by F. L. Anderson
Residential and commercial real-estate owners aren't the only ones losing their properties to foreclosure. The past few years have seen a rapid acceleration in the number of churches losing their sanctuaries because they can't pay the mortgage.
This past weekend I noticed two well known places of worship under foreclosure in and around my community.
Did you know that, "Since 2008, nearly 200 religious facilities have been foreclosed on by banks, up from eight during the previous two years and virtually none in the decade before," according to real-estate services firm CoStar Group, Inc. Analysts and bankers say hundreds of additional churches face financial struggles so severe they could face foreclosure or bankruptcy in the near future.
The purpose of this article is to shine a light on an issue. The issue here is the fact that the Church operates on a secular business model, and has for years. That is to say that a smart business normally, if ever, uses its own money to fund a project.
The modern day organized church is kept in motion and built largely by money. Impressive buildings, big fancy signs, strategic locations, television ads, yellow page ads, radio spots, salaried professionals, fancy suits, fancy cars, fancy homes, expensive audio systems, automatic retractable video screens, and million dollar family recreation centers. To manage it all, it takes massive amounts of cash and a lot of uninformed church members.
Like a business, to fund these projects, Churches in America borrow the money from the bank sometimes incurring high interest and debt. This debt, along with the interest, is passed to the consumer.
I want you to read the following very carefully.
In the case of most churches, these sometimes multi-million dollar loans, or the cost of building these idols and golden calfs, is passed to the members or attendees of the "church". In other words, you are paying the loan with interest. Just a couple of centuries ago this would have been called, a Church tax. However, church leaders for decades have been successful with mixing (Law and Grace) and now call it tithe and offering. Now, you know why so many "church leaders" are constantly bribing, begging and pimping its members and fans for more money. Somebody has to pay off the loan. (deacons and church administrators know what I say is true)
I want you to read the following very carefully.
In the case of most churches, these sometimes multi-million dollar loans, or the cost of building these idols and golden calfs, is passed to the members or attendees of the "church". In other words, you are paying the loan with interest. Just a couple of centuries ago this would have been called, a Church tax. However, church leaders for decades have been successful with mixing (Law and Grace) and now call it tithe and offering. Now, you know why so many "church leaders" are constantly bribing, begging and pimping its members and fans for more money. Somebody has to pay off the loan. (deacons and church administrators know what I say is true)
The early New Testament church operated differently. It ran on power. It ran on passion. They survived because they understood and taught as Jesus taught them, that they were the Church, not a building.
How is this possible, and why does the Church as a whole participate in such deception?
Every CEO knows that large, impressive buildings attract people. They also give the illusion that the Spirit of the Lord lives there. If we were honest, many of us attend or, at one time, attended these golden calfs for this very reason.
Every CEO knows that large, impressive buildings attract people. They also give the illusion that the Spirit of the Lord lives there. If we were honest, many of us attend or, at one time, attended these golden calfs for this very reason.
These idols we call churches, with their polished granite countertops, expensive lobbies, and marble floors are fancy for a reason. They provide the atmosphere of wealth, so that there is the feeling of security. Let's be honest. How many of you would still come if you didn't have all of the extras. No paid professional to bring the music. No nurseries, date night, pizza parties and youth groups. Without all the trappings, without the pomp and show, who would attend?
Should this bother you?
What the church has done and, what the church continues to do, is follow and hire CEO's rather than pastors. The church has elected to "have church" rather than be the church. Like the people of Israel, the American church would rather have its golden calf (the building) as its god, rather than Jesus. Its marketing campaigns, committees, budget analysis, secretaries, building administrative duties... Oh My! What a business it has become.
