Churches are for believers; following Christ is a marathon, not a sprint, and believers need to be spiritually fed. That's why I'm skeptical of "seeker sensitive" churches that seem to cater to visitors at the expense of the true substance of walking with Christ: sacrifice, atonement, sin, and service. We should be careful that in our earnestness to attract unbelievers the true Message of His redemption is not lost, and that the true purpose of the Church is not to ultimately fill pews. While we must fulfill the Great Commission, as individuals and as organized bodies, spiritual growth of believers must not be shortchanged.
Two of the fastest growing religions today are Islam and Mormonism. They do not compromise their beliefs, or engage in excessive marketing. When you arrive to worship, the is no doubt you have arrived at a mosque/temple, and that's what they call them, not some New Age sounding name like "Mountain". Despite strict beliefs, such as abstaining from alcohol, they do not seem to lack in new adherents. Contrast that to attendance in a mainline Protestant church. They are clearly finding people that are looking for something rarely offered by anyone else.
Two of the fastest growing religions today are Islam and Mormonism. They do not compromise their beliefs, or engage in excessive marketing. When you arrive to worship, the is no doubt you have arrived at a mosque/temple, and that's what they call them, not some New Age sounding name like "Mountain". Despite strict beliefs, such as abstaining from alcohol, they do not seem to lack in new adherents. Contrast that to attendance in a mainline Protestant church. They are clearly finding people that are looking for something rarely offered by anyone else.
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