"It's my church." "My congregation." "My members." "My ministry."
How many times have you heard a pastor talk this way? As if the church were his private property. As if the members were his employees. As if the building, the money, and the decisions belonged to him personally.
This mentality is everywhere. And it's biblically wrong. Completely wrong.
The church doesn't belong to the pastor. It doesn't belong to his family. It doesn't even belong to the members.
The church belongs to Jesus Christ. Period.
What the Bible says clearly
Matthew 16:18- "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rockI will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
MY church, says Jesus. Not "your church, Peter." Not "the apostles' church."MY church.
Jesus is the founder. The owner. The head. Everything else is just temporary stewardship.
Ephesians 5:23- "For the husband is head of the wife, as alsoChrist is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body."
Christ is THE head. Not A head among others. THE unique and absolute head. Pastors are under-shepherds. Stewards, not owners.
Acts 20:28- "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherdthe church of Godwhich He purchased with His own blood."
The church OF GOD. Purchased with HIS blood. Not the pastor's blood. Not the members' money. Christ's blood.
If you paid for something with your own blood, it's yours. Christ paid for the Church with His blood. It's His.
The pastor is not a CEO
Many pastors behave like company CEOs. They make all decisions unilaterally. They refuse accountability. They consider the church's money as their personal salary to manage freely. They hire and fire at their pleasure. They treat the church as their personal business.
This is spiritual abuse.
The pastor is a shepherd, not an owner
1 Peter 5:2-3- "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."
Peter is clear:
- You shepherd the flockof God, not yours
- Not for money
- Not as lords- you're not dictators
- You'reexamples, not bosses
The shepherd serves the flock. He doesn't own the flock. He guards it on behalf of the true owner.
The pastor is accountable
Hebrews 13:17- "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, forthey watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you."
They mustgive account. To whom? To God first, but also to elders, deacons, and the church to some extent.
A pastor who refuses all accountability is dangerous. A pastor who says "I'm accountable to no one" has already left the biblical model.
The church doesn't belong to the members either
"But if it doesn't belong to the pastor, then it belongs to the members, right?"
No. The church is not a democracy where the majority decides. Members are not collective owners who can do whatever they want.
1 Corinthians 3:9- "For we are God's fellow workers;you are God's field, you are God's building."
You are the buildingof God. Not your building that you manage as you please.
Members are stewards, not owners
Every Christian in the church is a steward. We manage together something that belongs to Christ. We have responsibilities, gifts to exercise, decisions to make collectively under the elders' direction.
But ownership? No.
How the church should be governed biblically
1. Plurality of elders
Acts 14:23- "So when they had appointedeldersin every church."
Titus 1:5- "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, andappoint eldersin every city as I commanded you."
Elders.Plural.Not one man who decides everything. A team of mature men who lead together, hold each other accountable, make important decisions collectively.
The biblical model is not a single pastor-king who reigns unchallenged. It's a team of elders who lead together under Christ's authority.
2. Deacons to serve
Acts 6:1-6tells how the apostles established seven men to manage practical needs. They didn't want to control everything. They delegated.
Deacons serve. They manage practical aspects. They assist the elders. They're not subordinate to "the pastor's whim." They have a legitimate role in church life.
3. Financial transparency
2 Corinthians 8:20-21- "Avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us—providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men."
Paul managed money with transparencybefore men, not just before God.
Church money must be managed transparently. Members have the right to know how their money is used. Not every detail of the pastor's private life, but broad budget lines should be clear.
A pastor who refuses all financial transparency is probably hiding something.
4. Collegial decisions for important matters
Acts 15recounts the Jerusalem Council. The apostles and elders metwith the whole churchto make an important decision.
Major decisions (property sale/purchase, doctrinal changes, staff hiring, annual budget) shouldn't be made by one man. They should involve the elders at minimum, and often the entire church.
Signs that a pastor considers himself owner
He makes all decisions alone
He hires, fires, spends, changes, without consulting anyone. The elders (if they exist) are puppets who approve everything he says.
He refuses accountability
"I'm only accountable to God." "No one has the right to question my decisions." "Touch not my anointed."
Galatians 6:1- "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness."
