“Find out what way 90% of the Church is going and go the opposite direction, and by default, you’ll be going in the right direction.”

I heard that spoken a few years ago and as I looked at what I see in churches, from Christians, and in the rest of the world, I can verify that this statement is accurate much of the time, when applied to a large variety of topics.

With that said, let me now say the church is not a business.

Yes, there are certain principles from business that can be used by the church. However, the church is not a business and should never be treated as such. However, if you must think of it as such, God, Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit are all the CEO, the owner, the board of directors, and anything else that would be compatible to the boss.

There is a way of doing things that seems to be lost by many in the church that just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. Just because the pastor is at the head of the church every time there’s a service, that does not mean he has the final say- God does!

What does that mean?

That means unlike the pastor, nor the church board, or deacons, or the biggest tithers determine what should be done in the church – God does. That means just because it seems like a good idea,that doesn’t make it a God idea. Just because it will get a lot of people into the church, does not mean it was God’s idea and it will keep a lot of souled out believers in the church.

Just because it’s man’s plan does not mean it’s God’s plan. And unless it’s God’s plan, then you are just flipping a coin on how unsuccessful it will be. Yes, you may have some success, you may reach some people. That’s called grace. But you will also be the one to pay for it because it was your plan.

When we seek God and get His plans and put them into action how He says so, then He can bless it will all the way and He’ll pay for it. Yes, God can bless things to an extent, but not to the fullest like when we have His plan and carry it out.

That’s where the Pastor comes in. He’s the one who God has put as the earthly head of the church and must seek God and get His plan and carry it out as He says.

This includes what messages to preach, what to say at certain times, what direction to take the church, and what things to do and not do technology-wise. Again, just because you can do something does not mean you should.

So, before you have a website built, even if every other church does so, make sure God wants you to. Make sure it’s God’s will that you live stream your services, that you clutter up your services with graphics and videos. Yes, I said clutter.

Many churches do things because it’s the trend or it was successful for that church or this guy wrote a book and it sold a million copies. Who cares! Care what God thinks.

Yes, not on every little thing will we have to ask if it is God’s will. He trusts us. We can choose whether to wear the blue shirt or the black shirt this Tuesday. But some things we definitely need to seek God’s wisdom and guidance on. I know a preacher who God specifically told to get on Facebook and “be a voice” for Him. Too many people were posting about what they ate and liking this and that and too few trying to be “human” while compromising the opportunity to get the truth out to a wide audience. I know ministers who refuse to  use any scripture or anything Bible or Christ related in Facebook because they want people to see them and personable and relatable. “If you want to hear scripture and a message,” they say, “come to church on Sunday.”

I know another minister who is against live streaming many of his preaching services because the messages are for those who will make the sacrifice to get there (believing in faith for God to provide a way) and because the anointing at the service, which gives power to the message and the whole service, is something that you just need to be there for. This was not done because they are totally against these things, but because God directed it as so. Many people disagree with this and have all sorts of rebuttals and unkind words for them, but if you look where this minister is spiritually and where the people are that disagree with them are spiritually, the truth is usually quite clear.

So am I saying you should do anything without praying? No! I am saying that the church is not a business and should not be run as such. It should be ran as a church and that means finding God’s plan for it, just as Moses did, just as Joshua did, just as Paul did, and just as Jesus did, and do that.