Church Value Pt. 1: What is A Pastor Worth?

At a time where many church boards and staffs are holding or have held their year end meetings, I thought it'd be interesting to take a look at what the value of a church is in the local and global community.  For the sake of the next few pieces, when I say church, I'm not referring to the Church as described in 1 Corinthians 12:27,  Colossians 1:18, and other places.  I'm referring to the business of church, which would include the sale of what's known as Christianity.  To guide this, I've identified four areas where we can look at various regulation and data to get solid opinions about the church; the value of a pastor, the value of the music department, and the value of the worker, and the value of the congregant or consumer.

With all that, knowing that the pastor is the CEO (and in many cases the owner) of a church business, let's just get right to it...is a pastor worth a six or seven figure salary?

Race Matters: How Christian Movies Create Non-Belief

When The Passion of Jesus Christ hit the theaters I thought Mel Gibson was going to save Christian Hollywood.  Just like most Christian art forms, works about about that time period...arguably the most significant era in the history of the planet, have done a huge disservice to the event and the message that's trying to be portrayed.  I've always thought those movies did more harm than good; but The Passion was supposed to be different.  Graphic depiction of Jesus' trial and crucifixion; check.  Aramaic language throughout the entire film; check.  Jesus' skin tone reflecting the skin tone of first century Jews; ch..., wait, Jesus still looks like an Italian model.  **Sigh**...so close, yet so far.

The Scandalous Relationship Between Politics and the Black Church

Donald Trump thinks that you are dumb.  Not just African-Americans or Hispanics, all of you.  Whoever is reading this right now, Donald Trump thinks you're absolutely stupid.  He believes you're easily controlled.  He feels that he knows all of your triggers and motivations; your desires and needs.  And if you can't be easily controlled then he believes you can be more easily discarded.  In his mind you're a fleeting number whether you vote for him (especially if you vote for him) or not.  And he knows that even if you know all of this you'll get furious...and he's not sure it really matters, because he believes in data.  And whether it's the data that's real or the kind he's imagined, he knows what all the tricks are.  And just when you thought Mr. Trump's ego finally got the best of his circus of a campaign, well, you thought wrong.  Because the reality is there is a slim chance your pastor was one of the dumb people Trump was counting on.

Why Boycotting Should Be a Lifestyle and Not an Event

I think I've got to take a small bit of pride that my personality, flaws and all, have prevented me from jumping on trends.  I didn't feel compelled to dump ice water on myself, I'm not latest-dance-craze guy, and rarely (only because I may have and it escapes my memory right now) get moved to hashtag an alleged tragedy or watercolor my profile pic.  Not attempting to be heartless or drive myself to be the odd one out, but when I spend a couple more minutes thinking about the various causes and the message my participation would send, I usually find out that it doesn't line up with my assigned purpose and that the "awareness" really isn't the answer.  Come to think about it, that's what it is...I'm obsessed with the answer, the solution, and not the struggle.  And while you spent the last 4 or 5 years standing in lines while battling a post-Thanksgiving food coma; praying that you don't have to punch someone or that someone doesn't punch you...over a blender...I've been getting outstanding sleep.  So, congratulations America for finally starting to catch up with me and leave the Black (Thursday) Friday fiasco alone.  Well, some of you.  At any rate, there's another level you should hope to achieve.

Eternal vs. Temporary: When Social Activism Becomes A Distraction

I used to hear a lot of people who were lovers of history or social justice or civil rights, and were not alive during the many movements of the 1960s, talk about how exciting those times must have been.  It's a valid thought; especially knowing that the term 'excitement' can go a few ways.  For example, when I consider the various readings depicting churches with standing room only crowds...squeezed in to hear the messages of liberation, citizenship, and humanity from fearless men of God..I can't help but wonder what that adrenaline surge would feel like.  Of course similar meetings are happening today, but I think the difference is those meetings in those times were the first.  Again, not to lessen today's movements, but there's really nothing like the initial push.  Truly invigorating.  But the other thing that I can't help thinking about is, "all these people in those churches, and that preacher's got everyone's heart in his hands, did anybody get Saved?"