“It comes as a shock to some church members that you cannot manage a local church the same way you run a business.  This does not mean we should not follow good business principles, but the operation is totally different.  There is a wisdom of this world that works for the world, but it will not work for the church.

“The world depends on promotion, prestige, and the influence of money and important people.  The church depends on prayer, the power of the Spirit, humility, sacrifice, and service.  The church that imitates the world may seem to succeed in time, but it will turn to ashes in eternity.  The church in the Book of Acts had none of the ‘secrets of success’ that seem to be important today.  They owned no property; they had no influence in government; they had no treasury (‘Silver and gold have I none,’ said Peter); their leaders were ordinary men without special education in the accepted schools; they held no attendance contests; they brought in no celebrities; and yet they turned the world upside down!

“God has a plan for each local church (Phil. 2:12-13).  Each pastor and church leader must seek the mind of God for His wisdom. . . .  Though the church must be identified with the needs of the world, it must not imitate the wisdom of the world.”

(Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 1, Colorado Springs: Victor Books, 1989, p. 581).