Should the church be run like a business?

Pastor Mike writes: A statement from one of the books that I am teaching in SS right now.

"Businesses, if they’re going to be successful
for the long haul, must pull their attention off of themselves and refocus their energies on their only reason for existence – to serve their customers.”

Bill Hybels and Mark Mittleberg. Becoming a Contagious Christian

Can we substitute "churches" for "businesses"? Is the marketing model appropriate to apply to the church? Why or why not?

Todd responds: What is the biblical purpose of "church" is it to serve the members? Mike what is the name of the book/author? I have been reading a book by Piper called "Brother we are not professionals" (have you seen it?" I'll bring it next weekend if you want to borrow it.) I'm sure There will be some good insight to add to this discussion from that.

Mike says: The church must reach outside of its own four walls if it is to thrive. The whole point of the church is that it serves its customers. BUT we must define that customer base. Are the oldie moldy believers (lots of yrs being a believer) the customers or the employees?
Yes. They are both. They must demonstrate a freshness though in their approach to taking the message out, else be marginalized by those in the outside world. If it doesn't make sense to people they can't respond. [pls engage this from an arminian viewpoint or at least a tempered calvinistic viewpoint]
These believers also can't think that they have nothing more to learn.
Are the newbie baby believers part of the customers or the employees?
The answer again is YES.
Newbies have the freshness and enthusiasm without the directional guidance/training. Remember that the Acts 2 passage suggests that the thing they continued in was the apostles' teaching. They didn't stop with their initial purchase!
Are the seeking neighbors part of the customer base?
Yes definitely. They cannot be salespeople because they do not know the product. they have no relationship yet. These are the easy ones to serve, because they are hungry! They will handle alot of junk mixed in b/c they really want to know.
Are the screwed up skeptics in the customers? Should we cater to their questions and arguments? YES again, we need to be able to handle the objections and give them truth. Thus we must study for ourselves. We must know this stuff forwards and backwards!
What about the cranky pagans? YES they are still part of the service that we need to be bringing. Remember the challenge to believing wives with unbeliveing spouses in 1 Peter? Serve the unbeliever so that he might come to know. But even if he doesn't, serve him as if you were serving Christ. B/c you are!So, the original author continues, if lost people matter to God, shouldn't they matter to us?
YES YES YES YES
Lost people are only people who haven't responded to the good news yet! :) Let's go find the responders!