I have pondered how it is an elder in Church can make such bad decisions. How can 1/5 of the decision making body be the primary voice and influence? How does one go rogue and nobody notice?
The assumption is the godliness of all the leaders. Scripture lays out the qualifications of an elder. Study is made of the characteristics when it is time to assign or elect elders. However, people who want power do not necessarily reveal their true intentions before they become an elder. Additionally, some men have godly intentions when they begin serving in the capacity of elder, but do not have the discipline to make decisions with Kingdom eyes instead of for good business.
The Church is not a business. A good CEO does not necessarily make a good church leader. Decisions for the church could actually make really bad business sense. For example, we are called to reach out to “the least of these”. Good business would reach out to people with more resources and more to offer the Church. Good business would limit the amount of grace offered, but we are to forgive as we have been forgiven. Good business would spend the least to get the most. The Church sometimes spends when there is no financial gain.
When the purpose of the Church becomes confused with good business, we begin to evaluate with the wrong purpose. Ultimately, the church is to connect people with God. And to help people connect with each other. Neither goal is particularly efficient. And neither goal is profitable on the bottom line of dollars.
A godly leader understands the paradox of the Church to business. He is able to use sound business judgment – but secondarily to the call of Christ. The first criteria is being true to God’s call to care for the least of these.
Just FYI–I don’t think E would make a good CEO either…..unless of course it was for a company in NY.
3 different churches I have worked at criticized me severely for attempting to minister to migrants without knowing if they were illegals or not and for calling to much in trailer courts