Yep.... I’ve seen it so many times before. People come into a church and they have a big tithe. They are fast tracked to leadership roles. For so many churches it becomes about the money. The pastors reconcile it that they need the funds to grow the ministry. To better carry out God’s will etc etc. But it often comes down to ego. In today’s churches, maybe the most often over looked text from the bible is James’ teaching about not giving the best seat to the most important person. Churches most often just ignore this teaching. And to often that important person has no real relationship with Christ.
I think the real problem is the church was never intended for non-believers.....we are called to go out ‘from’ the church to those in the world ...and minister to them. People are too quick to invite people into the church rather than minister to them beforehand and prepare them for being with the family.
Pastors and the Elders and Deacons use to do that.....as they saw themselves as overseers of the “flock”.....now it’s just a title. But there was at the very least a pastor visit with people who were coming.