Should the Church Be Run Like a Business?

Mike Holmes | October 23, 2009 | View Comments Comments

Yes and no.

Yes, because there are certain things we can measure; and no because there are things we can’t.

I ask this question because I come across a lot of principles for organizational effectiveness and, in my mind, I see how they can relate to ministry. But then I hear this voice, “Can you use that for God’s House?”

And so I am tired of halting between these two opinions. I want an answer. And I know you want it too!

What is the church?

It’s an organism as well as an organization.

It is the global body of believers who have put their faith in Jesus Christ (organism).
It is a local non-profit used as a place of assembly. It has leadership, management, bylaws, a mission statement, a jurisdiction, and tax codes it must adhere to. The building is used for assembly, worship, and a base where people can learn about God, the church, and, if they’re interested, can become a member (organization).

As an organization it’s subject to the same principles necessary to make any organization effective:

Great Leadership
Good Management
Purpose
Vision
Great Marketing
Accounting (or stewardship)
Legal Counsel
Proper use of gifts, talents, and strengths (putting the right people in the right place)

Should Organizational Principles Be Used for Ministry?

In a word: yes!

In two words: absolutely yes!

The same principles that take a business to greatness can also take a ministry to greatness. And those businesses and ministries that ignore these timeless principles will be on a death spiral to mediocrity…or worse!!

In fact, God is a God of principles. Everything He created was established to operate by certain principles that guarantee its proper function. Whether it be personal or corporate there are principles that, if used, guarantee success. And, if ignored, guarantee failure and mediocrity.

So should the church be treated like a business?

You tell me.

What are your thoughts??

Filed Under: God and business, Greatness, Leadership, Marketing, Principles

jeffrey rolle

no. no .no.
Dr Tai Rupuha, Phd.

Jesus said my people are destroyed (perish)t through the lack of knowledge.He also said go into the world but do not be of it. Today churches are being used as a BUSINESS through the world system.Satan is GOD of the world.Jesus said do not lean on your own understanding but be lead by my spirit saids the Lord. We in this life time will never see a church without spots and wringles. All have fallen short of the KINGDOM. Jesus said I am the way. Not the world nor the church. Warning ! Do not sell the birth right of Jesus Christ to the WORLD as Adam did through being disobedient. This is a warning to all Ministries. The Holy Spirit can raise you up or shut you down. The wage of sin is DEATH. You can not take from the world and use it in your ministry. Jesus said to the rich man, sell your posessions and give to the poor and you will have the riches of HEAVEN. Martial things are not the blessings from God. If you were called into the Ministry not by man, but ordain by the Holy Spirit he will never leave your church, Jesus said to Peter on this rock I will build my church. He did not refer to a church building, but as the foundation of God which is YOU. God bless all who can hear what the SPIRIT is saying to the CHURCHES. Let the word which is JESUS to reveal this truth to you. Not by might nor by power but by my spirit saids the Lord. God be with.
Sampwells

It seems as though you are saying that we should just throw caution to the wind and sail on without being responsible with our finances. I beleive GOD blesses churches with money. What they do with this money is a thing that should be prayed over and is between them, God, and their church. And what you said about Satan being god of this world is false. Yahweh is in total control. Satan is merely a instrument. Your right that God can raise us up or shut us down, but let Him decide how He will judge his church.
This is coming from a member of a 200 member church
Mike Holmes

I agree. The Holy Spirit should lead any and all dealings of the church. Great thoughts!
Laurie St.Lyon

Hi Mike,

Good post. the point is not what we use but how we use it and whether the "systems" we adopt serve the church or whether the church is made to serve the system.

The business of business is to make money. Business of the church is serve one another. You might be forgiven for thinking it exists to pay the pastors salary the way some people go about it.

Jesus said to peter "Feed my sheep" he not say 'Feed OFF OF my sheep".

So as you say the answer is yes and no. But the important thing is our motivation for doing so, Are we following God's vision or our own and is both what we do and what we seek in line with the WHOLE counsel of scripture?
jacquelinerennae

Laurie,

We tend to view the Church as only spiritual, it is important to realize the church has expenses (lights, heat, providing support, planning for future expansion as more people come into community with us, maintenance, etc.).

Churches that fail to have a strategy for obtaining finances, will find a foreclosure sign on their door when the hurt, hungry, despair, and hurting show up to be ministered to. Especially in today's economy, if the Church desires to be obedient to Jesus, capital/money is needed.

Jacqueline Rennae
Dr Tai Rupuha, Phd

1. Its obvious the churches that struggle to maintain finances were never called to start a church.
2. The bible says very clearly I will provide for all your needs not some of your needs.
3. The word says why worry what you eat or what you wear.
4.Remember when JESUS feed the 5,000 people, the deciples said to Jesus we do not have enough food. A little boy handed 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread and JESUS held them up and asked his FATHER to provide.
5. This is why CHRISTIANS fail because their FLESH gets in the way of their FAITH.
6. Take your thoughts off the problems of the CHURCH and put your faith on JESUS. You know when Peter walked on water and sunk, his faith failed and JESUS said OH LITTLE FAITH!....Bless you
martindungey

