Church today is increasingly business–like. Scripture makes no case for the gathering of Christians being a business. We call these gatherings churches, and collectively they are ‘The Church.’ That collective is described in scripture by terms like body, bride, family, and spiritual house. It is understood in the Bible as a living organism of which Jesus Christ is the head. But church today is increasingly business–like.
It’s partly out of necessity because of acquired buildings and properties and salaried staff with heavily funded programs. It’s also partly because business is respected. Good church is good business. Are you satisfied with that formula? It’s not a hobbyhorse with me nor do I have an axe to grind, yet I am concerned that a business oriented ecclesiology will undo a good church. We are enticed to elect to church offices people with business savvy. We court new members with deep pockets. We measure productivity and success on an excel spreadsheet. I had better stop. I’ll take heat for this. We need dollars to do God’s work, right? Do you get my meaning though?
Ron, you are making some excellent points here, and I applaud the spirit on your concern.
ReplyDeleteI think there a couple of further nuances at stake, however.
The premise that churches need buildings and paid staff and funded programs is one that itself is open to question. The underground church in China knows nothing of such excesses that we in the West, particularly, have sponsored. Primal church is always about Christ at the centre, small gatherings that could fit in homes, pastors and teachers that could exercise their gifts (among all the other gifts in the fellowship) and still be able to work in the marketplace. The Western Church is no longer simple church. It has added so many layers, each which can be justified, but now each which must be managed and stewarded.
Enter the businessperson. He or she is needed because they understand capital, the time value of money and the stewarding of enterprise in general. It is part of their natural gifting, and when this is enhanced by a godly walk and supernatural gifting, it is a potent combination. However, I believe that often these marketplace leaders are misplaced when it comes to the Kingdom. They are seen with suspicion, and often give only secondary roles in the local church. As entpreneurs, they are actually more apt to be like the Apostles of the New Testament. They could reach a City if we let them! They reach broad markets in their business context.
My feeling is that the underlying angst about business leaders in the church has more to do with an ecclesiology that has shrunk the 5-fold leadership gifts of Eph. 4:11-12 into a singular Pastor-Preacher office. Our generation has missed the affirmation of "small A" apostles, "small P" prophets, evangelists and has emphasized the pastor and teacher almost exclusively. And, sadly, where apostles, prophets and evangelists are being emphasized it is often with extremes that distort the Gospel.
Anyhow, good friend, a few more thoughts on an important subject.
Blessings,
Ross
Thanks Ross. You have broadened the discussion and touched some points that I want to investigate further. Thanks for taking time to comment.
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