I am a bi-vocational pastor, which means I have another job outside of my pastoral ministry. I have been working in the corporate world for quite a while now, and I have a pretty good understanding of how it functions.

Lately, however, something has started to concern me deeply — how much corporate and business practice has crept into the church.

When Church Starts Looking Like a Corporation

Churches today can feel like they are trying to sell a product. If you want to join our church, we offer this program and that service. Pastors can begin to act more like businessmen who market religious goods. Church life becomes centered around programs, services, and branding.

You have to build your church platform on social media. Pastors are expected to build their personal platforms and grow followers. If a church has a large online presence, it is considered successful. If a pastor has a large audience, he is seen as influential and effective.

Ministry success is now often defined by numbers — just like in the corporate world.

The Biblical Simplicity We’ve Lost

But what happened to the biblical simplicity we see in the Book of Acts?

Scripture paints a very different picture of the church:

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
— Acts 2:42

The early church was not built on marketing strategies, but on doctrine, fellowship, prayer, and shared life.

The Church Is About Relationships

The church is not about programs and numbers — although those things are not wrong in themselves. The church is about relationships in which we grow spiritually together.

Christian history shows us that what influenced the pagan Roman world was not impressive numbers or successful programs, but how Christians treated one another.

As Tertullian recorded the words of pagan observers: “See how they love one another.”

Their love, unity, and sacrificial care became the church’s greatest apologetic and influence.

As Christ said:

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
— John 13:35

Shepherds, Not CEOs

Pastoral ministry was never meant to be about building a brand, but about shepherding souls:

“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly.” — 1 Peter 5:2

A successful pastor is not the one who leads the biggest “company” or the most visible church, nor the one with the greatest online influence. A successful pastor is the one who is faithful to his calling.

As the apostle Paul wrote:

“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” — 1 Corinthians 4:2

Faithfulness — not fame — is God’s measure of success.

As Dallas Willard once wrote:

“The main thing God gets out of your life is not the achievements you accomplish. It’s the person you become.”

Whether his church is large or small, popular or hidden, the pastor’s calling remains the same: preach the Word, love the people, and shepherd the flock.

I want to be this kind of pastor…

Not a businessman.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to be that kind of pastor.

Faithful to Your Word.

Loving toward Your people.

Not proud and arrogant, but humble in heart.

And true to my calling — no matter the size, the recognition, or the results.