Bad Words in the Church: "Business"

This is the second in a series, “Bad Words in the Church.” One classic argument in a church revolves around the word “business.” A well-intentioned layperson says, “In my company, …” and then recommends a particular financial or managerial practice that the church should adopt. The pastor responds, “But we’re not a business,” and the fireworks start. Who is right? Both. The church is not a business that is driven by the bottom line of profit. Our decisions should not be based solely on logic or on a list of pros and cons. If they are, then there is no room for the Holy Spirit to work. And yet, the church has many business-like characteristics and can learn from the marketplace. When the budget is $1 million (or $5 or $10 million or more), good stewardship demands certain practices for planning and managing expenses. A staff of one may not require policies, but when there are a dozen employees it’s a different story. Defined practices are needed for fairness and clarity, not to mention compliance with a variety of laws. It is clear that the pastor and layperson are both right. It’s also possible that both are wrong. If they dig in their heels and refuse to hear what the other is saying, they will only see half the picture and they will limit the church’s potential. Worse than that, they will create a huge leadership gap rather than building the bridge that can move the ministry forward. Don’t get suckered into this argument. The business of the church matters too much for us to get sidetracked by needless controversy.]]>