Churches are not businesses. This does not mean that churches avoid budgets, resources, or insights from management. It does mean that churches are not to be operated like businesses. Churches do not exist for profit. They exist for people and the vision that calls them to their respective communities.
When churches adopt a business mindset, priorities change. Donors with wealth may receive more attention than those with little to give. Success may be measured in numbers rather than in commitment, and those who do not align with leadership priorities may be excluded. Additionally, those with needs, those who challenge the status quo, and those who do not contribute to finances may also be ignored.
Unfortunately, leadership will often have a focus on managing the congregation, rather than administering the grace of God to His people. A planned narrative and operative model becomes the goal as opposed to serving people.
In a world driven by expedience, money, and power, the church is called to be something else entirely.
Ideally, the local church should be brought together by the urging of the Holy Spirit and not programs and structures. The church is a gathering of those brought together to encounter God and minister to each other the hope, healing, and grace that is found in Jesus Christ. In a world driven by expedience, money, and power, the church is called to be something else — a place where truth overcomes the world in all its influences. A place where encountering God is the goal accomplished through the Holy Spirit dwelling in the hearts of the congregation.
Every person is there for a reason, and the Holy Spirit is at work in each person's life; the congregation becomes co-laborers with the Spirit in this process. In other words, the church is a living body.
Churches and businesses operate differently. Businesses pursue profit, but churches, as nonprofits, are to meet their basic needs for operation, and then administer their resources as God leads — to missions and other charities. Admittedly, the local church needs to use business principles in order to manage money wisely, such as hiring the most qualified people for a position, meeting payroll, and making sure that the church is above reproach in its business dealings. However, profit is not its goal.
People are the most valuable component of the church. The local church is people, and if we lose sight of putting people first, then what exists should no longer be called a church.
It therefore follows that if the church is the people, then those who attend regularly should be able to participate in church life by contributing through their own gifts and abilities. It is wise leadership that makes it a priority to integrate their members into service where they can become a valued member of the body and experience the joy of being able to serve others. Unfortunately, many people have no idea how to become participants as opposed to mere observers, and so need assistance from leadership in accomplishing this.
Transparency is also key. Church failures in finances and morality have become a problem in this digital age. Perhaps the failure to be transparent is no different than the past, but such failures are readily exposed through the web. Financial misbehavior and moral failure feel commonplace today in the Church. Apparently, church elders have failed in their responsibilities for oversight, or have been participants in the wrongdoing themselves.
As a result, the members themselves have been forced to expose the wrongdoing, and not always in a productive manner. Truly, this is a time for judgment that has come upon the Church as its faults are laid open for all to see. We are called to be holy, and when lust, money, and power begin to dominate, then judgment will eventually come.
Pastors also need to be aware of their outward appearance to their members and outsiders so as not to bring disgrace on the Church. Driving luxury cars, wearing designer clothing, and owning mansions can bring disrepute to the Church in the world's eyes.
The local church should be above reproach in all matters, ruled by the Spirit — led by motives of love and grace administered to all people.
I believe that in this digital age, the local church needs to be more conscious of the image it presents, and that this should not be one born of adopting worldly methods of developing a brand name. Instead, the local church should be above reproach in all matters, and should be ruled by Spirit — led by motives of love and grace administered to all people who enter the doors of our churches.
Admittedly, we are all part of a fallen race, but as Spirit-filled believers, we can do better.