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The Other Scandal

Orginally published on Monday, January 08, 2007 at 7:15 AM
by Earl Creps

At brunch a couple weeks ago “James” and I were lamenting the moral failure of yet another leader in the evangelical community. “Brad,” a mutual friend of ours had recently moved out of our town to work for this high profile leader. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, realizing the dream of working with a network of well-known youth events. The moral scandal was devastating to everyone involved. But our conversation surfaced something else. Shortly before the announcement of the leader’s sexual faithlessness, he had been traveling the country promoting a certain ministry for young people. Brad reports that the TiVo people made their jet available for the tour in exchange for making mention of TiVo twice in every presentation.

Now, I cannot prove that this arrangement was in place, although I trust the person who claims to know of it first-hand. What bothers me is that I don’t find it at all hard to believe that the deal was stuck. We are all familiar with companies like Chevrolet sponsoring , for examples.

I wonder what’s coming next? Diet Pepsi cans showing up as product placement in scenes from the films. Gaither videos sponsored by Rogain? Megachurches, like football stadiums, renamed after corporations (e.g., Tostitos First Assembly of God, or Staples Fellowship Baptist Church)? Plexiglass pulpits adorned with Nike swoosh logos in exchange for financial considerations?

There is no question that the private sector can make huge assets available for ministry. The problem is what we will have to surrender in return. The other problem is the extent to which our ministries take on the look and feel of corporations. Taking in their funding, we will imbibe their values.

Isn’t the idea for us to influence them? If the trend toward corporate partnerships continues, the business world could become the new money changers in our temple, and the American church could morph into not much more than a marketing asset, a Christian version of the Super Bowl half-time show.

That is the other scandal.

For Discussion:
1. Do I need to lighten up here? Are there big advantages to corporate partnerships that outweigh these risks?

2. If we forego sponsorship funding, where do the resources for ministry come from? What are the altenatives?

About the Author:  has spent several years visiting congregations that are attempting to engage emerging culture. He directs doctoral studies for the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri (http://www.agts.edu).  Earl and his wife Janet have pastored three churches, one Boomer, one Builder, and one GenX. He speaks, trains, and consults with ministries around the country. Earl’s book, Off-Road Disciplines: Spiritual Adventures of Missional Leaders, was published by Jossey-Bass/Leadership Network in 2006. Connect with Earl at http://www.earlcreps.com .

 

 


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  There are 15 Comments:

  • Posted by Jerry

    Just another example of our consumerism sellout.

    Money doesnt make ministry happen.

    The Spirit does.

  • Posted by

    I don’t think you need to lighten up, although the chevrolet sponsorship of the Third Day tour didn’t seem to affect anything except some pre-concert slide show displays. They played the same concert and said the same things they would have otherwise.

    So… sometimes it’s a big deal and sometimes maybe it isn’t? I guess we need to just use discernment…

  • Posted by kent

    Well here is thought, why does ministry havet o carry a high price tag? If house churches are the rise and other ministries are needing to cut back, when does the funding requirements impede ministry?

    Is begger always better?

  • Posted by

    I always wondered about this with our church.  People asked about getting sponsors for our Upward games.  Wouldn’t sponsorship of your church event affect tax status?  I’m not hip on such things....

  • Posted by Brian La Croix

    Not sure you need to lighten up.

    It’s true that the Spirit makes ministry happen.  However, the gas station (fuel station for the jet...), the electric company, and the grocery store don’t give a rip that you are in ministry and so they want MONEY for their goods and services.

    I see nothing wrong with using a corporate jet as long as there were no immoral or unethical strings attached.

    Should the church hire non-Christian insurance carriers (if they offer a better premium)?  Why not?  The issue here isn’t an “unholy alliance,” but rather the simple fact that ministry costs money, and we should try to be the best stewards we can.  That doesn’t always mean going with the cheapest price, it means getting the biggest reward for the cost without sacrificing allegiance to Christ.

    As for what to do if corporate sponsorships were to dry up, the answer may seem simplistic, but here it is: the same places we got it before - the people of God.

    Brian

  • Posted by

    Buying goods and services should also be dealt with discernment if it could possibly lead to compromise (building loan for example).  The issue I have is how is God’s glory revealed if secular funding is required.  I don’t recall Paul going back to his wealthy Jewish friends-turned-enemies to ask for funding.  And although some can see that it doesn’t matter in most situations and that the concert went on ok, I bet it wouldn’t happen again if something on stage was said about Christianity’s belief that homosexuality is a sin.  This is where the comporomise happens.  So we justify an event or a ministry because we claim we aren’t going to mention that or our focus isn’t about that, etc.  But is that for us to determine and limit what God might want said if we had such a forum?  Lastly, you steal the opportunity from the people of God to be able to support such ministry and ultimately lower God’s glory.  God’s glory isn’t just in the results but also in how you got there.

