{"id":1701,"date":"2014-07-15T08:00:26","date_gmt":"2014-07-15T12:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/trainchurchleaders.com\/practicum\/?p=1701"},"modified":"2026-05-18T16:32:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T20:32:02","slug":"manipulation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trainchurchleaders.com\/practicum\/manipulation.htm","title":{"rendered":"Trying to Attract People to Your Church Through Manipulation?"},"content":{"rendered":"
To get the greatest benefit from this practicum, make sure you have read related training on the site. Click below to read about Christ-Like Character:<\/em><\/div>\n
Church Leadership Basics: God’s Heart for the Church<\/a><\/center><\/div>\n

Most would agree that we as Christians should be upright, authentic, and filled with integrity. Yet, sometimes we find churches using church growth tactics that are deceitful or manipulative.<\/p>\n

Ways Churches Might\u00a0Use Manipulation to Attract People & Grow:<\/h2>\n

Bribe people to attend.<\/p>\n

You coax them to come by giving them a free meal or free gift.<\/p>\n

Meet needs with ulterior motives.<\/p>\n

You have programs like a food or clothes bank solely to evangelize, not simply because you have compassion.<\/p>\n

Bait and switch.<\/p>\n

You do things to make people feel all warm and fuzzy, telling them what they want to hear, until they are in and then you drop the hammer.<\/p>\n

Lay a guilt trip on people.<\/p>\n

You use their children as tools, telling them that if they really cared about their children, they would take them to church.<\/p>\n

Play to people’s fears.<\/p>\n

You emphasize hell, fire, and brimstone when in reality, there is more to the Gospel message they need to hear.<\/p>\n

\"Christ-like<\/a>
\nYou’ll find the content in this post in the Steering the Church Toward Christ-like Character Leadership Guide<\/strong><\/a> which also lists six ways churches can avoid using manipulation in their church growth efforts.<\/p>\n

For More on Being Christ-like, Go To: Resources about Christlikeness in the Church<\/a><\/p>\n

All Posts about Church Growth:<\/h3>