The Church as Business
Posted on November 14th, 2006 by catalyst into the City Boobie Church categoryI am not one of those who actually thinks that JP and I are the first to stumble across the idea of churches being run like a business. I just think we are the only ones willing to devote several hours a day to mocking churches that are run like a business. (I assume other people have real lives to live.)
Thus in a recent search, I stumbled across this article from the Economist written in January of this year that investigates the super-fantastic- mega-church Willow-Creek.
There is no shortage of criticisms of these fast-growing churches. One is that they represent the Disneyfication of religion. Forget about the agony and ecstasy of faith. Willow Creek and its sort are said to serve up nothing more challenging than Christianity Lite— a bland and sanitised creed that is about as dramatic as the average shopping mall.
Another criticism is that these churches are not really in the religion business but in the self-help trade. Mr Osteen and his equivalents preach reassuring sermons to “victors not victims”, who can learn to be “rich, healthy and trouble free”. God, after all, “wants you to achieve your personal best”. The result is a wash: rather than making America more Christian, the mega-churches have simply succeeded in making Christianity more American.
Moreover, it is a wash that is extraordinary good for the pastorpreneurs themselves, who prosper by preaching the gospel of prosperity. The wonderfully named Creflo Dollar, chief pastor of World Changers Church International in Georgia, drives a Rolls-Royce and travels in a Gulfstream jet. Joyce Meyer, who promises that God rewards people with his blessings, counts among her own blessings a $2m home and a $10m jet.
The article also defends mega-churches. But I find it interesting that they defend mega-churches from a business stance, not a Jesus-stance.
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November 14th, 2006 at 8:05 am
Exactly.
November 14th, 2006 at 8:38 am
You should have registered your trademark.
November 14th, 2006 at 3:16 pm
…a bland and sanitised creed that is about as dramatic as the average shopping mall.
If I wanted to go that route, I could just walk around the mall and think about Jesus.
-Hank Hill.
November 14th, 2006 at 8:41 pm
“I just think we are the only ones willing to devote several hours a day to mocking churches that are run like a business. (I assume other people have real lives to live.)”
THANK YOU for your devotion and sacrifice! What would this world be like without people like you? Someone has to pinpoint the error in the church. Unfortunately, not all share your devotion and so I stand and clap ten times in your general direction! To be honest, I think you should get out more. The sunlight and fresh air will do you wonders. After all this time standing in the gap for the little guys, you deserve a break.
On a more serious note: How would you run a church?
November 15th, 2006 at 7:09 am
Isn’t that obvious? Like a business!
Personally, I kind of think the old catholic church had a good thing going. Rather then try and deceive people and get them to “tithe” by making them feel guilty and/or like it’s necessary to get rich.. the old catholics used this tagline:
“We sell assurances! Buy a holy fingernail relic from us for only $5,000 and we’ll throw in 1 year less in purgatory. Plus, get a free TV!”
November 15th, 2006 at 4:31 pm
Take down all religious icons/idols/pictures. Replace the stained glass with clear stuff so people get a real view of the world outside. Burn the pews. Take a sledge to the pipe organ. Torch the altar and pulpits; tear out the sound system, mics and anything that people can use to talk over the others. Bring in as many round tables with chairs as the sanctuary will hold. Serve food and drink. Encourage relationships and sharing - use ‘ice-breaker’ type exercises if necessary. Convert classrooms to a food bank, clothing bank, medical clinic, daycare, a triage center where the needs of people are assessed and prioritized and matched with help/ers.
If there were any pictures or signs on the wall, they would be relationship and service oriented.
Such as: “Love one another”, “Forgive”, “Speak the truth in love”, “Encourage each other”, “Humble yourself”, “Serve one another”, etc. Pictures such as Jesus washing feet, Jesus comforting Mary/Martha, Jesus drawing a line between the adulterous woman and her accusers, etc.
Would also like to see most crosses replaced with the image of an empty tomb. Never did understand why the cross became the symbol of Christianity and not the empty tomb.
Anyhow - just a fantasy there, Dust Bunny Warrior …