  • Posted by

    Ministry was never meant to be subsidized by Corporate anything. It is a well known fact that the majority of those who attend church or call themselves Christian do not regularly give or tithe any part of their income. If they did, there would never be a shortage of funds for the work of the ministry. The question we need to ask is why don’t our church members give? When looking at the bible passages that deal with the New Testament Church we see that they not only gave but also were willing to give sacrificially. There is something missing in our congregations that the Early Church had and I believe what is missing today is true conversion. We the leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ have lost our way and have failed to maintain a personal relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Without this relationship or true conversion, the gospel is only head knowledge similar to what the Sadducees and Pharisees taught, a religion made up of men’s rules devoid of the Spirit of God. If we are to see revival, we must be honest with ourselves and be willing to pay the price of true fellowship with God. In the world that we live in, we are expected to compromise in order to function and it is our fear of man that has led us into this form of weak and passive Christianity. There is hope for God has promised that the Church shall be triumphant and I know that even now He is at work in the hearts of men and women, young and old revealing himself to them and transforming their lives into true disciples willing to trust God even unto death. When we the church of Jesus Christ once again renew our commitment and relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord the anointing of the Spirit of God will come upon us and transform us into his likeness. This type of renewal, true revival, only comes if the individual is willing to pay the price of walking with Jesus and all the consequences of joy and sorrow that a relationship of this type will bring while in this world. We must pray for courage and seek the Lord diligently with all our hearts and then our way will prosper. A person must know personally who Christ is and what he has done for us personally before we are willing to give Him everything.
    May God continue to guide us as we seek him with all our hearts.

    Daniel

  • Posted by Nathan Mikoski

    Money is a tool. You can not worship God and money but I don’t see why we should be afraid of money either. We don’t wear “Christian” pants, live in “Christian” houses or drink “Christian” soda. Our battle is with Satan, not with the prisoners of war (i.e., unsaved) I wonder if we as Christians come off as militant for no reason or the wrong reasons. As long as we DO NOT compromise our stand for Jesus I am not sure that avoiding secular sources of funding is necessary or even beneficial. Maybe I am being naive.

  • Posted by Nathan Mikoski

    Also, I think Daniel is very right about the lack of giving among those who call themselves Christian.

  • Posted by Snoop

    This is kinda scary stuff, and I wonder where it ends… in the back of my head there is a fear of ###### sponsoring the next Billy Graham Crusade…

  • Posted by Snoop
  • Posted by

    Well, now that Slice is not available, it’s good that other people are pointing out some of the sellouts taking place among evangelicals.

  • Posted by

    Nathan, I don’t think anybody is saying that we are afraid of money.  In fact just the opposite - that it comes from the Body of Christ.  Additionally, as God uses us in the battle, Satan uses the unsaved.  If you don’t think so then look at the examples of the Old Testament (Isreal used by God to take on their enemies) and the New Testament (Jesus confronting corrupted Judaism).  Are there any who can be captured without injury.  You bet!

    I was a part of one church (http://www.abchurch.org) that one Sunday taught on the parable of the talents.  They knew God wanted them to start some significant ministries.  They then proceeded to give out $20,000 of the churches money to the members so that we could multiply the money back.  God did some amazing things with that and believers were very resourceful in that pursuit (some even started businesses).  Now this was some leadership who had some faith.  Who in today’s world gives the money back to those who gave?

  • Posted by

    From what I understand only 3% or so of Christians tithe. If that’s true then why is it bad to be creative to raise funds in order to share the gospel. I am a church planter so raising funds in a creative manner appeals to me. I dont want to give people an excuse not to tithe but bills need to be paid right?  I do not know the details of this particular arrangement or how it was promoted but I dont see how the sermon was compromised by mentioning TiVo. I wouldn’t have any problem with TiVo paying my churches mortgage this month in exchange for me telling my folks about their generosity. I think God needs more entrepreneural ministers...who do not compromise the message of the gospel mind you.

  • Posted by

    Does God get the glory?  How can we preach that God wants people to work for their living when the church can’t be self-sufficient?  If God has directed you to do a certain ministry then He will fullfill His promise by providing.  The problem comes in that most church leaders think God has directed them and He really hasn’t.  Why be dependent on secular funds even if at the moment there seems to be no compromise?  Do we know if TiVo supports efforts that are negating the gospel we think we are promoting with their funds?  Why do we think we are due constant income?  Are we insecure to what God is doing “dynamically” in the church?  If a pastor is treating it like a job and not a calling or if we are dependent on a mortgage it is very easy to get into this mentality.  Lastly, giving is not just measured in $.

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