Pastors are not above discipline and correction. They're more accountable, not less, because of their position (James 3:1).
He controls money without transparency
You don't know how much he earns. You don't know where the money goes. When you ask questions, he gets angry or accuses you of lacking faith.
He treats the church as his family inheritance
His son will automatically replace him. His wife has a leadership role without qualifications. His family receives financial privileges or positions no one else gets.
1 Timothy 3gives qualifications for elders and deacons. Being the pastor's son isn't one of them.
He uses "my church," "my members," "my ministry"
This language reveals the heart. He considers himself owner.
Consequences of the ownership mentality
Spiritual abuse
When a pastor believes he's owner, he abuses his power. He manipulates. He controls. He crushes those who question him. He uses spiritual guilt to maintain his position.
Financial waste
Without financial accountability, money disappears. Inflated salaries. Personal expenses on the church budget. Excessive "honorariums." Unjustified luxury.
Meanwhile, the church's real needs and the poor are neglected.
Spiritual stagnation
A church governed by one man stagnates. There's only one vision, one perspective, one leadership style. Others' gifts are suffocated. The diversity of Christ's body is ignored.
1 Corinthians 12teaches that the body has several members with different functions. A "pastor-king" church ignores this reality.
Division and departure
Spiritually mature people see the problem and leave. Those who remain are either too young in faith to discern, or those who benefit from the system.
The church becomes a personality cult instead of a Christ-centered community.
What you must do
If you're a member of a church where the pastor behaves as owner
Pray first.Don't react in anger. Pray for discernment, wisdom, and love.
Speak respectfully.If you have a relationship with the pastor, speak to him directly and respectfully about your concerns. Maybe he doesn't realize his error.
Involve the elders.If there are legitimate elders (not just "yes-men"), speak to them. It's their role to confront and correct if necessary.
Document the abuses.If financial or spiritual abuses occur, document them. Not to attack, but to protect the church.
Be ready to leave.If the pastor refuses to change and the elders do nothing, you may need to leave. Don't support an abusive system with your presence and money.
Don't destroy on your way out.Don't create unnecessary division. Leave with dignity. Let God judge.
If you're a pastor
Stop saying "my church."It's Christ's church. Change your language. It will change your heart.
Establish a real team of elders.Men who can tell you no. Men to whom you're truly accountable. Not puppets.
Be financially transparent.Publish the budget. Explain salaries. Show where the money goes. You have nothing to hide if you manage well.
Delegate and trust.You can't do everything. God gave gifts to others. Let them serve.
Remember you will give account.One day you'll stand before Christ and answer for how you managed His church. Not yours. His.
James 3:1- "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing thatwe shall receive a stricter judgment."
The biblical model is beautiful
When a church functions according to the biblical model, it's magnificent:
A team of elderswho consult each other, pray together, make wise decisions collectively.
Deaconswho serve faithfully in practical tasks.
Memberswho exercise their gifts, participate in church life, give generously, pray actively.
A lead pastor/elderwho preaches the Word, leads with humility, submits to accountability, serves rather than dominates.
Transparency,mutual love,shared vision,collegial decisions.
And at the center of everything:JESUS CHRIST, the true owner, the true head, the true Lord of His Church.
The final message
The church is not private property. It's not a family business. It's not a spiritual dictatorship.
The church is the body of Christ.Purchased by His blood. Led by Him. Belonging to Him.
Pastors are temporary shepherds who manage on behalf of the Great Shepherd. They will give account for how they treated the sheep that don't belong to them.
Members are stewards who participate in church life, exercise their gifts, and contribute to decisions within the framework established by the elders.
But ultimately, everything belongs to Christ.
If your church has forgotten this truth, pray that it rediscovers it.
If you're a pastor and have forgotten this truth, repent before it's too late.
And if you're looking for a church, look for one where Christ is truly Lord, not just in words, but in practice.
Colossians 1:18- "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."
Christ preeminent in all things. Not the pastor. Not the members. Christ.
Foundational Bible verses
Matthew 16:18- "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
1 Peter 5:2-3- "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."
Acts 20:28- "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."
Ephesians 5:23- "For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body."
Colossians 1:18- "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."