Hello, having been dealing with the Principalities and Powers fom a warfare perspective, I have come to the conclusion that this description of our "leaders" and institutions is close to the biblical defenition of what we are up against. "Nor are these leaders free. They appear to choose, but the selective process generated by the ungoverned system confers upon them that role. The powerful get to speak because the unelected and unchosen structure of the system determines which message will be heard. That which chooses the chooser determines the choice." This relates to the signature of the Domination System. Bearing this in mind, and taking into account all the imperfections of the church, I would say that perhaps our businesses should be run as the church rather than the other way round.
Blesings and shalom.
Mike Holmes

"Our businesses should be run as the church." I agree with this statement. I agree with it mainly because Business originated with God and not the world. The world may have corrupted it, but God originally designed it. And so the blueprint for the church and for business should be from God's standards not the world's.
martindungey

Hi Mike, good to hear from you. Exactly, straight from Colossians 1: 16-17. Everything was created through and for Christ. Institutions, businesses, governments were all created good, are fallen but redeemable. God's standards have to be the one we follow. For a business to find its God given vocation is not so easy, however, it's something perhaps the church should be pointing out more than it seems to do.
Dr Tai Rupuha

Its not up to the churches to lead people into anything. The choice is your own.
Mike Holmes

Exactly!! That's why I don't see business as bad...but good. Because God created it. The church should be pointing it out more but they're not. Some brave souls are and are being label heretics. But that's the way it is and will always be.

Oh by the way, forgive the late repsonse. I just saw today that you left this two month old comment:(
bterrence

I think that God is so prevalent in the world today that we should watch what we do with the money that means the people, places, and things. That we give to that (and the community as a whole) community. Even the faith community needs to have a attitude adjustment. With the way people have been treating the homeless I would take over the need in the space that my hands are needed.
Mike Holmes

Amen! Good point!
Jacqueline R. Corbett-Delaney

So the question is "Should the Church Be Run Like a Business?" Definately a though provoking question. I'm in the process of re-reading the Bible in 90 Days. Focusing on the 1st 5 books of the Bible, I see lots of management principles. Ground Rules are important, so we begin with the 10 Commandments. Moving along further we see the model for managing large groups of people as suggested by Jethro, Moses's father-in-law. In Deuteronomy Moses sets guidelines in place for following or not following God's rules.

Our judicial system is based on biblical models, and I could go on and on. I then suggest, instead of the Church learning from the Business world, I say the business world can learn how to manage by being familiar with biblical principles.

Through out the Bible we see the principle of tithing, and the benefits of putting the tithe aside to ensure resources are available for now, and for the future. Another example is seen as Joseph the son of Jacob is positioned to manage food supplies while resources are plentiful to ensure a time when resources would not be so plentiful.

Throughout the Bible numbers are kept to measure effectiveness, and so again biblical patterns or models have really laid the foundation for today's business principles.

Jacqueilne Rennae
Mike Holmes

"Throughout the Bible numbers are kept to measure effectiveness, and so again biblical patterns or models have really laid the foundation for today's business principles." This is so true!! Thanks for sharing
Kevin Bourne

I definately believe that some of the business and organizational principles in the marketplace should be used in churches and ministries. Emphasis on "some" because there are some aspects of business and organizational culture that run counter to the culture of God's Kingdom. Especially in being cut-throat in "letting people go".

I think a lot of believers are afraid when you put business and church in the same sentence. I know quite a few people who've been hurt by churches who are very business-like in its culture. It usually means that a church is less relational, more focused on vision than the needs of people, and more sterile. If you can manage being business-like in your operations while maintaining love, relationship and care for people, I'm all for it!
Dr Tai Rupuha, Phd.

The churches of today do not seem in some areas stand on Gods Kingdom Principles. Yes I myself have witness people being hurt. That is not good fruit of christianity. The bible teaches us to love one another. Jesus said to Peter how much do you love me. Peter answered, Jesus replied feed my sheep. In other words look after my flock including business.Remember Jesus was a carpenter, Peter was in the fishing industry, Paul was a tent maker,etc. All things are possible with God not with man.Don't trust man and fix your eyes on JESUS.
Mike Holmes

What Kingdome Principles do you mean? I would love for you to elaborate.
wingsofglory

Greetings Mike.........There are 7 Kingdom Principles Choices. I shall give 1 regarding to your question and list the headings of the other 6 principles.
1. YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW..........Jesus taught this in various parables,including the parable of the other sower (Matt 13:1-9). Paul gave this classic statement:
You cannot fool God, so don't make a fool of yourself! You will harvest what you plant. [Galatians6:7].
2.WITH GOD, SMALL MAKES BIG
3. YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY SOWER.
4. GOD GIVES GIFTS, YOU CHOOSE TO USE THEM
5. CHOOSING SEED TO SOW IS RISKY.
6. YOU MUST ENDURE TO THE HARVEST.
7. GRACE OVERCOMES THE LAW OF SOWING AND REAPING.
Mike Holmes

Wings of Glory...I understand the first six...could you elaborate on the 7th? And maybe 2 and 5:)
Dr Tai Rupuha

Greetings Mike...........If you understood the first 6 Principles you would know the lot. These commands are nearby and you know them by heart.
All we have to do is OBEY!
Mike Holmes

Kevin,

Good point! Emphasis on the word "some." I agree cut-throat practices SHOULD NOT be used in ministry. In fact, they shouldn't be used in business. I personally don't believe those are one of the principles God created anyway...I can't imagine that being in His Will.

"If you can manage being business-like in your operations while maintaining love, relationship and care for people, I'm all for it!" So am I!!!