I once heard R.C. Sproul respond to the question, “What are your thoughts about the seeker sensitive movement?” In short, he said that its a bad thing because it rests on the assumption that unbelievers are desperately seeking for God and that the Bible makes it clear that no one seeks after God (Rom. 3:9-11). He qualifies this answer by saying that the only people seeking after God are those who have been born again (John 3:3).

But what about people who are obviously searching for something, be it inner peace, or beauty, or mystery, or simply  something bigger than themselves?  Aren’t there tons of people searching for these types of things?  And isn’t it fair to say that, whether they realize it or not, these folks are actually seeking after God?

Sproul cites Thomas Aquinas saying that the problem with fallen man is that we’re seeking the benefits that only God can give us (i.e a sense of purpose, personal fulfillment, true contentment, forgiveness, vindication, etc.), but at the same time we’re running as fast and as hard as we can from Him.  “The seeker out there,” Sproul says, “is not seeking God.  He’s seeking for a hiding place from God.”

Very interesting thoughts.  Makes me think of the many secular artists who often write songs about very spiritual and searching-related things, artists like Dave Matthews or Coldplay.  Often these songs have somewhat of an agnostic tone, willing to recognize that someone or something’s got to be out there, but who or what it is remains to be seen. Can you think of other artists and/or songs that fit into this category? Let me know. I’d love to give them a listen.

Here’s The Dave Matthews Band on a rooftop somewhere performing, “You Never Know.”  This one’s definitely the song of a seeker.    At one point Matthews sings, “Lying on the roof counting the stars that fill the sky.  I wonder if Someone’s in the heavens looking back down on me – I’ll never know.  So much space to believe.”  Read the rest of the lyrics here.