The Legalism of Seeker-Sensitive Worship

If I was really deep in my theological musings, this post would probably be quite long and academic in the way it handles this subject. Thankfully, though, I’m just an amateur, so I will be shooting from the hip, as usual.

You may be wondering what I mean by describing seeker-sensitive worship as being equated with legalism. In fact, the first thoughts of many who ponder what usually goes on in a seeker-sensitive service will probably conclude (at least initially) that what goes on in that type of worship service is the opposite of legalism, because the mindset behind them is often one of doing anything that will draw people in to hear the gospel is fair game and not to be prohibited. Most would probably say that legalism is defined as a strict, literal adherence to the law or to a particular code (in fact, this is word for word from many online dictionaries for the word ‘legalism’). Most would probably say that seeker-sensitive churches obviously do not follow a strict, legal adherence to a law or code, and therefore cannot be legalistic in their worship.

Surprisingly to many, though, this is not what is meant by the proper use of the term when it relates to legalism in the worship of God. Legalism, plainly defined, is adding to God’s Word. It is requiring something of people that God Himself does not require. Put another way, it is going beyond what is written. Put another way, it is also what is known as the Normative Principle of Worship, which says that anything is fair game in worship as long as it has not been directly prohibited by God. Compare this with the Regulative Principle of Worship, which basically states that worship is to be governed by what God has commanded, not by what He has not prohibited (put another way: what is commanded by God is right, what is not commanded by God is wrong). It’s like when a church requires something of a member that God Himself does not require (like not drinking in order to be a deacon or elder, for example). It is adding to God’s Word. It is legalism.

What are some things that a seeker-sensitive church will do on any given Sunday during its ‘worship’ service? Movie clips, video montages, dramas, skits, lavish props on stage, rock concerts that pretend to act as worship music, driving motorcycles up on stage to make a point, anecdotal sermonettes rather than expository preaching, altar calls, little or no prayer, Lord’s Supper observed once a quarter (if that) just to remain ‘orthodox’, holding raffles for free gas, Nintendo Wii’s and anything else that might bring someone in the door, preachers dressed up like clowns or easter bunnies, and the list could go on and on, I’m sure.

These are the practices that you can find on any given Sunday in any given seeker-sensitive church that has the mindset, “If God hasn’t forbidden it and it draws someone in, then it is good to do”. These are the practices of thousands of churches across this country who have the best of intentions, but who are, sadly, steeped in legalism. They have added to God’s Word. They are requiring of those who would worship there to be subjected to a myriad of things which God has not commanded to be done when He is worshiped. That, quite simply, is legalism at its worst.

Now, compare the practice of seeker-sensitive churches who are happy to do and try anything new under the sun in their worship with those who seek and strive to worship God only as He has commanded Himself to be worshiped. Compare the tactics above to churches which, in their worship, only do those things which they see from Scripture: Reading the Bible (not just a verse or two before launching into a how-to lecture), Singing the Bible (songs, hymns & spiritual songs), Praying the Bible, Preaching the Bible (letting the point of the passage be the point of the message), and Seeing the Bible (regular observance of Baptism & Lord’s Supper).

Many would choose the second example of churches as the ones that are being legalistic because they are restricting – or regulating – what takes place during worship. They would see the first example of churches as being resourceful and creative with the gospel. Sadly, though, the first group of churches (the seeker-sensitive group) is steeped in legalism because they are the ones who have added (or gone beyond) what is written in God’s Word, while the second group of churches is actually quite freed up in its worship of God because they are worshiping as God wants to be worshiped, and not as man thinks worship ought to be.

I’d be interested in your thoughts on this.