The Church's Business

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2).

Let me preference this by saying, I understand I may have limited knowledge here, because, as a pastor's wife, I'm basically a lay person. But I'm also reminded that God used and still uses many common, untrained people. He looks for followers and leaders who are willing and obedient, ones who will rely on Him.

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).

It bothers me that I'm seeing and hearing more and more church leaders who are treating church as a business venture. They talk of things like marketing techniques; restructuring services for a more modern, upbeat audience; and toning down traditional preaching to include more time for contemporary music. And yet, I never hear them mention God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit in any of it. Numbers seem to mean more to them than substance.

"And hath put all things under his [Christ's] feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church" (Ephesians 1:22).

Some of the church facebook pages even list the church as a "business," instead of "church/religious organization." I admit, I just don't understand this way of thinking. 

"We find the Christian life difficult because we seek for God's blessings while we live according to our own will" (Andrew Murray, Power in Prayer, kindle loc. 564).

I know a church who commissioned a study to see how they could be more effective. Two years later, they have about half as many people attending, and many seem to have lost their passion for the Lord. I think the study inadvertently caused the leadership to shift their focus from God to implementing suggestions from the study, and trying to do things on their own, without consulting God. 

"If we but yield ourselves entirely to the Spirit and let Him have His way with us, He will manifest the life of Christ within us" (Andrew Murray, Power in Prayer, kindle loc. 1948).

Some leaders also seem to be making other decisions based on what they think is best without asking God what He wants. I believe the business of any church is to follow God and to put Christ as the center of everything. None of the things mentioned above are wrong, if they're where God is leading, and He may very well lead churches to do these things. However, we need to let Him do the leading. The Church today needs to take its Biblical principles to the world instead of allowing the world's principles to infiltrate the Church. The Church's business is to be about God's business.

Let's pray about it.

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus thoughout all ages, world without end, A-men" (Ephesians 3:20-21).

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