“Seeker Sensitive” Means “Believers Ignored” and “Christian Insensitive”

By Bobby

An observation of a performance by the church's puppet team recently forced me to review a song that had what I considered a "mantra-type" mention of Jesus. In the review of the song in question, “Call Him Up” by Ron Kenoly, the reading of the lyrics found Joel Osteen-style "best life now" themed lyrics, with a “call it and receive it” theme similar to the “prosperity gospel” movement. Unfortunately, Mr. Osteen's false gospel is one of the worst in the market, and yet leaders do not have an understanding that the Joel Osteen “best life now” (also called “health and wealth” or “prosperity” gospel – a prevalent “Emergent Church” agenda) songs are highly inappropriate for a church, and they also are similar to the "7-Eleven" song variety that is a problem with the modern worship.

In the review of the song, I was unable to identify any theology in the song, and in the performances of the song, the “worship leader” is shouting incessantly “Jesus!” as if it was a mantra in Buddhist circles where people scream the mantra continuously throughout the session. While the kids were able to turn blacklight signs around, the use of the song's endless screaming “Jesus” (which was followed by the blacklight signs being turned around) seemed similar to Buddhist chanting as it turned “Jesus” into a mantra.

John MacArthur warned the “gospel music” movement in churches turned church music into one based on personal experience and feelings, and the modern movement turned music into “a device for stimulating intense emotion,” forgetting the mandate of it teaching sound doctrine and theology. When the loud volume of the music, set to prerecorded accompaniment, is added, it takes away from any message, since if there is no message, they could simply turn up the volume to make you feel only the beat, and the message can be ignored. (1)

In this time and age, modern worship tunes, and many of the popular “Christian” music used by children to dance is too similar to secular sappy love songs, which are highly inappropriate for church usage. Meanwhile, a hymn of sound doctrine is greatly ignored.

Last year, the very same team performed a dance set to the 1960's psychadelic rock tune “Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum. A review of the lyrics of the song, used in a popular dance routine, had me asking what "spirit in the sky" and "place that's the best" mean, as answers are not found in the song, written by a Jew who is not a Christian.

Another quattrain in the song simply called Jesus a “friend,” reminding me of many false religions, and the message was similar to the salvation by works (“deeds not creeds”) mantra that is prevalent in the Emergents, violating Ephesians 2:8-9, and even promoting other New Age mantras. There is also a section violating Revelations 21:27 by saying that Jesus only “recommends” where you go after you are dead.

In a signature section of the song, Romans 3:23 is violated ("For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.") when he claims he has never been a sinner or sinned. He also never refers to Christ as Lord and Saviour.

By being seeker-oriented, and forgetting the Biblical teachings that many adults desire in favour of emotion-based and relationship-based “sermons” that have no Biblical teaching, we have fallen into the trap of “seeker-sensitive,” which means “ignore those who are saved” and only preach a “watered-down” gospel with nary any message. The term used is “we exist for non-believers”. The seeker-sensitive movement is an utter failure, as spiritual baby food is still fed, while strong messages of faith are ignored, to believers and those who want to keep their walk with God by learning more about God's Word.

Paul Proctor of newswithviews.com asked, “Could it be there's too much theology in them - too much humility and holiness - and not enough sensuality and groove for today's 'Christian' consumer who fancies rhythm and romance over reverence and repentance? “(2)

In an interview with a few public school teens at church, they actively defended the theology-free "modern worship" in churches today, saying that they liked the modern pop/rock beat, and said it is the "music of today" while bashing the great hymnals of the past as not current. When they were asked about the teen puppet and dance team's popular tunes from the “prosperity gospel” or “call it and get it” style, they defended the music as suitable because it drew people to church, and told me songs devoid of theology were appropriate because it is modern and has a beat, while the older hymns written by theologians and pastors (Watts, Wesley) were old and out of touch. One kid then told me the Bible can be wrong and said it was passed down by generations, so it could be wrong. Remember, this is a group of children in church in public schools, poisoned by postmodern teachings in the schools today.

They then defended the "Christian content" of the modern worship tunes when I noted the songs were blatantly secular in nature, and none of them would even want to understand they were sappy secular "love songs".

To them, dancing to "Saviour Song" or "Call Him Up," was more fit for church than singing "Crown Him with Many Crowns," singing an unadulterated Isaac Watts or Charles Wesley hymn, or reading the Bible. Imitating musicians with pop tunes, or even dancing to pop tunes devoid of theology in a manner similar to MTV is more appropriate to them instead of learning to properly sing like classically trained sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses, and playing these hymns on the church organ, piano, or orchestral instruments such as those used by the South Carolina Philharmonic.

In feeding them the poison of the seeker-sensitive, believer-insensitive movement, they are fed the poison of the postmodern philosophy that often bashes the Bible and God's Word. The idealism of Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, Bill Hybels, and others in the Religious Left who believe in the "salvation by works" movement and against the inerrancy of the Bible has taken hold in today's generation because of the seeker-insensitive movement. What will they be thinking in the coming years? Will a trend of New Age in schools push them that way?

It is time we look carefully at the seeds we sow. Sowing the seeds of the seeker-sensitive movement means the church has gone believer-insensitive. It is highly inappropriate that we are believer-insensitive by being seeker-sensitive, as the way of God is removed in support of being of the world today.

Notes
(1) John MacArthur, “Style or Substance? What's the Biggest Problem with Contemporary Church Music.”

(2) Paul Procter, “Are Hymns Becoming Precious Memories?” January 16, 2008, newswithviews.com,

Lyrics to two of the named songs:

"Call Him Up" -- Ron Kenoly.
If you confess the Lord, call Him up
If you confess the Lord, call Him up
If you confess the Lord, call Him up
If you confess the Lord, call Him up
If you believe on the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost
Call Him up, and tell Him what you want
(Repeat)
(Bridge)
Delight thyself in the Lord
And He will give you the desires of your heart
Even though sometimes we stumble
Even though sometimes we fall
Call Him up, and tell Him what you want
(Repeat)
When darkness comes your way, call Him up
He'll brighten up your day, call Him up
When darkness comes your way, call Him up
He'll brighten up your day, call Him up
If you believe on the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost
Call Him up, and tell Him what you want
(Repeat verse, then bridge)
(Chorus)
Can't stop praising His name
I just can't stop praising His name
I just can't stop praising His name
Jesus
(Vamp)
Jesus
Hallelujah Jesus
Praising His name
(repeated endlessly)
(Chorus repeated again)

“Spirit in the Sky” -- Norman Greenbaum
When I die and they lay me to rest
Going to go to the place that's the best
When they lay me down to die
Going up to the spirit in the sky
Going up to the spirit in the sky - spirit in the sky
That's where I'm going to go when I die - when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm going to go to the place that's the best
Prepare yourself, you know it's a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He's going to recommend you to the spirit in the sky - spirit in the sky
Oh, recommend you to the spirit in the sky
That's where you're going to go when you die - when you die
When you die and they lay you to rest
You're going to go to the place that's the best

Never been a sinner, I've never sinned
I've got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die
He's going to set me up with the spirit in the sky
Oh, set me up with the spirit in the sky - spirit in the sky
That's where I'm going to go when I die - when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm going to go to the place that's the best
Go to the place that's the best