Church run like a business??

[ValleyGal]

The amount of rubbish so called christian books being sold today is unbelieveable. Most of them self help business/pyschology from america. No you CANNOT use christianity to manipulate people into building your (church) business. Um...

I would clear them all away and just have a whole bookshelf of just 66 books from the Bible.

Then why do you bother with the church's library? You have complained you don't get enough funding for the library, then you complain the books are rubbish anyway. Is there anything you would not complain about?

 

[Goodbook]

i think there are two kinds of shepherds looking after Jesus flock, those hes appointed, like Peter, to feed his sheep and those who he hasnt and basically appointed themselves.

There is something about hirelings too and i think the main point of difference is hirelings just get paid so they wouldnt do it if money wasnt involved and real ministers are not...they will minister even when they have no money.

Which is why when Jesus sent out the disciples he said to take no money or purse. This is so ppl can see the miracles are NOT due to any buying or selling. You dont need to be wealthy to follow Jesus. You need a willing heart.

 

[ValleyGal]

[aiki said: But, as I said, no one gave him food, or clothing, or even a kind, listening ear. He was nailed to a cross and Jesus did nothing to alleviate his immediate pain and suffering. In spite of this, he was still converted.[/quote]
There was nothing anyone could do for him then and there anyway. Jesus himself was nailed to the cross and only offered him what he had. This is not a debate board. I have simply stated I disagree with you. No need to further argue points that are irrelevant to the OP.

Mass conversions mostly do not need food or other necessities - although there are some who did, like when Jesus fed the 5,000. Today, outreach includes meeting the needs of the individual, just as Jesus met the needs of the homeless and the hungry and the ailing on an individual level.

Now that is said, there is no need to debate. Who cares anyway. The OP is not content in her church or how churches operate; she should find a church where they operate the way she thinks they should.

 

[Goodbook]

The hirelings are what Jude or was it Paul warned about..they are wolves in sheeps clothing or false teachers. Im really concerned about this youth pastors direction, cannot he see or is he blind to the spiritual reality.

Then the senior pastor sometimes its like talking to a brick wall as well which is sad to say, am not sure whats going on with this church but im not liking it.


My theory is theyve been swayed by some slick salesmen peddling snake oil. These kinds of ppl prey on churches and congrgations..they see numbers of people gathered and think, potential profits or market share. have a sister that does marketing and she just sees ppl as consumers. But shes actually not interested in them as ppl marketers are equal opportunists and blanket everyone with junk mail whether they like it or not.

 

[Goodbook]

The rightnow media website mission statement is the american dream (whatver that is) to turn christians into traders. Of course its 'biblical traders' whatever that is. Sounds like merchandisers at the temple to me.

 

[Goodbook]

further into this website, keeps sending me junk now i've signed up..although pastor said it was a 'trial' and wasn't anything dodgy but the initial email said it was a gift from the church. well I had never received any gift from the church like this before that spams me.

And whoever bill hybels is..got sent a picture of him. Saying 'new years resolution, unclutter your soul' and an ad to invite everyone to join.

Now I can't seem to unsubscribe so am just going to block it.

arrrgh. Do people in your church spam you with 'christian' junk mail? I had the same thing with bible league constantly asking me for money, they never sent me any bibles either.

He could have just done a facebook group thing. I dont know, now am in his bad books. and the way they try and justify 'trader' as if its bibilcal to buy and sell all the time is just so way off base its laughable.

 

[mcarmichael]

C'mon, how are they supposed to eat?

 

[Goodbook]

am thinking maybe he likes it cos it has 'kids' videos that will keep them occupied all day. I don't know.

Maybe its just no use reasoning with him, warned him, if he doesn't heed the warning and thinks its all good then I'm wasting my time.

They have spammed me 3 times so far...

 

[Goodbook]

need prayer.
I don't like being the one having to warn cos now he thinks I'm accusing him..arrgh. He's the one that sent out the spam emails to everyone in the fellowship book saying its a gift from the church.

Well what kind of gift is free then you start having to pay for after three months. It never said that.

if they'd said it was a 'trial' then they should say. And whoever bill hybels is, I don't know, but he's nothing to do with our church at all. Why send me a picture of this guy I don't know saying I need to make new years resolutions.

this kind of thing bothers me, I suppose most ppl will just let it slide and not say anything but I think I have to. Otherwise it will keep on and he won't realise until he gets a big bill and spammed with all this junk.

This is the pastor who refused a local ministry and bibles (real ones) in favour of this crap from north america which twists disciples into 'traders'.

 

[Basil Isaacks]

What do you do if it seems like your church is being run like a business, does that mean the wolves have got in and you need to run?

I was given this 'gift' by a church I attend of a online video library but its asking me if I am part of the staff of this organization or a CEO etc.Do churches have CEOs. I thought they had ministers, teachers, evangelists and prophets, not CEOs, admins, and employees.

