The Corporate Church? Huh?
I keep hearing a phrase that I personally don’t like: The Corporate Church.
First, the church is the people, by definition. Not the building, not the staff, not the money, the people. And while I understand the financial needs that exist, and the paperwork involved in maintaining a tax exempt status, I bristle at the thought of the church being a corporation, a business like any other. It isn’t. Walmart, McDonald’s, AT&T, etc. are in business to make money. While you as a consumer are receiving a product or service, they are making money on the deal. It is less one hand washing the other and more one hand getting washed while the other gets a whole bath!
But the church exists to bring others to God. Yes, money changes hands, but in the ideal world (I know, I’m dreaming again!), our dollars are funding mission and outreach, service to God’s people, for God’s people and on God’s behalf.
And that makes the church way more accountable than Xerox or General Motors!
The leadership of a church is responsible not just to God, but to the people, the church, that is being served. To that end, the leadership cannot afford to hide behind closed doors, or conduct business in secret. If the church is the people, then the people must be involved in each step of the process. When the people are taken out of the process, the body becomes more, well, corporate
Think about it. In a corporation, orders flow from the top down. The board of trustees doesn’t have to answer to the secretary in the mailroom.
But in a church the opposite is true. While our God is the head of the church, the pastor, staff, deacons -everyone in a leadership position- must be open and forthright. I, as a member, should be able to ask any question and get a straight answer. Nothing should be hidden, no agenda other than God’s can drive the ship.
The leadership of a church is responsible not just to God, but to the people, the church, that is being served. To that end, the leadership cannot afford to hide behind closed doors, or conduct business in secret. If the church is the people, then the people must be involved in each step of the process. When the people are taken out of the process, the body becomes more, well, corporate.
I hear so many people complain that all churches want is money, that they always have their collection plate moving up and down the pew. And it’s true. And 99.9% of all churches use that money to further God’s work on His earth. But if you have questions, if you feel that something isn’t quite right, speak up!
After all, YOU are the church!
February 12th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
I have to say that I was slightly disappointed today when I opened my e-mail from 451 and read somebody ranting and raving without any real biblical point that I could find. I agree with everything that was said, however I really prefer to get something out of this site, not just listen to someone complain. Maybe you could add to this what we could do about this, or something to make it more of an insight than a rant. I normally love opening my e-mails and you are at the top of my list for writers, but I don’t see where God fits in to this one.
February 13th, 2009 at 9:24 am
But people are dealing with this issue and do need encouragement to speak up. Not all churches are lead the same way, and some leave members, who are the church, without an opportunity for input or even to ask questions. They need encouragement too.
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:09 am
Since I am new to this site, this is obviously a little late.
Give to Ceasar what is Ceasar’s, give to God what is God’s. Jesus made the distinction here between His kingdom and the kingdom of this world; and this distiction is the difference between God and Satan.
I praise God for women like Linda who try to make clear the differences between the two. There are many areas in life where the concepts dealing with those areas belong to antichrist.
Psychology and psychiatry are the two most unbiblical and antichristian concepts facing Christianity today. They are so widely accepted within the church as a valid means of mental health it is disgusting!!! One only need examine the mind games Satan played with Eve in the Garden of Eden to understand this form of mental health.
It is quite apparent most Christians really do not comprhend Isaiah 9:6 and John 14:6 to name a few, nor do they understand what Jesus is all about!
As for me and my house we will serve the Lord, where my heart cries out… Abba!
To know Jesus is our greatest mental health and this enables our fellowship with Him to be in truth and in spirit. Our fellowship with each other is all the more sweeter when our fellowship with Him is OF HIM and not of this world.