Are We to Cater to the Lost?

In his book, Why One Way, John MacArthur asks the following question: "Why do evangelicals try so desperately to court the world’s favor? Churches plan their worship services to cater to the "unchurched. " Christian performers ape every worldly fad in music and entertainment. Preachers are terrified that the offense of the gospel might turn someone against them; so they desperately omit parts of the message the world might not like" (p.1). If Jesus is going to build His church, it will not happen by omitting parts of His Gospel that are offensive. Nor will it happen if His people cater to the unchurched. The Gospel is not addition to one’s life. It is, as Jesus said to "deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Mat.16:24). It is losing your life for His sake and finding it (See Mat.16:25) or giving your life in exchange for His (See Mat.16:26). The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:18 that our message would be perceived as "foolishness. " He said, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. " If this is true, then how can we, as representatives of Jesus Christ, soften or omit parts of His message? Our efforts to reach the lost must never include catering to them.