Do not let anyone deceive you. The church is a huge business and the Pastors are the Chief Marketing officer marketing Jesus as a product.
Why are we deceiving ourselves by trying so hard to prove that the church is not a business when indeed Jesus describe the church as a business.
The Bible uses many adjectives to describe the church: a family, a body, a fellowship, a flock, and more. Jesus has the best adjective to describe what the church is in Luke chapter 2 verse 49.
Luke 2:49 (Weymouth New Testament)
"Why is it that you have been searching for me?" He replied; "did you not know that it is my duty to be engaged upon my Father's business?"
From the Bible passage (above), it is crystal clear that the church is indeed a business (as described by Jesus). Why are we ashamed then? Why are we as Christians ashamed to admit that indeed we are in a business!
If the church is a business, What Kind of Business is the Church Business?
In Matthew Chapter 28 verses 18 to 20, Jesus speaking here gave a direct order on what the church's business is.
"And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
"and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
In today's world, a lot of churches operates as a profit-making enterprise. One thing is clear from the King's command (the Bible passage above), the church is not a profit-making enterprise unlike what we have all around us today.
A lot of pastors sells a different product, they've completely abandoned the product (Jesus) that they were called into the business to market. They shameless manipulate the Bible to suit their agenda.
One of the most manipulated Bible verses has to be the book of Malachi chapter 3 verse 10.
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house..."
Everyone seems to know this phrase, which includes the people who have never stepped their foot into a church. This is because this coercion is more popular than the king's business.
A lot of people has rightfully defended their men of God who uses this style to defraud people of their hard-earned money. I do not blame them, we all have our right to do whatever we believe is right. One thing that baffles me though, is the fact that things that were written in black and white in the same Bible the man of God quoted from seems too far away from some people. Sometimes, I wonder if people read the Bible.
Before you judge me, let us read the same Malachi chapter 1.
Who is the book of Malachi addressed to in Malachi Chapter 3?
You might not be able to answer this question if you do not read the book of Malachi from chapters 1 and 2.
“And now, you priests, this warning is for you.
If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honour my name,”
“I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings.
Yes, I have already cursed them,
because you have not resolved to honour me."
From these verses of Malachi chapter 2, it is clear that the messages were directed to the priests who were disgracing the name of God in pursuit of their own business. Just as it is in today's world.
If truly the church is a business as established by Jesus himself (above), the question is: What are you selling?
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