RICO (Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act) laws make it illegal for criminal organizations to profit from any legitimate business operations. If churches in America were investigated for "organizational curruption", I wonder if any of them would be convicted? My gut was wrenched as I watched that poignant moment at the end of Schindler's List when Oscar Schindler became horrified over the realization that greed had blinded him to what he could have done with all the riches he had accumulated or recklessly pissed away on self-serving pleasures. I could not help but think of the countless times I would sit in some church in America where I was hearing about another "building update" ad nausea while I knew of church planters who were struggling just to feed their kids. There's nothing wrong with building beautiful buildings for God's glory. But there is something terribly out-of-place and horrifying when church leaders fail to even ask the question "have our apostles needs been met"? I honestly heard one cohort of "pastors" suggest that erecting a building within 5 years of planting a church should be the ultimate vision of church planting. What??? I just about blew my stack. A day is coming when these castles we've worked so hard to build will someday yield a relic without any foundation. In that day, like Oscar Schindler, the horror of our misplaced affections will arrest us with the RICO Act of God's indictment of "darkened eyes" (Mt.6:23).
Monday, January 5, 2009
RICO Act
RICO (Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act) laws make it illegal for criminal organizations to profit from any legitimate business operations. If churches in America were investigated for "organizational curruption", I wonder if any of them would be convicted? My gut was wrenched as I watched that poignant moment at the end of Schindler's List when Oscar Schindler became horrified over the realization that greed had blinded him to what he could have done with all the riches he had accumulated or recklessly pissed away on self-serving pleasures. I could not help but think of the countless times I would sit in some church in America where I was hearing about another "building update" ad nausea while I knew of church planters who were struggling just to feed their kids. There's nothing wrong with building beautiful buildings for God's glory. But there is something terribly out-of-place and horrifying when church leaders fail to even ask the question "have our apostles needs been met"? I honestly heard one cohort of "pastors" suggest that erecting a building within 5 years of planting a church should be the ultimate vision of church planting. What??? I just about blew my stack. A day is coming when these castles we've worked so hard to build will someday yield a relic without any foundation. In that day, like Oscar Schindler, the horror of our misplaced affections will arrest us with the RICO Act of God's indictment of "darkened eyes" (Mt.6:23).
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