- by Carrie Shaw
- on June 17, 2025
“The church isn’t for unbelievers.” Sounds pretty unfriendly and exclusive, right?
But, before you get all hot under the collar, hear me out…
An increasingly popular (and quietly risky) shift happening in some Christian circles is the idea that church must be made as comfortable and as unthreatening as possible so that the secular visitor aka the unbeliever doesn’t get the ick.
Services are intentionally kept short, messages are often focused on practical life topics, and worship songs are often chosen for their relatable, not-necessarily-Christian lyrics. We’ve all heard them – the songs that speak about Jesus as if he’s your boyfriend rather than your Lord and Saviour (effectively reducing worship to sentimental expression rather than reverant devotion).
Brandon Lake, “an award-winning Christian music artist and worship pastor” – known for songs such as “Gratitude” and “Praise” – recently made the observation that “worship songs have too much Christian language in them” (a comment that actually became the catalyst for the writing of this article).
He went on to say, “I’d love to see more worship sets, more churches, kind of keep Bubba in mind. Like we all call him Bubba, the guy who’s like in the back of the room and he’s like, he got dragged there by his wife. And, I just don’t know if, like, when your opening song or most of your songs have so much Christianese language, I think he has a hard time going like, ‘Can I sing to that? Like, I’m not there yet.’“
And this is perhaps the crux of the problem – that ‘church’ is becoming increasingly perceived as an experience, a vibe, or a mood that should resonate for everyone, secular visitor and believing church-goer alike.
And while emotional resonance is not inherently wrong, it becomes deeply problematic when the church begins to prioritise shared sentiment over shared faith.
When church becomes a curated atmosphere rather than a gathering of saints around the Word, the table, and the presence of God, its foundation subtly shifts. We move from ekklesia – the called-out ones, rooted in Christ – to a kind of spiritual social club, where the aim is comfort, not conviction.
This drift often comes from good intentions: the desire to make people feel welcome, to bridge the gap between the world and the church. But in doing so, we risk forgetting that the power of the church lies not in how it feels, but in what it proclaims and Whom it worships.
The Seeker-Sensitive Church
The idea of being seeker sensitive – making church services more welcoming, accessible and engaging for people who aren’t yet Christians – isn’t new. And neither is it entirely unbiblical.
The apostle Paul discusses the practicalities and logistics of exercising spiritual gifts within the church in 1 Corinthians 12 – 14. He emphasises the importance of orderly worship and, particularly in relation to the gift of languages (tongues) and prophecy, insists they must be used in ways that, firstly, build up the church and secondly, do not cause confusion or chaos “so that unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things…think you are crazy.” (1 Corinthians 14:22-25).
Paul recognises the importance of being considerate, clear, and orderly, especially when non-believers are present.
The idea that church should also be more than just a theological sermon – that it should be a place where hospitality and welcome are central to its ethos – is consistent with the spirit of the New Testament. The practical needs of people (families, singles, parents, the elderly) should not be sacrificed in the name of doctrine-centric ministry alone.
Paul speaks to this practical reality in Romans 12 where he urges believers to be “devoted to one another in love,” to “share with the Lord’s people who are in need,” and to “practise hospitality” (Romans 12:10–13).
When churches focus on preaching without presence, or doctrine without discipleship, they risk becoming, as James comments, a place where there is ‘faith without works’, in effect, a cold and empty tomb.
Orthopraxy and orthodoxy are both important to the Christian faith and sit at the heart of genuine church life.
And now here’s the but…
Church Is Not A Place But A People
‘Church’ is not a place, a building, or merely a Sunday service.
‘Church’ is a people – the people of the kingdom, members of Christ’s body.
Church is, as Brian Ervin comments, “neither a hospital for sinners nor a museum for pious statues, but a forge for saints: a wellspring of divine life in which a new order of humanity is birthed from the fire of God’s Spirit and unleashed upon the world to radically transform and save it.”
The church isn’t made up of good people, people who do good things, people who think Christianity is morally helpful, or even people who happily affirm the historical Jesus.
The church is made up of those who have put their faith in Jesus for salvation and who confess that he is Lord and Christ. Quite simply, if you aren’t following Jesus the King then you aren’t one of Jesus’ followers.
