Question: I recently opened my own graphic design business. A prospective client is coming to my new office for a meeting, and I plan to hire two temps for the day, to give the appearance that my firm is busy. A friend says this is wrong. But since no one will get hurt, how can it be?
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I added this post because it’s interesting to me how we are very serious about this “mis-representation” in business, but maybe not so much in church. If you click below, you can read how the writer responds and says that no matter what, we cannot PRETEND in order to get ahead, that it is unethical.
But, in church today, I have found that we do this all the time. So, let’s call our attention to:
1 – Mis-leading people about where there money is going…
2 – Using funds for other things that EXACTLY what the church budget designates for…
3 – Starting a church plant with a church planting “team” and not telling the newcomers that they are the FIRST to come and that everyone else in the church are transplants.
4 – Overstating our attendance.
5 – Double counting our attendance that might attend at more than one service.
6 – Counting children as adults.
7 – Overstating our conversion numbers.
8 – Pretending that we have more years experience than we actually have.
9 – Padding our resumes.
10 – Pretending we don’t sin.
11 – Acting like a pastor is the most holy person in the world and his word is untouchable.
12 – Treating people with money better than those without.
13 – Praying out loud for all to hear what we WANT in such a way that people feel bad if they don’t “do it.” Or asking for prayer that way.
14 – Using the prayer hotline or email chain in order to spread gossip, but truly NEVER praying!!!!!!
15 – Telling “half truths” or “white lies.” Anytime we say something that isn’t the FULL STORY, we are LYING!!!!!!!! There are no white lies! STOP LYING TO YOURSELF!
We have to stop misrepresenting ourselves and stop doing anything that is manipulative or underhanded to reach our goals. Goals aren’t worth ANYTHING if they aren’t reached without cheating, lying and stealing!
THESE ARE ALL LIES!
STOP IT!
Church, let’s come clean. Let’s start fresh. Let this be a chance for an ethical New Year!
Blessings!
pd