Purpose-Driven / Seeker-Sensitive Methods are Causing Membership Decline

While President Kieschnick is in the middle of transitioning the LCMS into a "Purpose-Driven" denomination the Southern Baptists are actually waking up and realizing that so-called 'culturally relevant' and 'seeker-sensitive methods' are not growing their denomination but are instead shrinking it.

The Christian Post is reporting on statements made by Paige Patterson, the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. According to the Christian Post:

Weak preaching and cultural adaptability are just two of many reasons Southern Baptists give to explain the decline of membership and baptisms.

"[T]he shallow state of preaching has exacerbated the lethargy of the church and left the lost with no real Word from God," said Paige Patterson, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, in a column in Baptist Press.

"The pastor ought to be the major source of theological understanding and the most able teacher of the Bible,” he added.

"Anemic pulpits create anemic churches and denominations."

Since the release last month of the latest data on Southern Baptist membership and baptisms, both of which declined, Southern Baptists have speculated why the largest Protestant denomination in the country has been seeing lower numbers.

"Well, the time has come to identify the real problems," said Patterson.

Many church leaders have been calling for change to respond to what many identify as a shift from modern to postmodern culture. And the latest statistics showing shrinking numbers has made that call even more urgent. But cultural relevance has led many churches to lose the holiness of God and a thirst to be like God, Patterson noted.

A prominent conservative Southern Baptist, Patterson said he is the first to admit that "dullness and 'Baptist tradition' were too often the rule in our churches." But the suggestion that churches must chase after culture in order to be effective in evangelistic efforts is "misguided," he said.

"The more attune to culture Southern Baptists have become and the more we have incorporated the world into our worship, the more our baptisms have dropped!" Patterson noted. (Emphasis Added)

In other words, adopting Seeker-Sensitive methods viz. Rick Warren's Purpose-Drivenism or Bill Hybels Willowcreek methods will do nothing less than insure the long-term DECLINE of the LCMS.

Comments

[Stan]

Indeed. Finally, people are waking up. We are all one in the body of Christ. I am currently wrestling with leaving the LCMS since my own parish has gone fully the way of seeker-sensitive, happy-clappy worship.

Where to go? What to do? No one cares, it seems but the minority in my own parish.

There will be a backlash coming against this style of worship, and it cannot come soon enough.

[Matthew Pancake]

I've been saying for a long while, that while other "religions" are maintaining a semblence of authenticity, christians in the US seems to want to become relevant by radically informing their church life through the culture at large. But look at the people who turn to Eastern Orthodoxy or even Rome. Both of these communions remain unabashedly true to themselves, but yet the LCMS leaders want to be unabashedly shallow. The Lutheran Faith has the only theology that will help if someone detonates a nuclear device in Minniapolis or an arsonist burns down acres of dry forest around thousands of homes. It's the only theology that will help when you are troubled by your actual sins. No other church has the theological or pastoral edge that LCMS pastors have, and yet we want to get creative, use excitements and the like to draw people into a pulp culture informed church.

Wanna stay relevant? How about this: Jesus is Lord. You don't get much more relevant than that.

[Paul]

The LCMS needs to wake up to the reality that these methods will not work to sustain membership or create more donations. The church should be counter-cultural! Did Jesus bow to the whims of society and culture in his day? Let us look at Jesus as the example and guide.

[Adam E.]

Maybe sliding towards being a purpose driven church is just natural. Maybe the church just reflects her pastors and laity who in turn reflect the world. When the pastor and his flock become of the world rather than of Jesus what do you expect them to do or be? They will be just like the world and practice the worlds ways even if they are still in a church setting.

The world worships money, personal and institutional growth (success), personal fulfillment (feeling good), and "meaningful relationships" (a sense of meaning through interaction with others). When you are of the world you want these things more than anything or Anybody. You want a dandy god like life for yourself where you can be happy.

The traditional faith and Church worship Jesus Christ alone. He is all inclusive. You gain your wealth from Him not His money. You don't view success through your ties to big organizations, buildings, or having power. Your relationships are based on Him and what neighbors He puts before you to serve. You are not guaranteed good times, feelings, or happiness, but you are promised a cross and joy in living in Christ under His cross. You gain true life as a child of God who has been granted eternal life by being connected to His resurrected Son through His Word and Sacraments.

[Roy F.]

Most of the article talks about weak preaching as the main cause of the decline of the Sothern Baptist churches. Chasing cultural 'relevance' as well as the dullnes of tradition are both quoted as being misguided.

Do you really think 'traditions' and/or 'cultural-relevance' mean anything to non-christians? Should they mean anything to christians? Whatever your bent, do you adhere to your traditions or cultural-relevance because they say something about you? If you stopped practicing your traditions or 'engaging culture', would that change God? Could it change you? Does it matter?

Is it traditionalism or cultural-relevance that is louder in your church, your pulpit, your home, your heart, and your blog? You took an article about synod-wide sub-par preaching and only saw the last paragraph! Are you engaging in the right fight?

The bottom line is that Jesus is Lord and Savior... and the preaching of just that should deafen us to both traditons and cultural-relevance. Don't make traditionalism nor 'cultural-relevance' your mainstay. Instead, persue excellence in the preaching of Jesus as Lord and Savior.

[Linda]

I sent this article to Pres. Kieshnick's office and got a reply from his assistant. He was glad to know that the Baptists were "waking up" but indicated there was no such problem in the LCMS re: Rick Warren or Joel Olsteen????????? I wonder if they (Synod officials) need to have as required reading such web sites as JHC and other churches that have adopted Ablaze. The Easter vidio of JHC should quickly disabuse them of there ignorance (if ignorance is actually their problem). My email from the Presidents office also stated that it was priveledged and confidential and not to be forwarded??!! There was also a statment by JK concerning his affirmation of "Law & Gospel" preaching. There is quite a disjunct here between words and actions. You tell me. Ignorance or dishonesty?

[Linda]

I sent this article to Pres. Kieshnick's office and got a reply from his assistant. He was glad to know that the Baptists were "waking up" but indicated there was no such problem in the LCMS re: Rick Warren or Joel Olsteen????????? I wonder if they (Synod officials) need to have as required reading such web sites as JHC and other churches that have adopted Ablaze. The Easter vidio of JHC should quickly disabuse them of there ignorance (if ignorance is actually their problem). My email from the Presidents office also stated that it was priveledged and confidential and not to be forwarded??!! There was also a statment by JK concerning his affirmation of "Law & Gospel" preaching. There is quite a disjunct here between words and actions. You tell me. Ignorance or dishonesty?

[Linda]

I sent this article to Pres. Kieshnick's office and got a reply from his assistant. He was glad to know that the Baptists were "waking up" but indicated there was no such problem in the LCMS re: Rick Warren or Joel Olsteen????????? I wonder if they (Synod officials) need to have as required reading such web sites as JHC and other churches that have adopted Ablaze. The Easter vidio of JHC should quickly disabuse them of there ignorance (if ignorance is actually their problem). My email from the Presidents office also stated that it was priveledged and confidential and not to be forwarded??!! There was also a statment by JK concerning his affirmation of "Law & Gospel" preaching. There is quite a disjunct here between words and actions. You tell me. Ignorance or dishonesty?

[Linda]

Sorry about that! Don't know how I managed to send that last post 3 x's. I am cringing! :(

[Linda]

Sorry about that! Don't know how I managed to send that last post 3 x's. I am cringing! :(