What is a ‘seeker-friendly church’? Are churches supposed to be seeker-friendly?

what does the bible say?

A seeker-friendly church is designed to welcome outsiders by making minor, culturally relevant adjustments, such as casual dress or contemporary music, but it must never compromise the truth of God’s Word (1 Timothy 3:15). While being friendly and accessible to seekers reflects Christ’s love, the church’s central mission must remain to build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12), make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20), and glorify God through faithful teaching of God’s Word and worship. The danger of seeker-friendly churches lies in allowing an attractional approach to overshadow biblical priorities, turning the church into a consumer-focused environment rather than a pillar of truth (1 Timothy 3:15; Matthew 22:37-40). True seeker-friendliness honors both God and people by creating an inviting space without diluting Scripture, balancing love and truth as the foundation for growth and discipleship (Ephesians 4:15-16; Colossians 3:14).

from the old testament

• God repeatedly called His people to follow His commands rather than conform to surrounding cultures (Deuteronomy 12:32; Proverbs 3:5-6). This principle warns against compromising God’s truth to appeal to others.
• God expected His people to treat strangers and sojourners with kindness, reflecting His character (Leviticus 19:33-34; Deuteronomy 10:19).
• Israel was called to be set apart as a holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6; Leviticus 20:26), demonstrating that while outreach and witness are important, they should not come at the expense of God’s standards and distinctives.

from the new testament

• A core aspect of church is building up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12). We cannot water down biblical teaching nor put too much of our focus on things the Bible does not specifically instruct about in order to do this. Making small changes to help make unbelievers more comfortable (such as welcoming people to dress in more casual attire) is fine to do, but we should never compromise spiritually to please others over God.
• God’s church is the “pillar of truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), and as such, we must preach and teach the truth—the whole truth—even if it renders consequences, such as newcomers being uncomfortable with certain topics. Our teaching and preaching should not be to merely make people comfortable, but to declare God’s gospel and truth and to do so unashamedly in Christ-like love.
• Jesus told his disciples to make more disciples by baptizing them and teaching them to do what Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:18-20). He also emphasized that the two highest commandments are to first love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and second, we are to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). Our church services should help-–not hinder—us in fulfilling these commandments.

implications for today

​​The example of Jesus clearly shows we are to be friendly toward “seekers,” usually defined as unbelievers who visit our local church. Since the 1970s, many fast-growing churches have emphasized creating a church environment that appeals to the unchurched. Some of these aspects are simply related to music styles or casual clothing. However, some changes can actually go too far away from the distinctives of the church. For example, in their efforts to not offend new people, some churches have removed crosses from steeples or sanctuaries. Others have removed communion from Sunday services, instead celebrating it at another time when only members would generally participate. Still, other churches have shifted toward an emphasis on videos, music, drama, or other arts that incorporate elements of secular programming for the purpose of evangelism. Of course, the same methods that are often used to attract seekers to a church are then what become common to keep them there. Another unfortunate side effect of focusing on the felt needs of the unchurched is an attractional model of ministry that tells people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear. Every church should seek to be known for its love for God, one another, and its community, rather than its “attractions.” While we can certainly change little things here and there that don’t go against God’s Word, we must never change the core missions of God’s church, which is to unite as the body of Christ, build each other up, disciple one another, and ultimately glorify God.

Recap

understand

• Seeker-friendly churches can make minor changes to welcome outsiders but must never compromise God’s truth.
• The church’s main mission is to build up believers, make disciples, and glorify God.
• True seeker-friendliness balances love and truth, avoiding a consumer-driven focus.

reflect

• How do you seek to welcome unbelievers while not compromising your faith?
• How might you be tempted to prioritize comfort or approval over biblical teaching, and how can you resist that?
• How can you personally contribute to creating a church environment that reflects both love for people and obedience to God?

engage

• How can we welcome seekers effectively without compromising biblical truth or distinctives?
• In what ways might focusing too much on attracting outsiders unintentionally harm discipleship and the church’s mission?
• How can we ensure that our teaching and practices consistently reflect God’s priorities rather than human preferences?