@ken.arrington: #kenarrington The Official Signs Your “Church Family” Is Actually a Business - I get asked a lot how someone knows when a church has crossed the line and started operating like a business. Sadly, every sign below comes from lived experience. The most obvious shift is when pastors function like CEOs. Sermons feel less like proclamation and more like motivational talks, with success measured by how many people shout agreement or how much money and attendance increase the following week. In many cases, the sermon is not even theirs. Entire messages are purchased online, customized with local details, and delivered on schedule. That is not rumor. It is an industry. Worship follows the same pattern. It becomes a performance. The most polished and attractive are platformed. Worship leaders become minor celebrities. Sets are engineered for emotional response. Warm up song. Mid tempo. Emotional pull. Big celebratory close. If a major giving ask is coming, the emotional song gets repositioned. What looks spontaneous is often rehearsed. Time limits are tight. If something genuinely breaks out, there is no room for it. Some churches even plant worshipers in the room to cue engagement because engagement drives giving. People slowly become customers. Numbers become the language of value. Budgets, charts, growth metrics. Sermons are shaped to drive tithes. Churches claim they do not do membership while tracking everything that matters. Other churches become competitors. Evangelism becomes marketing. Discipleship becomes a checklist or a class tied to that institution. Leadership pipelines function like volunteer employment programs. Revival is reduced to ticketed events and fundraising weekends. Jesus becomes a product. Care for the poor only happens if it photographs well. Community involvement only matters if it builds the brand. Meanwhile, resources flow to production, gear, and expansion. I have heard Nehemiah used to justify buying subwoofers. That story is real. When the church becomes a business, the bride becomes a brand. And a body that is bought and sold…well… isn’t that the very definition of a …

Taytay :

what about the coffee shop in the front?

CoachP :

Don’t forget about the merch shop

Katie Little :

I was the treasurer at my small church of 20 people, and the elderly couple, who was one of our biggest tithers, the wife had got sick and they weren't able to tithe or they forgot to with everything going on, and the pastor went to their house and questioned them and made them put in their tithe.

whodatroux :

I AM SO GLAD TO BE CATHOLIC!

squirrelly007 :

the top is what my childhood church looked like and the bottom is what it looks like now🙏

musicnurse :

Someguyinco :

A good source is the ARC Churches website. They have a church finder function. Not all franchise churches are ARC churches, but I’d venture to say that all ARC churches are franchise churches.

☭⃠ MRnobody2022🇺🇦 ☭⃠ :

I knew my church wasn’t but watching this video makes me realize how lucky I am to have the church I do

l e Kinzie :

There's a documentary The Religion Business on Amazon - excellent

Fromtheashesofabrokenlife :

I was horrified to learn that the pastor at one of my previous churches was using “bought” sermons. I’m so glad to have found an authentic church now!

TheyCalledMeJerryBerry :

At my previous church, the youth pastor is the senior pastor’s son in law and the principal (“Administrator”) is the senior pastor’s nephew in law. The Mission’s secretary is the senior pastor’s wife, the music teacher at the school is his daughter (she would probably be the worship leader had she been male). The major mission/program the church supports was supported and led by the senior pastor’s brother in law. The former outreach pastor (who is going on the mission field) is also a nephew in law…I see a pattern.

Jennefer :

That’s every church I’ve ever been to.

Julie 🇨🇦 :

Theatre style seating and not the cheap theatre either.

gc36049 :

Just got the year end email for the big financial push to meet year end financial goals. Multiple text follow ups as well. Am I wrong to question?

Jan :

One thing that would raise red flags for me is if I wanted to become a member and they needed access to my bank account for “tithing” in order to join.

KristuferJ :

I dont care about the business i care if lives are being changes

Fawnduh :

This is so good, Ken! 👏🤌 A couple of those things low key triggered me...tough memories that are, thankfully, in the past! 🙌🥰🔥

71 Gen X guy :

your videos on churches being a business is very interesting. I am using your videos towards the church I attend. Overall, where i attending is a good church. It's not perfect, but it's not like some that only care about the money instead of preaching Christ.

dean4chutel :

Will :

Wow, this is really eye opening - thanks. I’m so thankful to be Anglican.

susanjohnson280 :

Years ago my husband went to our church board about starting a prison ministry but was told they didn't have the time, interest, or money for that. He did work with another organization in getting a ministry started. He wrote a couple of grants for them that got them the money they needed to get the program up and running.

Danny Boy :

Seems like you’re gonna talk about everything in another video. Should we wait till next Sunday?

Jyork :

Life church Cookeville Tennessee is exactly this. Literally a franchise too with multiple locations.

Susie Lee Clark :

I’m always being watched.. lol.

ellyw623 :

My grandpa was in the hospital dying and his pastor came to visit while my family was there. The pastor stands up in front of my family and says that my grandpa had promised a donation for the church baptismal and asked if anyone would cover his share