This is a Business
by Ken Parks, March 21, 2006

DULUTH, GA (KP) — I’ve always given them the benefit of the doubt. I’ve always tried to view their position as authorities and leaders. And I’ve always thought that men of their stature should be trusted and revered.

Large church organizations are known as mega-churches. They are composed of two thousand or more members. Mega-church leaders such as Creflo Dollar of Atlanta promotes a doctrine based upon financial blessings to the faithful, but many leave disillusioned. Attention has been drawn to many of the Word Faith preachers and their lavish life styles, obtaining a majority of their wealth through their church businesses.Senator Charles Grassley, R-Iowa has formed an investigation into the business practices of several independent organizations such as Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Eddie Long, and Randy and Paula White.

All of these thoughts have been dashed against the rock of my salvation, revealed through the discernment of the Spirit, backed up through Scripture, and evidenced by the actions of organized churches.

One pastor taught a Sunday school class and brought up the subject of tithing and giving toward the building fund. In so doing, he mentioned, “This is a business…” Those words have stuck with me like discarded cement. I can’t seem to shake off the quote and the memory. Has this become the state of affairs of organized churches?

The emphasis has been money and increasing membership leading to more money. When a person joins these organized churches, they are immediately introduced to the “tithe doctrine.” This is part of their “It’s a business.”

When it comes to real missions, not the so-called internal missions such as the “Soccer mission”, there is a severe disproportionate deployment of the task set before the leaders and members of organized churches as opposed to provide for the poor, feed the hungry, visit the sick, elderly and those in prison. Missions, in the eyes of the corporate church, are focused mainly at its internal and easy missions (social programs) with the hope that it will bring in more membership. Behind closed doors, one might hear a deacon or an elder proclaim, “Remember, this is a business and we have to keep the money rolling in.”

Could you envision the Apostle Paul trying to get the Church of Ephesus to have a “chariot race team mission”? In my Bible I have yet to see anything remotely about the church being a business or setting up social and sports activities as being a “mission.” However, organized churches seemed to have adopted the ways of this world to appear mission bound and increase membership with social activities.

There is no indication in the Bible of the disciples, apostles, or church leaders organizing sports activities and calling them “ministries.” At the time of the early writings of Christ’s disciples, chariot-racing was one of the most popular ancient Greek and Roman sports. I had visited a local church organization and they immediately emphasized the soccer ministry, the softball ministry and other in-house ministries which had very little bearing on performing the works of a true ministry which is simply bringing people to the recognition and acceptance of Christ into their lives.

Success seems to ignore the count as to those who have professed their faith and consequently saved, but how much money was gathered through "tithes and offerings," how their church organization has increased in buildings, properties, and wealth, and how many members have joined the business.

Some church organizations have become creative in generating revenue. One Baptist pastor had roped off part of the parking lot so that a used car dealership could film a commercial with a background of cars filled by Sunday attendants. First, I consider that false advertisement, and secondly, I consider the sly action of the pastor as an accessory to the fact.

It has been known that some church organizations have leased their building steeples to wireless communication companies, hiding the antennae and communication equipment under the cross of Jesus Christ. Some elders, board members and other proponents of money making schemes consider this to be a wise business venture. What used to be a house of communication to God has become a global communication tool for Ma-Bell. It brings into question: how would Jesus view these church actions?

The tithe process is not limited to Sunday services. Some businesses have resorted to passing the plate during Sunday school. Another marketing approach has been the mailing reminders, e-mail, and openly displayed offering chests.

Some leaders of these church businesses have written books, created teaching tapes and video productions in the quest to make a profit from the sales thereof. I have visited some churches where a staffed gift and bookstore is under the same roof. And, of course, the pastor’s books are prominently displayed. Some church leaders have had special edition Bibles printed, including photos of the pastor/leader and an abridged biography within its binding. The autographed versions are an additional fee.

Joel Osteen has become one of the best at marketing his church business. His latest book was a guaranteed $13 million from the publisher, and he has used the same title to produce calendars and other items. Osteen’s doctrine is similar to a diet of junk food churchianity spoon fed to spiritually malnutrition Christians. There is no doubt that TVangelists and other preachers are in the business to make money. It’s my opinion that their antics are described in Matthew 7:15-23.The Bible warns us that many will be deceived. And so it is with these so-called preachers. In Joel Osteen’s latest book, it was pointed out to him by an Atlanta interviewer that the words “Jesus Christ” and “God “ are not found in his book. Osteen became embarrassed and stuttered in his answer saying that people can live a better life by following the advice in his book.

The Apostle Paul missed out on running this type of business. He could have been a multi-denarius-millionaire. He could have produced his letters with drawings of his image. And he could have charged for his orations. Then there are the big shows, the musicals with his traveling music ministry. He could have set up great schools and charge the students for learning the Gospel and become ministers and evangelists. By today’s standards of churchianity, the Apostle Paul missed the mark.

But, let’s take a step back and examine this church business concept. The Apostle Paul wrote:

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God. (2 Cor. 2:17)

This is one of many Inconvenient Scriptures. The Apostle Paul would be astonished to see the church businesses sell all sorts of things for the purpose of making money off of God’s word. And he would most likely severely admonish them.

Many of the church organizations who promote their business and market their churchianity are so earthly bound, they’re no heavenly good.

Church businesses have become organized in groups such as “National Association of Church Business Administration” whereby church administrators can receive advice, instruction, and business practices. A variety of denominations have separate organizations dedicated to business administrators. Church Business Adminstrators (CBA) are trained personnel working in churches. The position varies from congregation to congregation and may be part-time or full-time. The administrator's work may include personnel and human resources management, financial management, property management, marketing and advertising.

For some church businesses, it is a primary goal to grow membership through a several sources of media such as TV, radio, and the Internet. The popular Mega-church organizations that have been successful include John Hagee of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, Joel Osteen of Houston, Texas, and Paul Crouch of Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). These organizations, which have their leaders living extravagant lifestyles, rely heavily on TV revenues, marketing books, videos, and other materials.

The church of this world is a business.