Diane over at Crossroads sent me this forwarded e-mail of interest from Doug Perry:
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A Businessman’s Apology to the Clergy
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Brethren,I’ve said a lot of things about the problems with
the “church” system that we’ve built. That it was off-
track and not what Jesus wanted. That the 37,000+
denominations that we have now can’t possibly be
the “One Body” that Jesus begged for in the Garden
of Gethsemane just before He went to the cross for
us. That we’re not really feeding the hungry and
caring for the poor in any effective way as a
percentage of our total budgets. That we’re
preaching soft and fluffy and affirming instead
of repentance and revival and restoration. And it’s
possible that everyone has been left with the
impression that it’s the fault of the clergy.Well, I’m sorry for that. It’s the fault of the business
leaders. No doubt about it. We did this.Certainly there are religious leaders that have
gummed up the works really well, but everybody
knows it’s not THEIR money that powers this Ponzi
scheme. Surely there have been splits in
denominations over theological issues, but at least as
much and probably more are the splits over resources
and assets and control of the money. Practically
every decision-making board is stacked with business
people. We have forced our practices and attitudes
and strategies on the clergy more often than they
have influenced us.Can there be any doubt that the Christian churches
in America are more like businesses than the Christian
businesses are like churches? You can clearly see
who has had more influence if you just step back and
look at who the system resembles most. Who could
argue that the churches have become corporations
with a board of directors and a CEO and turned their
focus to efficiency and demographic targeting and
marketing and outside consultants and revenue
generation? We have leaned on our own
understanding and directed our own paths. And,
sadly, since you – the clergy – didn’t originally learn
this in seminary (although you probably do now!), we
have to come to the conclusion that we (the
business people) forced this on you – whether we
intended to or not.We patted you on the back on Sunday when the
budget was balanced and encouraged you to keep
preaching soft and fluffy. When we were pleased
with you we took you to play golf with us and ride in
our new car. We frowned at you when you preached
about extravagant giving to the poor or opening our
doors to those who have nothing – because they’re a
drain and don’t pay their own way and just put more
pressure on us. When you insisted it was
from the Lord and wouldn’t back down, we reminded
you that we paid for the new building and we would
take our money and go somewhere else. Or we just
fired you.But the end result was that we’ve raised up a
generation of clergy that mostly tickle our ears and
conform to the world. And I’m really sorry for my part
in that. I know it’s not all your fault. We’re consumers
and we paid to have it this way. Anybody that didn’t
want to play along, we financially starved out of the
system. All you have to do is follow the money. No
pastor in America paid for the million dollar chandelier
in his sanctuary or the two million dollar Jumbotron or
the new gym or whatever. It was the business people
that did it. We’re the ones that understand efficiency
and output and Return On Investment. We’re the
ones that should have been asking, “How much
treasure in heaven do we get per dollar we’re
spending on this project?” That one question might
have straightened this out. Widow/orphan or new
chandelier? Hmmmm.In the book of Acts, the Christians occasionally sold a
piece of land and shared with each other as they had
a need. But there’s no indication that anybody ever
sold their businesses. So what would a New
Testament Business really look like? I bet it would be
a place you could come and pray. I bet it would close
on the Sabbath. I bet it would feed the hungry and
care for the poor. I bet it would be a living sacrifice
to God and that He would direct all of its paths. I bet
it would not conform to the way the “world” would do
business at all! I would like my business (and my
church) to look like that. I’m pretty sure that’s the
way it was supposed to be all along.Anyway, again, I’m really sorry for what I did to you
and to God’s work. And I’m sorry for all the people
that got left behind or marginalized or pushed out
because I thought the strategies for building things
that I had learned from the “world” would benefit
the “church”. Please forgive me and help me to
change. I’ll try to push you toward Christ from now
on and not toward the world. Please help me change.
Please help my business change.For the sake of the hurting sheep, please don’t listen
to me anymore when I blather about worldly stuff.
Just preach the hard things you’re dying to let out
and let the chips fall where they may. God will back
you up, even if He has to crush the business people
to do it. Don’t be scared. You can do this. I really do
love you. I’m sorry.
