TPV Reloaded:Business vs Ministry Part 2

Business vs Ministry: What the difference? A business sells a product and makes a profit. A ministry serves a function that cannot be done at a profit. One of the keys to detecting a business being disguised as a ministry is to see how the funds are generated. If this group uses "buzz words" to gain an entry, beware. The following are some of the buzz words. "I would like to come by and share our ministry." This is a common phrase of buzz words. If the business offers a legitimate product or service, it ought to stand on its own merit. It should not require a spiritual endorsement to get in the door. "Pastor, we have something that will help your people." When a group orients its sales pitch to pastors, be on guard. If it’s a product for pastors or a program for the local church, pastors are the group to call on. However, if it’s a product, diet plan, insurance, wills/trusts, or gold mines, and it is directed toward pastors, be aware that the group is trying to ride in on his credibility. Unfortunately, since many pastors are not well paid, they also fall into the finder’s-fee trap. Often the group will offer the pastor a fee for anyone he recommends who buys the products. There are many pastors who have lost their personal credibility by recommending a company to their people. "You can help other Christians." Without a doubt this is the real clincher in fleecing the flock. If a company can convince its salespeople that the end result of their efforts is to help others, the methods can be justified. It’s the old "the end justifies the means" syndrome. In other words, you’re not really hurting them; after all, it’s for their own good. Matthew 21:12 describes the event when Christ ran the moneychangers out of the temple. Why did He do that when obviously they were meeting a need of the people who were coming to the temple to worship? The law gave the Jews the right to sell an animal designated for sacrifice if they had a long journey, then they could use the money to