that addresses the failing of many contemporary terms as it relates to true salvation via trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the sole payment for our sins in order to make us righteous before a Holy God who demands perfect rigtheousness as entry into His Heaven.
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CONTEMPORARY TERMS THAT ARE NOT THE GOSPEL
The simple gospel message is being corrupted every day by the use of terms or phrases that Christians use to invite the lost to be saved. These terms demand or imply that human works or human effort is a part of the plan of salvation! Biblical salvation is wholly of the Lord and is "Not of works, lest anyone may boast (Ephesians 2:9)". The unsaved listen carefully to every word that we say when we present the gospel. Therefore, we need to be careful of what we say because what we say is what the lost will hear! You might say, "I don't believe in salvation by works", but use some of the terminology used below to present salvation. The problem is that you will be held accountable for what you say, because that is what the lost will hear.
CONTEMPORARY TERMS THAT ARE NOT THE GOSPEL are terms that relate to the Christian life and NOT SALVATION. When applied to salvation they add works in a subtle way. The following is a list examining common terms and phrases that become corrupted when used for salvation. To require these things of a lost person, would be adding works to salvation (Ephesians 2:8, 9).
1. "You must be water baptized to be saved." Water baptism is not required for salvation. (Ephesians 2:8, 9) Since salvation is not of ourselves, it can not be by baptism.
2. "I am asking you to commit your life to Jesus Christ." This implies a promise to live your life for Christ to be saved. Additionally, it is often presented as a commitment of the total emotion, will and intellect of the person. This is a subtle way of asking the person to keep the first commandment. (See Matthew 22:36,37). Love is a commitment. Faith or belief is TRUST. Notice the emphasis is upon YOUR LIFE NOT THE LIFE OF CHRIST GIVEN ON THE CROSS FOR US! This is works. Salvation is made dependent upon how you live your life.
3. "Be willing to repent of your sins (turn from sin)." This makes salvation the result of your change or works. This phrase never ever occurs in the Bible. The Greek word repent [meta-noia], when translated, does not mean to turn from sin but means a change of mind. This change of mind is included in Biblical faith.
4. "Surrender your life to Christ." This implies you are going to live for Christ to be saved.
5. "Give your heart to Jesus Christ." Salvation is not giving, but receiving the gift of God. (John 1:12)
6. "Make Jesus Lord and Master." Implies works as necessary to be saved. Salvation is God's gift.
7. "Invite Jesus into your life." You must TRUST Christ to be saved. This is NOT the plan of salvation.
8. "I want you to follow Christ tonight, give Him your all. You come as the invitation is given." Following Christ is necessary for discipleship, NOT salvation
9. "You must be converted, Jesus said, there must be a change." The apostle Peter was converted three years after he was saved. It implies works. (See Luke 22:32). Jesus never said there must be a change for salvation
10. "I have broken God's laws. I am ready to change my way of life and receive Christ, and follow Him, no matter what the cost." Jesus Christ paid the cost of salvation in full on the cross of Calvary.
11. "Confess your sins." Makes salvation something of self. (See Ephesians 2:8).
12. "You must keep the Ten Commandments." No one can be saved by the commandments. (Romans 3:20)
13. "You must do the will of God to be saved." God's will for salvation is to TRUST Christ. (John 6:40)
14. "I am asking you to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord." The words, "and Lord" implies works or obedience.
15. "Turn over your life to Christ." Implies works or obedience.
16. "Forsake all." Makes salvation of works.
17. "Put Jesus on the throne of your life." Implies that you will obey Christ to be saved. Living the Christian life will not save you.
18. "Promise to live for Jesus." Clearly implies works for salvation.
19. "Let Jesus into your heart." TRUST Christ to be saved. He indwells in those who trust in Him as a consequence of their salvation
20. "Get your life turned around." Makes works a part of the plan of salvation.
WE RECOMMEND THAT THE TERMS ABOVE NOT BE USED WHEN TALKING ABOUT SALVATION!
Here's Why:
Eternal life is free! Romans 5:15, 16
Eternal life is God's gift! Romans 6:23
Eternal life is not of works! Ephesians 2:8, 9
Eternal life is received by faith only! Romans 4:5
In fact, eternal life is not received by, attained by, kept by a person's works, conduct or behavior. WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH! "For by GRACE are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: .NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8, 9)." "But we believe that through the GRACE of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved (Acts 15:11)."
GRACE by definition excludes all WORKS! "And if by GRACE, then is it no more of WORKS: otherwise GRACE is no more GRACE. But if it be of WORKS, then is it no more GRACE: otherwise WORK is no more WORK (Romans 11:6)." According to this verse, ONE work added to grace would render it no more grace.
GRACE PLUS WORKS = NO SALVATION and CHRIST PLUS WORKS = NO SALVATION
READ: I Corinthians 1:17; Galatians 2:21; Galatians 5:2-4; Romans 11:6; Romans 4:16 and the following quotes:
"There is a vast difference between coming to Jesus for salvation, and coming after Jesus for service. Coming to Christ makes one a believer, while coming after Christ makes one a disciple. All believers are not disciples. To become a believer one accepts the invitation of the Gospel. To be a disciple one obeys the challenge to a life of dedicated service and separation. Salvation comes through the sacrifice of Christ. Discipleship comes only by sacrifice of self and surrender to His call for devoted service. Salvation is free, but discipleship involves paying the price of a separated walk. Salvation can not be lost because it depends upon God's faithfulness, but discipleship can be lost because it depends upon our faithfulness."
DEHAAN, M. R. Hebrews. Zondervan Publishing House, 1959. (p. 117)
"There is no more piously subtle abrogation of the Gospel than to tell a sinner that he must not only believe in the Savior, but dedicate himself to do God's will, crown the Savior Lord of his life, etc., etc. Obviously, dedication and service are highly desirable, but they are the privilege and the duty of the saved, never a condition of salvation for the unsaved (cf. Romans 12:1, 2)."
UNGER, MERRILL F. God is Waiting to Meet You. Moody Press, 1975 (p. 117, 118)
"It is our purpose to discuss the Scriptural doctrine of repentance. It is important because so many minds have been confused concerning the simplicity of salvation by the perversion of the Scriptural teaching of this important doctrine ... The doctrine has suffered tremendously from an erroneous concept held by most men, for when the word 'repent' is used, it brings to mind of the average individual the thought of sorrow for sin... And this sorrow for sin is usually called 'repentance'. But there could be nothing further from the concept of the Word of God than the idea that repentance means sorrow for sins. From the Word of God we discover that the word translated 'repent' means 'a change of mind'... Now, such a change of mind as the Scripture enjoins when it speaks of repentance may produce a sorrow for sin, but it will be the result after one has seen his sin in the light of the holiness of God and has changed his attitude toward it."
PENTECOST, J. DWIGHT. Things Which Become Sound Doctrine. (p. 61, 62).
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