September 26, 2013
I am
constantly asked, “Chuck, why don’t pastors take a stand and speak out?”
I’ve been a pastor most of my adult life. I believe I am qualified to
answer that question. Here is the stark reality: the vast majority of
pastors today are “success” oriented. Beginning in Bible College or
seminary, and continuing throughout a pastor’s ministerial life, the
emphasis is success. And that means church growth, larger congregations,
bigger buildings, bigger offerings, burgeoning statistics, greater
notoriety, denominational praise, invitations to speak at conferences,
applause from fellow ministers, not to mention the financial perks and
benefits that come with pastoring a “successful” church.
And the way to learn how to build a successful church is to learn
from those who have done it. Pastors regularly attend church growth
conferences to learn from the “big” church pastors on how it’s done.
They purchase books, magazines, newsletters, etc., that are all geared
towards telling pastors how to build a successful church. They are
constantly being schooled in the latest and greatest “how to” strategies
of church growth and success. This usually entails more and more
sophisticated programs, music, sound, lighting, atmosphere, classes,
seminars, organization, etc. Everything, and I mean everything, is
geared toward success as described in the aforementioned paragraph.
Most pastors today are in reality not spiritual shepherds as much as
they are corporate CEOs. The same mentality, philosophy, and strategy
that drive corporate boardrooms also drive the boardrooms of modern
churches--to a tee. Pastors act like CEOs, dress like CEOs, talk like
CEOs, manage like CEOs, and think like CEOs.
Dare I say that even the way pastors and churches cater, and “reach
out,” and “minister,” etc., has mostly to do with “good business.”
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