The church is a business.

Whether people like to admit this fact in a practical and rational sense or whether they view it with extreme criticism, the truth is, churches are very much in business.

I know that the thought may make some people cringe because intertwining the concept of a religion, which is meant to be a spiritual uplifting towards God, with something as worldly as the concept of ‘business,’ seems like a crude analysis to make. However, there are a number of parallels between the two. Both the church and any business have operational expenses, staffing concerns, and objectives to be met in order to maintain survival and attain growth. The only real difference between the two worlds is that worldly businesses aim, and should aim, to make a monetary profit, while the motivations of the church is vastly different. The true profit of a church, at least a church that is operating by the right standards, is not a bottom line number that reflects wealth, but rather a profit of people: The Great Commission. A church’s gain is a reflection of its ministry and its life changing impact on the people and, regardless of societal thoughts, business savviness tremendously increases successful ministry.

Salesmanship and Ministry

The cheap-suited, slick backed, smooth talking salesman.

That stereotype parallels with the concept of a money-grubbing prosperity preacher. However, if you ask anyone who has taken a business class what successful sales really entails, you would understand that this stereotype, like many stereotypes, isn’t completely accurate. Gone are the days of the “good ole’ boy” sales method and people are much more sensitive to being used as a means to a financial end. Sales today require, instead, levels of relationship building with a customer. It requires understanding their focus, their needs, their concerns, their buying behaviors. It’s about listening to problems and selling, not just any, but the RIGHT solution just for them.

Ministry requires this same dedication to relationship building. You won’t be successful standing on street corners shouting out biblical verses to cars driving by. You also won’t be successful damning those individuals to the fiery depths for not listening to you. True ministry requires that you partner with people to help them and that you are investing a part of yourself into each individual you reach out to. Whether this is done by a missions’ trip to India or simply by serving meals in homeless shelter it is an investment in the person or people you are trying to share the Gospel with.

The parallel is that both businesses and the church are in the arena of selling solutions to problems and filling the needs of prospects. Businesses aim toward filling the need for commercial products and services, so their time investment is focused on that area of problem solving. The church should aim, and often does aim, to fill a much deeper set of needs in an individual’s life: the need for love, the need for security, the need for acceptance, and the need for understanding.

Final Thoughts

There are a number of parallels and integrations that occur between the business world and the church. Both use CRM systems and practice sales methods. Both must generate leaders who will empower others to make a difference. And despite the negative perceptions that surround the idea of the church being a business and practicing business-like concepts, the fact is that these business functions help the church meet their objectives in a positive and effective manner that help serve the people they are trying to reach.