Networking is defined as the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts. In and of itself, networking is not a bad thing. Networking can involve like-minded believers to interact around the Word of God and spiritually grow. It can involve exchanging practical applications of scripture in a way that challenges other believers. But it can also be using the church body to further one’s business or career. It can involve using the Lord’s church to advance a secular cause- no matter how just. Politicians use their church affiliation to gain votes. Deacons use their church to increase their business. Sunday school teachers use their church to expand their notoriety. Pastors use their church to advance their ministerial career. Those motives are selfish and covetous. How does the discerning believer spot those who are using the Lord’s church just to further their temporal goals? Here is ole Ernest Lee’s list of attributes of those who wrongly use the church for networking :
(1) Unfaithfulness. When lay leaders(Deacons, Sunday School teachers) are careless about their attendance for church services, they are probably not in it for the right motive.
(2) Shallowness. When lay leaders(Deacons, Sunday School teachers) show little interest in God’s Word and have little knowledge of fundamental theological truths, then they are probably not in it for the right motive.
(3) Smugness. When lay leaders(Deacons, Sunday School teachers) are not friendly, welcoming and hospitable, and are selective with their associations at church, then they are probably not in it for the right motive.
(4) Self-promoting. When lay leaders(Deacons, Sunday School teachers) are only interested in positions and jobs that are high profile and brings their attention and praise, then they are probably not in it for the right motive.
The Bible records two instances of Jesus dealing with money changers and those selling sacrificial animals. Jesus’ first encounter with them was in John 2:14-16. He made a whip of cords and drove them out. The second time He confronted the money changers was in Matthew 21:13- the week before His trial and crucifixion. Seeing that the money changers had come back, He again drove them out, saying, “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’
Because Jewish law required a temple tax of a half-shekel, Jews and visitors from other nations came to pay their taxes when they offered their sacrifices. But foreign coins with the likeness of pagan emperors were not accepted in God’s temple. The money changers exchanged those foreign coins for Jewish money, but they did so at an exorbitant profit. Rather than provide this service as a business in another part of town, they did their business on temple grounds. Because they determined their own exchange rate, money changers easily took advantage of the poor and the foreigners pouring into Jerusalem for Passover.
The networking types at church who misuse the Lord’s church for a secular/temporal purpose are not as blatant as the money changers, but their heart/motive is the same- to further themselves and to ignore those at church who can’t further their goals. Their narcissistic, grandiose, exaggerated self important attitude hurts the cause of the Gospel.
The way ole Ernest sees it- networking at church is great if it furthers the spread and cause of the Gospel. It’s bad when it is done to further anything other than that. The mission/purpose of the church is the Gospel!
Ernest Lee Contendin 