Church as a Business or Church as a Community

I spent some years in a church organization that really pushes business-type books and models as a key element in forming and running church. They are quite effective at building their organization, empowering their ranks, and accomplishing their goals and objectives. Interestingly, as my friend considered yesterday morning; is this how Jesus wanted things to be like or that any of this is like true Christianity?

Some of the strong personalities of the leaders, as well as their streamlined effectiveness driving the leadership team leads to strong organizations…possibly strong yet missing the mark of what Christ says about His Body of believers, and the relationship we should be striving for and maintaining within the church.

So, after some extensive conversation, contemplation, and processing, this is where I am at:

When leaders think like business people the possible risk they run is thinking the end justifies the means. They become focused on the mission statement, organizational hierarchy, organizational structure, organizational goals and even organizational branding/marketing.

This may lead to the trend that reduces the people within to something less than God’s loved, special, possessions… a people that Jesus was willing to minister to, suffer for, and die for.

To this very day and until the end of time, Jesus will be there for each person, interceding before the Father for their every real needs, issues, concerns, and blessings.

What is more important, the “c” church or the “C” Church; the church or its people; and the resource or the individual?

When leaders think like business people then they consider the church attendee as an HR department does—a human resource. They become motivated to shape this resource to accomplish their mission, growing their organization, their specific church, and they “hire” and they “fire” with the same kind of mentality that a business does. They see the potential of the HR and begin to guide and position the HR into areas that will help grow the church organization. If and when the HR hits a wall; be it, they have taken offense with another leader; they’ve fallen into sin, they’ve wanted to refocus on something other than their organizational contribution, I’ve seen the church respond just like a business might.

They spend a number of resources; human, financial, and time, recruiting more resources. They spend a number of resources on developing them to work in the organization, and for the benefit of their specific organization. And they take actions like a business model would react if the human resource goes to a “competitor,” and they will even go after other church resources, happy to have them now on their “team”, as part of their organization, one of their human resources.

Rarely, if ever, does a church leader ask and require that the HR who left one church due to offense be reconciled with the other church first. Rather, more the norm is to consider what the HR may bring in the way of money, talent, skills, and other resources, FIRST. Then weigh those against any “lesser” priority or concern.

When the organization looks at a struggling HR, they will discipline the HR with progressive action, they may make an effort (if of measured, considered value to the organization) to get them back on track and going with the team, and God forbid, if it takes too long, or too much effort, then they “write them off,” and look for new HR to fill the gap: All to keep the machine running, even if it costs lives. It reminds me of the early days of the industrial revolution where business and commerce was more important than the people working—they weren’t even called a human resource back then…but the church still treats them (unintentionally I am sure) as fodder to feed the machine…the organization and its goals.

It is sad that the church can and does do this. How many wounded, hurt Christians are there that this has become a festering point to where they blame God for what the church (small “c”) has done to them…and they carry this pain and offense for a long time. It is sad that the leadership will use words like “family,” and “brotherhood,” and “sisterhood”, and the “body” and then dismiss someone in the blink of an eye.

They no longer call the HR, just to see how they are getting along, or show any kind of lasting, sincere love. They only see them as beneficial or not beneficial to the organization. It is very sad. I have a friend who was hugely influential in his church, literally bled for the church, and was called away to move from Hawaii. No one calls him or reaches out to him from the church he so blessed with his talents and skills.

Once, someone from the church did call him and it was under false pretenses. You know what I mean: “Hi there, I just called to see how you are doing and let you know I miss you… oh, by the way, come to think of it… I need….yada, yada, yada.”

He saw right through the introductory poop, and knew they just needed something from him that he had a special gifting, talent, and expertise in so they called. Otherwise, he would have never have heard from this person. He was still considered an HR for the purpose of the phone call. It is sad.

Okay, so is this how Jesus did things? No, it is not from what my friend and I talked about this morning.

He pointed to the string of stories, literally back-to-back, in the Gospels that Jesus used. The Gospel of Luke, chapter 15 speaks of three parables: Lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son. Read them and tell me that Jesus uses the business model…no way!

Jesus continually described the importance of leaving the 99 sheep to go after the one lost lamb, the thrill of finding the one lost coin, and the joyful return of the lost, prodigal son.

Shouldn’t our churches be much more like a community? Where we all hurt and mourn the suffering of someone lost and grieving. Shouldn’t this community go after them with all the love and determined expression of this Christ-like love? Should our leadership hold on to the 99 and let the one get lost…even help them get lost?

99 human resources in the pews, 99 human resources, you knock one down and let it fall down, 98 human resources in the pews.

98 human resources in the pews, 98 human resources, you knock one down and let it fall down, 97 human resources in the pews.

I think you get my point.

I know the average church considers itself a community, perhaps we need to think about our church in a smaller sense...I think of it more like a neighborhood within a community. If someone leaves the “church” (note the small “c” again), and they go off to another church, does it REALLY matter? Not if they are still in the Community. So they may have left our neighborhood because they were “offended”, or hurt, or slighted, or simply felt called away, moved, or the other neighborhood had a specialty ministry that addressed their needs better…good children’s ministry, move of the Holy Spirit, fresh insight addressing where their God directed talents could be used, explored and such. I think we should mourn over someone who leaves the “C”ommunity, not necessarily just if they leave the neighborhood.

And if they left out of a bad relationship, situation, or similar, should we pursue them with love, seeking reconciliation, healing, and contending that God will turn this all into a blessing? Shouldn’t we rejoice over all of this and shouldn’t we hold on to showing love rather than showing disappointment and insult?

Jesus had every right to show disappointment and insult after his crucifixion and resurrection! His closest disciples abandoned him and one is even noted for denying even knowing Him. Instead, while they are all holed-up and scared, He shows up and says, “Peace be with you.”

Let’s be that community and quite making church a business. A business is a firm, cold, place that is NOT a model for Christianity. Christianity is a model of how to live individually, as a community, and as a model of how we should conduct our lives…and our businesses… and perhaps our churches!

Love the individual and appreciate the gifts, talents, and skills the person comes with, just keep away from considering the person as an HR.

I'm not saying this is easy either. I know what it is like to get so focused on the mission and importance of “my ministry” that I let past relationships and/or “less focused” people be unconsciously cast as resources too. It is hard to pursue people and it is time consuming to minister to, check up on, and love on someone who has shunned the church, someone in leadership, or myself. Hmmm.

A great book I read a number of years back and that still resonates with me is, “Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness”, by Jerry Cook. I enjoy his observation that some churches function as a “field” and other churches function as a “force”. To me, this helps me translate the business versus community concept I am writing here about. The book is worth tracking down via Amazon.com.

Well, this is where my discussion and thoughts have led me…

I hope no one is offended, unless you are offended for the right reasons…

I have fallen on both sides of this discussion, writing someone off and being written off…

I want to live like and live in a community of Christians that focuses on gaining individuals out of the realm of the enemy and the “world” and helping each other grow in Christ-like love, acceptance, and forgiveness…

Even another snapshot analogy would be to try to look at “the Body of Christ” just like the term suggests…a living organism. We need each other, and we need to tend to each other’s needs, concerns, and issues if the BODY is to be well and healthy. Each part has its purpose and function. You need me and I need you.

I want to seek first the Kingdom (King’s domain) of God, I want help doing this, and I want to help others do the same. I want to be a three-strand cord up the slopes of life—each of us pulling and linking; each of us being pulled and linked….hmmm, what are your thoughts?