Seekers

[B-A-C]

I think we sometimes divide everyone into two categories. Saved and unsaved.
I think for some purposes that's OK. But perhaps it doesn't cover everything.

in Matt 9:10; and Mark 2:15; we see that Jesus "dined with many tax collectors and sinners".
In Matt 21:31-32; Jesus tells the Pharisees that the tax collectors and prostitutes will enter heaven before they will.
In Luke 7:34; Jesus tells the Pharisee that He knows they say "He is a gluttonous man, a drunkard, a friend
of tax collectors and sinners".

In Luke 7:36-50; we see the story of Mary Magdalene washing Jesus's feet.

There are many more similar verses... the point here is. Jesus didn't just hand around with the disciples
and those who were already believers. Jesus spent time with those seeking Him.

In most of the churches I have attended, I have run into all three types of people.
Those who have already been saved for a while.
Those who aren't ready to be saved and currently do not want to be saved. (Usually they are
only there because their spouse, or parents made them come)
...and, those who haven't quite accepted Jesus yet, but they're right on the edge.

All of us had that moment in our lives... Maybe it was only for a few seconds, maybe it lasted
weeks, months or years... we teetered back and forth on the fence before we finally made the
decision. I call these people "seekers". ( Matt 7:7; Luke 13:24; Acts 15:17; Heb 11:6; etc... )

Are these people members of the church? Are they part of the body of Christ yet?
Not everyone agrees on this. But I will say, the second group... those who do not want to be saved,
are not saved simply because they are attending the church.

 

[B-A-C]

Paul says we shouldn't be "unequally yoked" or bound together with unbelievers.

2 Cor 6:14; Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
2 Cor 6:15; Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
2 Cor 6:16; Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
2 Cor 6:17; "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you.

Jesus says if people do not accept you and the message you are bringing them.... "shake their dust off your feet"
Matt 10:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5; Luke 10:11; Acts 13:51;

But in these cases, I do not believe these people are seekers. They are people who consciously make a decision to reject Jesus.

Not everyone who seeks to enter heaven will find Him ( Luke 13:24; ) but at least they are trying to find something.

 

[amadeus2]

Seekers? Everyone is seeking something. Can we categorize them? As @B-A-C indicates, we can try.

We may miss some who seem to fall between the cracks, but everyone is somewhere in this, or so I believe.

Everyone in the flesh gets hungry and thirsty for physical food. It is in the nature of the beast, but people, both believers and unbelievers have another hunger and thirst which often even believers may not understand. They seek to satisfy themselves quite often with the wrong things and wonder why they continue to feel empty or even dead.

Jesus has identified where our appetite needs to be focused:

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: For they shall be filled" Matt 5:6

He has also shown us what to eat and to drink:

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." John 6:35

"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:53-54