Is the church a business? No, it is an ecclesia of redeemed believers commissioned for the purpose of making disciples of all nations for the glory of God. Do the principles of business apply to the church? Yes and no. First and foremost, God and His Word direct how we lead, operate, and organize as a church. Business principles in disagreement with God and His Word should not be practiced. However, as all truth belongs to God, some business practices are biblically informed and clearly beneficial in both the business and church contexts.
At the end of the day, our goal is to be a good steward of the people and resources the Lord has entrusted to us in the context in which we live. Stewardship is the responsible planning and management of people and material resources in the same way the Lord would care for these resources. Here are some examples and benefits of properly applied business practices in the church.
Provides Clarity
Nehemiah had a call from God to rebuild Jerusalem. The scale of this call is beyond overwhelming! Additionally, the task had to be completed in a context of opposition from the nations that had destroyed the city. Where do you start? Who will help? How will we pay for it? How do we handle the opposition from our enemies? How do we keep people focused? What about all the “what ifs”? What about all the unknowns? All these questions are asked and addressed in any business plan. Answering these questions in a way that honors God provides clarity. The church is not making or marketing a product. The church is building a community, shaping a culture, all in hopes that the Kingdom of God is seen and experienced in our cities. This is nothing short of the call on Nehemiah’s life. Like him, we have to bring clarity to the people we lead if we are to be faithful to the call God has placed on us.
Allows a Mission to Scale
How do you care for a million people? The answer is not by yourself! Moses found this out quickly. Jethro confronts Moses with the statement, “The thing that you are doing is not good.” The concern was Moses wearing himself out AND the people he was leading. The principle in play here is leadership development and delegation. What is suggested is an organizational chart that outlines roles, responsibilities, reporting relationships, and requirements for serving. All of this allowed for the mission of discipling a people who would honor God among the nations. The mission does not get any larger than that! As leaders we often struggle with this process for various reasons, but failing to heed this advice is “not good” for us or the people we lead. If we continue down this unhealthy path, will it negatively impact God’s glory or hinder the extent of our mission impact? We need to delegate ministry to qualified leaders. The requirements in this example were “able men, men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain, and wise, discerning and experienced men” (Exodus 18:21, Deuteronomy 1:12). From there, Moses invested in these men to carry out the work that was entrusted to them.
Creates a Healthy Culture
Consumeristic, complacent, and complaining are three words that should never describe the Church! Yet, some of us have had experiences in this type of church culture. Mike Breen, in his book “Building a Discipling Culture,” offers the solution of churches embracing a high-invitation, high-challenge culture to avoid these toxic organizational structures. A great example of this type of culture in scripture is found in Acts 6. The gospel is being boldly preached, ministries to the poor, the widow, and the orphan are being established, churches are being started, discipleship is being implemented, leaders are being developed, and needs are being missed. Just like that, the complaints begin, “What about me”? It is a valid complaint for a valid need. As a leader, it is easy to get defensive because you are running full speed. Not to mention you set up a ministry to meet the very need of the complaint. Left addresses complaints can become a cancer that eats away at the culture of the church. Addressed improperly, you add crushing weight to an already exhausted leader. The solution is brilliant. Challenge people to step up and serve. This takes longer to “fix” the issue, but in the long run, it creates a healthy culture that allows everyone to focus on their role in keeping the high challenge of scripture, and the inviting culture of ministry and care.
Honors Jesus’ Will for His Church
In 1 Corinthians 12:18, we are told that Jesus places people in the body of Christ as he chooses. Each of these members has a gifting instilled in them by God. The principles in play here are planning, training, and coaching. Making disciples does not happen by accident. Knowing how God wants to use your church to fulfill the great commission in your community is essential if you are going to mobilize the people He has placed in your church according to his will. Discipleship is training to carry out the will and mission of Jesus. It is the combination of hearing the Word (instruction), and doing the Word (experience). As your people discover their gifting and begin serving, questions will arise. This is where coaching becomes essential. You can see all of these principles in play in Mark 6:7-31. What does a disciple need to learn (Mark 6:12)? What does a disciple need to experience (Mark 6:8-11)? What skills does a disciple need to develop (Mark 6:7-12)? What does a disciple need to process in community (Mark 6:7-31)?
Pastor, you are entrusted with the care and instruction of the body of Christ. It is a high calling. It is at times overwhelming. I realize that unless you have the gift of Administration, all of this can feel out of reach. I also realize that a lot of churches do not have the resources to hire a staff person to address these needs. This is where the blessing of our network shines. Your Regional Director, Convention Staff, and the Rocky Mountain Foundation would love the opportunity to partner with you in setting up these systems and processes to advance your church’s God given mission and vision. We are a phone call or email away.
