Saturday, November 19, 2005

The Shepherds on trial (Part One)

It's funny when AGMs in church are run like AGMs for business enterprises. Instead of bringing more of the church into the world, we are bringing more of the world into the church & expect it to work like a breeze.

God's business cannot be governed by the business model of man. God's business is in winning souls, not deals; in loving our neighbours, not beggaring them; in giving, not hoarding. The world and even governments are inherently in the business of creating & accumulating wealth, and in racing ahead of others, What's the difference? Behind the capitalism, elitism, and all the 'isms of today's world is something called "covetedness". It is what drives the economy, it is what makes people & companies perform, it is what makes the world goes round. When covetedness is at the centre of the entire system, there is little wonder that we need all the complex checks & balances put in place because without them, the natural impulse to covet will almost always lead to selfish abuse and exploitation at the expense of others. AGMs, like the law, are probably given because this world is fallen and needs to function within this framework.

Think about this:

- In companies, shareholders are "stakeholders" who "invest" in the companies in expectation of monetary returns. They are entitled/empowered to appoint only the best people out there to run the businesses well so as to achieve what they want.

- In churches, the pastors & elders are the executives and board members in God Inc whose corporate mission is to win souls and touch lives. God is always the CEO of His business. He cannot be removed by voting. If members are not satisfied with God's performance, God stays, members leave. If members do not have faith in God's appointed executives and board, the executives and board stay, members leave.

- God's business is governed by faith. Faith is being sure of what we hope for & being certain of what we do not see. Can the world accept this?

- If Moses, David and other God's appointed & anointed servants are subject to people power in deciding whether they keep their jobs & titles or not, just imagine... Moses would have been sacked long time ago for being too soft with the Pharoah, too imcompetent, too un-leaderlike. David would have faced the audit committee for spending too much to prepare for the temple of God, or impeached on immoral grounds. Others would have been shot for misleading people about the blessings of God when they died without a single cent. Or how about those lying apostles who said Jesus is coming "soon" when 2000 years have passed and Jesus still hasn't come back?

- And Jesus himself would have lost his job. Think about His response to the people who criticised the woman for wasting resources equivalent to a year's wages by pouring them on Jesus' feet. By saying that it was to prepare for His burial, what kind of an answer is that? Or when he says to feed the 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fishes. What kind of a budget is that? Certainly not answers that AGMs can swallow. This guy doesn't know maths, does He?

- Sheep, by the way don't appoint shepherds; shepherds are appointed by higher-ups. Sheep just follow. Sheep don't secretly wish that shepherds are kept impoverished while they gobble fresh grass and drink pure water everyday in the safe custody of their shepherds.

I can go on, but just mull over for now. The church needs to be governed by a different system, certainly not something lifted up lock, stock & barrel from the pages of The World for Dummies . It's about time someone asks why the church is attempting to fit herself into the framework of a system that's designed for a completely different mission.

God bless you readers,

Thomas
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