Evangelism
What do you think of seeker services in churches today?
If by "Seeker Service" we mean a church that tries to keep from offending by watering down the message of Christianity, I find it dishonoring to God. Not the offense in 1 Peter 2:8 "And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient-- where unto also they were appointed." Also note in Galatians 5:11 "And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross is ceased." Inherent within the gospel there is an offense. It is our responsibility to make sure the world, if offended, is offended by the Truth and not by our bad behavior or irrelevance. There may be a different view about a seeker service that may honor the Truth and still reach out to the lost. If seeker service means an evangelistic outreach, that is great. However, a word of warning, a seeker service should not become the permanent form of your "worship service". If that happens new believers will remain ignorant of the deeper truth that can only be found within a deeper teaching "believer's service."
There is a new approach to outreach called "the emerging church." The emerging church for many means a church service and organization that uses creative approaches to presenting the Gospel. This is considered consistent with the teaching ministry of Jesus, as he exemplified by teaching believers through parables. I think it is valuable to use creative approaches to reach the lost and teach the church. We need to allow all extra-biblical traditions to be reviewed for their effectiveness. We need to be relevant. The Gospel is never irrelevant, but often our methods can be.
Is it legitimate for Christians to let Christ be seen in their life instead of preaching the gospel to our friends?
The statement is often said, "I don't need to preach the Gospel. I will let them see Christ in me." Think how arrogant that statement sounds. Which one of us lives such a godly life that Christ would be seen in us consistently without speaking the Gospel? In Romans 1:16 we learn where the power is. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." The power is in the Gospel, not in our lifestyle. Another passage to keep in mind is 2 Corinthians 4:3 "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 for we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. {hath: Gr. is he who hath} 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." The preaching of self is a poor evangelistic strategy. Paul makes it clear that saving power needs to be in God and seen in God. We should be so very careful to preach the Gospel.
Let's make sure we preach the true Gospel. The Gospel is the death Christ for sins and His resurrection. The sinner comes to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ by faith. This faith gives him new life that is eternal. Note the teaching of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." His death without the resurrection is not the Gospel.
Often, preachers want to be relevant to the world and so they make it sound like all your problems in this life will be resolved if you, "give your life to Christ." We need to explain the truth of the Gospel and be clear that a sinner comes in repentance and faith to the Gospel.