There is sometimes an instinct within Christian leadership that downplays business thinking. After all, the church has a different purpose than a business, so why should it operate like one? A few leaders go as far as saying that “business thinking is ruining the church.”

Increasingly, though, we see Christian leaders and organizations opening up to the insights of the business world: leadership development, teamwork, productivity, people management, and more. Willow Creek’s Global Leadership Summit, Catalyst, and other training grounds for church leaders apply such principles with great effectiveness. Christian authors and speakers like Jon Acuff bring these principles directly into their work.

That’s what I sought to do when I was on the leadership team of a major evangelical ministry, and it’s what I seek to do in my books, including What’s Best Next. I have found it essential for Christians leaders to seek out and learn from secular business thinkers. Using a biblical framework, we become better leaders, and better Christians, when we do.

One of the best-kept secrets is that much of the strongest business thinking lines up with a biblical worldview. We see this in two of the most significant trends in business thinking: an emphasis on purpose and on service.

Putting Purpose over Profit

Business is often maligned for sacrificing people at the altar of profit. As the stereotype goes, if you want to succeed, you need to make profit your ultimate aim and be willing to step on people.

Call it a faith fight: religion is at the center of a controversy brewing in Fountain Hills. It seems some traditional Christian churches are at odds with what's being labeled as "Progressive Christianity."

That community is known for stunning scenery, retirees and high-end homes -- religion took center stage when banners started showing up Tuesday on eight traditional Christian churches in the area.

The banners promote a series of special sermons that start on Sunday named "Progressive Christianity: Fact or Fiction."

"And when you have an effort collaborated by multiple churches in one community to try to discredit one other way of thinking, that's when it becomes alarming," said Rev. David Felten, head of The Fountains Progressive Christian Church.

The Fountains is the only progressive church in Fountain Hills and Felten says it offers an option to fundamentalist Christianity.

"That lets people know there's a choice out there, they don't have to deny science, they don't have to hate their gay neighbor, they don't have to read and take the bible in a way that causes them to abandon their rational mind," he said.

Oh hey, let’s hate on other Christians. This will surely drive new members into our congregation.

This story is totally bonkers. As reported by the local Fox television affiliate in Phoenix, eight traditionalist churches in the suburb of Fountain Hills, Ariz., have combined forces to work against “Progressive Christianity” and its beliefs.

There’s only one problem: literally just down the street from one of the conservative churches, there’s a self-described “progressive Christian” congregation, Fountains United Methodist Church.

Fountains’ pastor, the Rev. David Felten, is the author of a book on progressive Christianity, and the church proudly advertises its welcome of the “LGBTQ community,” support for science, and interfaith dialogue.

The conservative church leaders are equally proud of their traditionalism. In a letter to the editor published in the Fountain Hills Times, they proclaim a “landmark” sermon series aimed at answering “three primary questions”:

1. What is the difference between “Progressive” Christianity and Biblical Christianity?

2. Does that difference really matter in a relativistic age?

3. How can a Christian decipher what he or she should believe?

A post at the Fountains UMC website adds detail: the series will focus on questions such as “Why does it matter that the Bible is reliable?”, “Why does it matter that Jesus was born of a virgin?”, “Why does it matter that Jesus was resurrected?”, or “Why does it matter that Jesus is the only way?”