George Carlin, master wordsmith, comedian, and commentator on culture, passed away last year at the age of 71. Carlin gained noteriety as well as popularity with his comedy routine, “The Seven Words You can Never Say on Television.” These words are considered to be vulgar and are “bleeped” everytime they are expressed over the airwaves.
Vulgar language also has no place in church. The most vulgar phrase I have ever heard expressed in the church is this one: The church is a business! It is usually expressed by leaders and members of the finance committee. This phrase is obscene to followers of Jesus. The church of Jesus Christ is NOT and will NEVER be a business. If that were the case pastors would be required to have BA’s rather than MDIV degrees.
Here are some differences: Businesses are based on worldly man-made principles; the church of Jesus Christ is based on supernatural Kingdom of God principles. A business cannot afford to take an unnecessary risk; the church cannot afford not to. A business is an organization; the church is a living organism. The bottom line for a business is the dollar sign. The bottom line for the church is changed lives. I could go on, but I think you get the point. Whenever the church is run like a business it becomes a well-oiled machine on the brink of spiritual bankrupty.
I do think pastors could use a year working out in business before leading a church in order to 1) understand what their congregants/volunteers live are like and 2) learn the principles of good organization, discipline, professionalism, budgeting, time management etc. (things that pastors are often notoriously bad at). I know. I married one.