Are churches just businesses?

Question

How many of you think that churches are just businesses? I mean, they pretty much just brainwash you to get your money, if god is real, do you think he wants your money? that just kind of seems silly to me. and about the commercials on tv where they want people to send in their last thousand dollars and claim that "god" will make them rich and make everything better for them? i mean how can people be so ignorant to believe all of this? it is just mind boggling to me.

Answer 1

You are so right. Churches just want to use people to gain power and wealth. They berate others who do not go along with their plans. I wish more people would wake up and smell the coffee here.

Answer 2

I have a problem with church leaders who personalise the church as their own property. Yes, they started it on the scratch preaching in the streets for 10,20 or 30 years but let them know that even if it becomes a GOOD BUSINESS because of large amount of offerings due to the swelling congregation, it in not their business. Let it be God s business. I like churches with strong policies on how church leaders are remunerated whether the offering is big or small. In those churches, the pastors are even transferred, disciplined, promoted etc and with that they stop thinking that the church they serve is their own personal investment. Since church leaders are human bearings just as we are we need to pray for them more than just blaming them. If I got a better job today, paying 10x what I get paid, I would quit my present job and go for the best paying job...because I m in business with my profession....church leaders should pray hard not to get to this kind of trap.

Answer 3

Since my church has always showed proof of where the money goes, no I don't think that ALL churches are run like a business. The last time I check I have never gave my last dollar either so that my kids have gone without. But there are some churches like you see on t.v. that are a business. There are plenty of ways to check out what a church does before giving to one.

Answer 4

Sadly, alot of churches are. A pastor at a church I attended many years ago told me and my wife that "Whether people like it or not, a church is pretty much a business these days". I never went back to any church since. As for the commercial, I haven't seen it, but I would not be surprised. Of course, I watch so little tv these days.

Answer 5

6.18.2006
pat robertson: reverand and thief

Pat Robertson is an American evangelist, author and founder of such organizations as Operation Blessing. He is also host of the Christian television show, the 700 Club. In 1999, the Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs discovered that Operation Blessing is really Operation Fraud. That's because Robertson used his $190 million Virginia based charity to conduct diamond deals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Two of Robertson's pilots disclosed that the planes for Operation Blessing were used mostly to transport mining equipment for Robertson's company, African Development Co. They said that only one or two of the trips they made were for humanitarian purposes.


Robertson was even good friends with Mobutu, the deceased former president of Congo and probably the most corrupt African dictator of all time. More interested in stealing funds from the national treasury than running a country, Mobutu reduced Congo to a lawless, impoverished and dysfunctional society. Despite his indifference towards his own people, he was quick to give Robertson ownership of large diamond areas which the preacher gladly accepted. Unfortunately, Operation Blessing is one of the organizations that FEMA has permited to accept donations for Hurricane Katrina victims.

I don’t think Robertson is the only missionary involved in the exploitation of Congo’s natural resources. The rest just haven’t been caught yet. The next time you write a check to an aid organization like Operation Blessing, think twice. The money might just end up in the pockets of those running the organization.

Answer 6

In a lot of ways, churches are just that, a business. Gullible people are taken in and told things that simply are not true. That said, the Pastor of a church depends on the giving of the people for his living. That is fair since he is on call for their needs, as well as the study that he should be doing to properly guide them in learning what God does want them to know. Does God need your money, no, but the Pastor does for his needs as well as operation of the church. You go to work and expect a wage for your efforts, so why should a Pastor go without an income? If you think he doesn't do anything to earn that pay, follow one around for a week, all 7 days, 24 hours each day, and see what he goes through. You might be surprised at just what they do go through tending to the needs of their congregation.
As for the non-sense of "send me your money for God's answer to your prayers", as you suspect, that is hog wash. God is more than able and willing to answer the prayers of those who do seek Him, and that do believe that He will answer them. The other stuff is foolishness, and those who fall for it don't have the faith they need to begin with for the answer that they seek.

Answer 7

church is all employer and could be taxed as a employer money is the merchandise and utilising brainwashing on the very youthful and then hitting them back because of the fact the age is genuinely as mean as may be. Joel Osteen is an ego maniac that's a money hungry bigot that could desire to be straightforward to make certain with the aid of however the emperor's new outfits is in play here no one desires to confess that joel is a fraud because of the fact they are fearful of being unworthy

Answer 8

Let me explain things to you if I may. The church takes offerings for God because it is God's work that they are doing. They also have to pay the light and water bills, buy food to be available for people in need who will come to the church for help; also churches send out missionaries to other nations and they pay for the missionaries to travel, eat, hotel, whatever they need by necessity as they go about and witness to people.
I cannot speak for the pastors on tv; I do know that their ministries are huge and that they do multiple things to provide for the starving, homeless, put in water wells, etc. in other nations, build orphanages and things like that.
Don't let a few false prophets out to get mega money shame the name of the Lord in your sight. The church is not a business, it is God's own. Isa 58 if you want to read it says what God considers true religion to be.

Answer 9

Ok. first, churches are not businesses or scams (for the most part). And the bible does say to give God ten percent of what you make (your weekly pay). This gives thanks to God, it shows obidence and it helps to pay the pastors and church staff. However, stay away from people who claim giving money to God wil make you rich. IT WONT!! But God will bless your obidence, he may bless you financially, medically, etc... But when a christian tithes/gives they must give not expecting anything in return. They must give happily. The offering isn't all about the money its mainly about following what Christ has commanded. I hope this helps.

Answer 10

I've known enough people in ministry that were barely making a living but they did it becuase they believe the message. God doesn't need your money but he does want your heart. Unfortunately many people hearts are wrapped around money.

Answer 11

It depends on why they're asking for money. Money to keep the church running (lights on, coffee for the coffee hour, to pay the minister) is important. Money for the poor is essential. Any church that ISN'T asking for money for the poor isn't doing its mission (extenuating circumstances of church communities consisting only of those living in poverty excluded, of course-- why ask the poor for money for the poor?).

That being said, everything is a business. It's not necessarily a deceptive one though. Every place has to turn a profit or it will fold. God's work is no different.