There can be no McGospel
Beggars All has a very worthwhile conversation going on regarding Bunny Diehl's assertion that "Willow Creek is evil."
Here's the thing: You can't sugar-coat the Cross.
Call them "Seekers," call them "secular Americans," call them "the Unchurched," or call them what you will, people are not ready for and will not, in fact, hear the Gospel until they're clobbered between the eyes by the Law.
That's the reason why there can be no such thing as a "seeker friendly" proclamation of Christ. Any church that's doing its job is in the business of putting "seekers" to death- because until they've been broken by the Law, by definition, what they're "seeking" will not be what Jesus has to give!
Such a death is an utterly indispensible prerequisite to being born to the New Life Jesus came to bestow.
There's just no getting around it: you aren't ready to hear about a Savior from sin until you're confronted with the reality of being a sinner. And you just can't make that news palatable. To the extent that you try, you're defeating yourself.
Those who want to be "seeker-friendly" face the ancient dilemma of the Lady and the Tiger: riding the tiger means figuring a way to get off without getting eaten. The problem with the whole "Church Growth" movement is that the moment the Bad News of the Law is proclaimed, you're no longer being "seeker-friendly." That superficial person with the superficial wants (not "needs") you've attracted through your superficial program will be offended and stop coming the moment you stop catering to his or her flesh.
"Bait and switch" is not only bad ethics, but lousy evangelism.
I think Bunnie is right: the Gospel is hard to find in the Church Growth movement. The reason is simple: the Gospel- the genuine article- is predicated on the one thing "seeker-friendly" strategies for "evangelism" dare not bring up: the Law.
You aren't ready for the Good News until you've heard, and been crushed by, the Bad News. Where that crushing- that putting to death of the flesh- is absent, the Gospel is absent, too- and it literally doesn't matter what words are spoken from the pulpit or taught in the classroom.
You can say all the right words. You can say them winsomely and eloquently. But if the Law hasn't preceeded the Gospel, it's not the Gospel you're proclaiming, but cheap grace.
Only sinners need a Savior from sin. And confronting people with their sin is anything but "seeker-friendly."
Being crucified with Christ is no fun. The dying and rising which takes place in baptism and faith is a grim process. There is no Easter without Good Friday; there is no faith without repentence- and there is no Gospel without the Law.
If there's one thing Christ, and Him crucifed, cannot be, it's (shudder) marketed.
How, then, are unbelievers brought to Christ? A quaint notion, voiced by a fella named Luther once upon a time:
See Acts 2. The only way to bring people to Christ is the old-fashioned way: proclaiming the Law, and then the Gospel; the Bad News, and only then the Good.
And it's always the Holy Spirit's doing- and never, ever that of a salesman.
Here's the thing: You can't sugar-coat the Cross.
Call them "Seekers," call them "secular Americans," call them "the Unchurched," or call them what you will, people are not ready for and will not, in fact, hear the Gospel until they're clobbered between the eyes by the Law.
That's the reason why there can be no such thing as a "seeker friendly" proclamation of Christ. Any church that's doing its job is in the business of putting "seekers" to death- because until they've been broken by the Law, by definition, what they're "seeking" will not be what Jesus has to give!
Such a death is an utterly indispensible prerequisite to being born to the New Life Jesus came to bestow.
There's just no getting around it: you aren't ready to hear about a Savior from sin until you're confronted with the reality of being a sinner. And you just can't make that news palatable. To the extent that you try, you're defeating yourself.
Those who want to be "seeker-friendly" face the ancient dilemma of the Lady and the Tiger: riding the tiger means figuring a way to get off without getting eaten. The problem with the whole "Church Growth" movement is that the moment the Bad News of the Law is proclaimed, you're no longer being "seeker-friendly." That superficial person with the superficial wants (not "needs") you've attracted through your superficial program will be offended and stop coming the moment you stop catering to his or her flesh.
"Bait and switch" is not only bad ethics, but lousy evangelism.
I think Bunnie is right: the Gospel is hard to find in the Church Growth movement. The reason is simple: the Gospel- the genuine article- is predicated on the one thing "seeker-friendly" strategies for "evangelism" dare not bring up: the Law.
You aren't ready for the Good News until you've heard, and been crushed by, the Bad News. Where that crushing- that putting to death of the flesh- is absent, the Gospel is absent, too- and it literally doesn't matter what words are spoken from the pulpit or taught in the classroom.
You can say all the right words. You can say them winsomely and eloquently. But if the Law hasn't preceeded the Gospel, it's not the Gospel you're proclaiming, but cheap grace.
Only sinners need a Savior from sin. And confronting people with their sin is anything but "seeker-friendly."
Being crucified with Christ is no fun. The dying and rising which takes place in baptism and faith is a grim process. There is no Easter without Good Friday; there is no faith without repentence- and there is no Gospel without the Law.
If there's one thing Christ, and Him crucifed, cannot be, it's (shudder) marketed.
How, then, are unbelievers brought to Christ? A quaint notion, voiced by a fella named Luther once upon a time:
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true.
See Acts 2. The only way to bring people to Christ is the old-fashioned way: proclaiming the Law, and then the Gospel; the Bad News, and only then the Good.
And it's always the Holy Spirit's doing- and never, ever that of a salesman.
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