Church is Not a Business

Unfortunately there is an epidemic in our churches today, at least here in the South. I am sure this is an issue all over. Church is not a business, Church is a place where believers gather to worship the Lord, to be instructed by the Pastor, to fellowship with other believers, to encourage each other to in the Lord, to spread the Light of Christ in our communities. I have witnessed many churches hiring a Preacher, but not wanting a Shepherd. I have witnessed many churches with weak leadership within the deacons. Deacons are to support the Shepherd, they are to help lead the flock, they are to be sanctified and set apart for the work of God. I have seen too many congregations just adding deacons because they are family, or the person just wants to be in a leadership role because he has gone there for years, or his parents have been members for a long time. The flock is suffering, people are confused about how a Church is suppose to function biblically, because they don't spend any time in God's Word and they don't know its wrong, or they just want to go with the flow and don't want to rock the proverbial boat, or maybe worst of all they are full of pride and want the Church to be run in the way they think is right.

The Bible is clear on how to elect deacons, it is clear what their roles are, and it is clear that a Preacher is to be the Shepherd of the Church. There are so many preachers being cut off at the knees by their own sheep and it damages the sheep and the witness of our Lord. Church is not where we pick people for leadership because of their looks, their length of time in the Church, how much money they put in the offering plate, or how cool they are. Church is serious business, and God does not take lightly the disrespect to His House. We have to encourage our Preachers, we have to pick deacons based on biblical standards, and we have to be a submissive flock when we have a Preacher that is leading in Biblical fashion. If you are in a congregation, if you are a sheep you must educate yourself as well as be taught by the Shepherd, you are responsible for your part.

How can a Shepherd lead if everyone is trying to bully their way to the top? How can they do what God has called them to do if the flock themselves are injuring themselves and Gods Word? Gods Word is clear about the role of Preachers (Shepherds), Deacons, Elders, and Teachers. We do a disservice to God, to our fellowship and to our communities when we are disobedient, when we allow "Church" politics to run the Church rather than the Word of God.