Sadly, I am more familiar with what you speak of than I wish I was. I joined an new church here closer to me a while back and felt comfortable in it. At first, I didn't know how to categorize them. They weren't legalistic, not charismatic, not 'evangelical reformed' or any other label I could pin them with. Over time I realized they are definitely 'seeker friendly' but not an extreme example of it. Much of what bothers me is not what is spoken from the pulpit but WHAT IS NOT SPOKEN!
The pastor wants to see many souls brought into the kingdom but is using human reason and means to make it happen. He is against anything that looks like legalism or being 'holier than thou'. I get that and I also would want to avoid that. Unfortunately, he chooses to avoid preaching against sin (in unbelievers or believers lives). I'm sure if you pressed him he would acknowledge that he's against it but you sure don't hear anything in the messages about it probably because he is afraid of being legalistic or judgemental or 'throwing stones'.
So when at the end of the messages rolls around and an evangelistic appeal is made, the emphasis is on forgiveness and the free gift of God in Jesus. I don't think they say the word 'repentance' but perhaps say one sentence about the need to turn away from the 'old life'. They point you to 'believer's baptism'. I agree with this, it is not a criticism. Nobody is referred to as 'sinner' or 'lost' but rather, 'unchurched' as if our greatest need is to get in a church (rolls my eyes). The pastor actually made this statement in a message: "I don't want to be in a church of Christians trying to be better Christians". I don't think every message should be nothing but talking about sanctification and being conformed into the image of Christ but I do think it is important and should perhaps occupy perhaps 25-30% of the preaching/teaching.
So they go from receiving Jesus and forgiveness immediately to service and evangelism without any proper 'discipleship training'. I do think even baby Christians can start witnessing and telling their story to others and God can use that. I believe baby Christians can start doing social gospel type service. I am just dismayed at how getting busy with social gospel type service is done in lieu of any proper study of deeper aspects of New Testament living dealing with full-fledged discipleship. But then that would involve messages about 'dying to self and the flesh'. Most people have problems with that and because it is *possible* that someone could feel condemned with that type of message, they are avoided.
Also, every other week or so the band begins service by playing a secular song (that does not have any obvious sinful lyrics). When Prince died they played Purple Rain. The other week they played All Along The Watchtower. They played We Are The Champions when the local sports team won it all. And this is to make 'unchurched' people feel that we are not 'religious'. And if what they mean by 'religious' means legalistic, judgemental or holier than thou I would wholeheartedly agree. But sometimes I feel that some here think 'religious' also includes showing or expressing love, devotion or piety to an uncomfortable level and it might 'turn off' the unchurched. It seems they love nothing more than to find something that gets close to the line between sinful and OK and stay just this side of OK. They want the world to think of Christians as being like MORAL people of the world but who have an add-on who is Jesus. But we don't want you to think we're weird about it or go overboard into fanaticism. But hey, we do all sorts of social gospel style outreach and service stuff so everything's cool don't you know.
Oh, and church is always cancelled on Super Bowl Sunday. The pastor said "nobody show up anyway" which is an exaggeration but is thrown out there to justify it. And in 2016 when Christmas was on Sunday, no church on that day either. When the local sports team had 'opening day', that Sunday was Team Day at church and a lot of folks wore sport jerseys and hats to church. Again, all of this is done to appeal to the 'unchurched' and make them feel comfortable among us Christians who aren't 'religious'.
Before coming here I had come from a Charismatic church but over the years that movement has lost its way in significant areas. There are many wonderful Charismatics but the leadership won't speak against errors within it. The devil has infiltrated it with lots of goofy teachings and practices and nobody will stand up and call them out on it. That is why I left.
There are conservative traditional churches who are cessationist. Some are legalistic, some not. The services are tightly orchestrated and cannot be considered 'led by the Spirit'. I grew up in these type churches and to me, they just seem dead. Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. The people are mostly sincere and earnest.
So of the 3 types of churches in America: Charismatic, conservative traditional, and seeker friendly, they all have faults. There are things that really bug me about all 3. And I guess being in this seeker friendly church has opened my eyes and I actually think I despise the focus and means in seeker friendly church more than the other 3. There, I said it. I'm leaving and I don't know where I'm headed. Pray for me for wisdom here. Thanks!
-Daniel