So, by its very nature, the church is exclusive. Church isn’t for unbelievers. It’s only for believers because it’s made up only of believers.
The Purpose Of The Church
Why does the church gather?
The church exists for a specific purpose and the church gathers (in local expressions) for a specific purpose.
Historically, and from the very beginning, the church gathered to worship the risen Christ, to pray with one another, to hear the Word preached, to break bread together (communion), and to be formed together as the body of Christ (Acts 2:42).
The purpose of the church is to “display His [God’s] wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 3:10) and is “His [God’s] masterpiece, created anew in Jesus Christ to do the good works He planned long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10).
The reality is that the church is not of this world. It exists in this world, but it’s called to be utterly unlike this world – shaped by the kingdom of heaven’s values, not earth’s.
Though planted in the soil of this earth, it is like the proverbial mustard seed that will grow into a mighty tree – an organic reality of supernatural origin drawing life from another source entirely. It flourishes by unseen strength, empowered by the Spirit of God Himself, humble in beginning and glorious in purpose.
And yet, for all its unseen strength and heavenly source, the church is not merely an idea or a metaphor. It takes shape in real places, among real people, doing sacred things that cannot be replicated anywhere else.
Its holiness is not found in performance, but in presence – in the ordinary made holy, the physical made meaningful, the eternal breaking into time.
As Rachel Held Evans put it, “You can get a cup of coffee with your friends anywhere, but church is the only place you can get ashes smudged on your forehead as a reminder of your mortality.
You can be dazzled by a light show at a concert on any given weekend, but church is the only place that fills a sanctuary with candlelight and hymns on Christmas Eve. You can snag all sorts of free swag for brand loyalty online, but church is the only place where you are named a beloved child of God with a cold plunge into the water.
You can share food with the hungry at any homeless shelter, but only the church teaches that a shared meal brings us into the very presence of God.“
The Gospel Is For Everyone
The church might not be for unbelievers, but the good news, on the other hand, is for everyone, no matter their race, gender, status, or situation.
It’s in this way that the church should be radically inclusive in character, even if it’s exclusive by nature. As ambassadors of Christ, we are to speak honestly of sin and our need for redemption, yet overflow with the same grace that has been shown to us – ready to embrace every soul who returns to the Father.
The church is a gospel saturated and a gospel-sent community of believers. Through the sacraments and rituals that believers share, the counter-cultural behaviours they exhibit and the faith anchored firmly to heaven, unbelievers are given a glimpse into another kingdom – one not built on power, performance, or preference, but on grace, truth, and the presence of a living God.
It should shock them. They should feel discombobulated, even a little undone – because what they’re witnessing is not simply a reflection of the world they know, but a rupture in it. A window into something older, deeper, and more eternal.
The church is meant to unsettle the soul before it comforts it, to whisper of a holiness that cannot be manufactured and a grace that cannot be earned.
This is where the power lies.
Believers are like jars of clay, carrying the supernatural light of grace within them. Collectively, they witness to a more noble and infinitely truer reality, the purpose for which every person was created and the means by which we are restored to it: Christ himself.
Through their lives, their worship, their love, and their truth-telling, the church declares that another way is possible – and that the way home is still open.
This Is God’s Story & He’s The Main Character
The church is Jesus’ body, made full and complete by Christ himself (Ephesians 1:23). It is the tangible reality of the unseen God – a living witness to His presence in the world. Through the church, God’s love is made visible, His grace is extended, and His purposes are carried forward in real time and space.
Instead of simplifying worship or being reductive in our Christian language in order to cater to secular sensibilities, churches should be encouraged to make the main thing the main thing: a community that is focused on glorifying God.
Here’s five ways the church can create an environment that is both welcoming to newcomers and faithful to the core tenets of Christianity
1. Maintain God-Centred Worship
The cathedrals of old were built precisely with this goal in mind – to remind worshippers that though God has come close to us in Jesus, He is also holy, set apart, and worthy of awe. Their soaring ceilings, stained glass windows, and echoing arches were not meant to impress, but to form the soul — to lift the eyes and heart toward heaven, and to stir a reverent awareness that we are standing on holy ground.
