Bad habits are hard to break. Just ask anyone trying to give up using tobacco products. Ask anyone needing to change eating practices. Ask anyone attempting to cut back on playing video games.
Bad habits are hard to break even when it comes to life in the Body of Christ.
One such habit is taking a secular business model and couching it in religious terminology.
Church leaders might say, “We need to grow this church with an evangelism program!” Business professionals say, “We need sales representatives to push our product.”
Church leaders might say, “We need to increase our members’ giving to support our staff and programs.” Professionals say, “We need more paying customers to improve our bottom line.”
Church leaders might say, “We need more programs to attract more people.” Professionals say, “We need a better advertising campaign to expand our customer base.”
A company's CEO has an office. So does a pastor. The pastor’s office used to be called a study, but rarely is it called that anymore, because the congregation often views the pastor as the church's CEO.
When did the Body of Christ start conforming to various ways of the world?
I think it happened when society began to define success by greater membership, income and power given to people in leadership positions.
It is time to break bad habits. The church was not called into being to compete among itself for greater numbers. It was not called into existence to be rich and flashy. It was not called into existence to dumb down the gospel to show how easy being a Christian can be.
The church was called into existence to represent Jesus Christ in every aspect.
Was Jesus flashy? No — quite the opposite. He was humble.
Was Jesus rich? No, he came from humble beginnings.
Was Jesus powerful — at least according to worldly standards? No, he was a person of weakness to the world’s powerful, but powerful in God's eyes.
Did Jesus live an easy life? No, he was beaten, whipped and crucified.
How does your congregation represent Jesus Christ? How do you represent Jesus Christ? What bad habits need to be broken for his love, grace, mercy and peace to shine through?
Imagine what the church would be like if we shunned all bad habits.
The Rev. Mark Broadhead is Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview’s pastor.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FROM THE PULPIT: Let's take the business model out of Christianity