Also it asked me what my age, marital status and gender was. I don't know if later I have to pay for this 'gift' or someones just spent thousands of dollars on these resources so we can run our church like a business. Is this a red flag? It didn't say anything about faith or even if it had any Bibles :-(

Obviously, good stewardship requires that someone be responsible for reasonable disbursements and the like. The last Baptist church I was associated with had the Minister of Education double as business and financial manager.

You mentioned employees. Is the minister oe education (DRE, or whatever), assistant pastor, minister of music, organist and other musicians, nursery workers--are they ministers? Staff? Employees? Who cares?

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

 

[Goodbook]

Hes not glorified if mammon is involved cos you just cant serve two masters.

I thought it would be obvious to anyone whos been a christian for a long time and reads the bible but obviously I am mistaken. Ppl rather watch kids videos instead.

 

[Goodbook]

When i was away apparently he did a kind of launch thing about it and you have to have a password from the church, but i didnt know this just got sent these emails urging me to sign up. I thought I have to check it out first, but even BEFORE i was able to view anything it made me fill out a form asking all these personal questions. Im like this is really none of your business and no, I dont have a church logo. And no, we dont have employers and employees in our church we are just believers or saints.

They have a pricing plan too, depending on the size of your church. Red flag.

Do people not know that Jesus kingdom is not an earthly one.

 

[ValleyGal]

Right Now Media is a great resource for parents trying to teach their children about Jesus. It's a terrific place of learning for people who are shut in and unable to get to a weekly Bible study. It's a great place for people to do Bible studies that would have otherwise required the purchase of a study booklet. There is absolutely nothing wrong or sinful about this site, and I, for one, am happy to have a gifted membership from my church as it offers one more resource for biblical study. OP, if you don't like it, place the emails from them into your spam folder and just don't bother with it since it seems to upset you so much.

 

[HittitesA-muk]

hi Church isnt run; we say that its conducted . Particularly that word has meaning in the sense that a church has sung words .

 

[2Timothy2:15]

cant people just meet in each others homes, I'm really tired of this whole church 'business' thing where they constantly go on about finances. I don't care if we meet in a field even.

You will not find the modern church system (business like, CEO and all) anywhere in the bible. However, what you do find is homes full of believers with no one guy at the top of the pyramid...

 

[Goodbook]

You will not find the modern church system (business like, CEO and all) anywhere in the bible. However, what you do find is homes full of believers with no one guy at the top of the pyramid...

Yea well this website assumes church is organized like a corporation. Except the body of Christ is not a pyramid.

I dont know why anyone would think its a good idea to sign up for something like this when theres a christian tv channel free to air. If they want christian tv for children to watch, and everyone can see it, not just church members. Well maybe he didnt know, but would think be wise to check it out first instead of just spamming everyone in the fellowship book that had email. If it was a book or video he personally recommended and found edifying I dont mind, sure..! but some corporate american marketing thing thats trying to sell me stuff with so called free gift, NO. And then using our church name as a kind of front for this is just really wrong!

The website calls people 'decisionmakers' in the church, as if theres only one person making the decison, called christians 'traders' as if we all merchandisers. No we are disciples not traders and the gospel is shared it cannot ever be bought or sold.

 

[2Timothy2:15]

Yea well this website assumes church is organized like a corporation. Except the body of Christ is not a pyramid.

I dont know why anyone would think its a good idea to sign up for something like this when theres a christian tv channel free to air. If they want christian tv for children to watch, and everyone can see it, not just church members. Well maybe he didnt know, but would think be wise to check it out first instead of just spamming everyone in the fellowship book that had email. If it was a book or video he personally recommended and found edifying I dont mind, sure..! but some corporate american marketing thing thats trying to sell me stuff with so called free gift, NO. And then using our church name as a kind of front for this is just really wrong!

The website calls people 'decisionmakers' in the church, as if theres only one person making the decison, called christians 'traders' as if we all merchandisers. No we are disciples not traders and the gospel is shared it cannot ever be bought or sold.

2 Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

 

[Goodbook]

2timothy2:15 The way of Balaam, son of Bosor... what was the way of Balaam again? Wasn't he stopped by the donkey? Cos for sure, the Bible doesn't paint a pretty picture of people who've forsaken the Lord to run after false teachers...and money.

 

[2Timothy2:15]

2timothy2:15 The way of Balaam, son of Bosor... what was the way of Balaam again? Wasn't he stopped by the donkey? Cos for sure, the Bible doesn't paint a pretty picture of people who've forsaken the Lord to run after false teachers.

The prophet who was tempted by money - Balaam

Balaam (Forerunner Commentary) - Bible Tools

 

[Goodbook]

Honestly I feel like that donkey.