Something has been gained in the modern, contemporary church – accessiblity, informality, a warmer sense of welcome. But perhaps something has also been lost: reverence, sacred mystery, and the weight of holiness that once caused worshippers to kneel in awe.
The answer is not to return to stone and stained glass, beautiful as they are, but to recover the heart behind them – to once again cultivate spaces and moments that stir reverence, not just comfort.
Churches today must ask not only how do we make people feel welcome? but also how do we help them see that God is holy? It starts with being intentional – in our language, our worship, our posture, and our prayers – to reintroduce the wonder that we are not gathering around ourselves, but around the living God.
2. Embrace Theological Richness
Theology – the study of God – is for every believer, not just some. Our theology – what we think about God – is important. How can we begin to know and understand ourselves and our place in this expansive creation if we have no sense of the One who made us and the purpose for which we’ve been made?
It doesn’t mean having all the answers or using academic language. It simply means growing in the knowledge of who God is, what He has done, and how we are to live in response. Every time we read Scripture, ask questions about faith, or reflect on God’s character, we are doing theology – and it shapes the way we worship, pray, and walk with Christ.
Embracing theological richness is not a negative to those seeking faith, but a sign that the church takes God seriously – and invites others to do the same.
3. Provide Contextual Teaching
Understanding how worship lyrics, scriptural passages and liturgical elements fit within the greater scope of God’s story grounds faith in something far deeper than emotion or preference. It roots believers in a narrative that stretches from creation to new creation – reminding us who God is, what He has done, and where all of history is headed. This kind of understanding doesn’t limit faith; it strengthens it.
When we see worship not as a collection of isolated songs or moments, but as a participation in the ongoing story of God, it transforms how we engage. Scripture readings are no longer just traditions – they are reminders of God’s faithfulness. Liturgies become patterns that form us over time. Even the songs we sing gain weight when we realise they are part of the church’s historic witness, echoing truths sung by saints across centuries.
Through the rythyms of spiritual life and teachings grounded in scripture, faith becomes strong, steady and resilient.
4. Foster Discipleship
In the original language of the New Testament, the word disciple is translated from a Greek word, mathētēs (μαθητὴς), from manthano, meaning “to learn”. Mathētēs therefore means a learner, a pupil or a scholar. More accurately though, it means to be a learner in the style of an apprentice, that is, someone who not only accepts the views of their teacher but is also practicising the same so as to eventually become like their teacher (Matthew 10:24, Luke 6:40).
Fostering this attitude of replication in church life is a key part of authentic discipleship. The goal is not simply to attend church or agree with sound doctrine, but to become like Christ – shaped by His teaching, formed by His character, and active in His mission.
Churches are meant to be communities of apprentices – a forge of saints – where each believer is both learning from Jesus and helping others grow in Him (2 Timothy 2:2). Discipleship, then, is not a ministry program – it is the culture of the church – a principle-centered, character-based “inside out” approach to developing our authentic self in Christ.
5. Resist Entertainment-Drive Models
In an age saturated in media spectacle and consumer-driven mentality, it can be tempting for churches to mimic the methods of the world in an effort to engage and transform people.
True worship, however, is not about how moved we feel – it is about how rightly we respond to the truth of who God is. Authentic expressions of faith are often simple, quiet, and deeply rooted in Scripture, prayer, and sacrament – a long obedience in the same direction. They may stir emotion, but they do not depend on it.
Soberly, the words of Jesus remind us that the call to Christian life is not ‘come and be entertained’ but ‘come and die’, hardly an appealing message by the world’s standards.
When the church softens this call in order to be more palatable, it risks offering a version of discipleship that demands nothing and therefore transforms nothing. True worship doesn’t just lift our spirits – it reorients our hearts, reforms our lives, and calls us into the kind of costly obedience that reflects the cross we claim to follow.
Conclusion
The church isn’t for unbelievers – but it is for their sake. It exists to glorify God and to embody the gospel, so that the unbelieving world might see, hear, and encounter the truth of Jesus.
We must resist the urge to reshape the church into something the world finds familiar and comfortable.
Instead, let it be faithfully weird – sacred, otherwordly, compelling, and alive – a people who have made and continue to make space for wonder and repentance, and who proclaim not themselves, but Christ crucified.
