The church is the thread of nonviolence and reason that runs through our society. But when it manipulates its men and women by toting corporate goods from the pulpit, its virtues will begin to unravel.

The litmus test for our church leaders should be whether or not they wield their power of influence with integrity.

In my more than 25 years of ministry here at the Christian Cultural Center, a church of more than 20,000 in Brooklyn, N.Y., I have had several occasions where individuals saw our church as an opportunity to make big money.

The schemers come in and observe the size and affluence of the congregation. They understand the influence I carry over the lives of my parishioners. They offer me wealth in return for signing on to one of their moneymaking opportunities.

Jesus faced this leadership test too, in the desert wilderness 2,000 years ago (see Matt. 4:1-11). The devil presented a series of propositions to Him, trying to sway His influence.

Knowing that Jesus was hungry after 40 days of fasting, the devil suggests turning stones into bread to feed His hunger and to prove His authority as the Son of God. In the light of events where Jesus miraculously fed thousands of people, this proposition seems harmless and reasonable.

But He refused this temptation, observing His power as an instrument to serve the kingdom--not His selfish desires.

Sadly, this rousing lesson is lost on an increasing number of pastors who use positions of trust to fleece congregations.

Many lucrative businesses target large churches and, as a result, the bride of Christ ends up in bed with corporations.

A few years ago, hundreds of evangelical Christians in Southern California were robbed out of millions of dollars in a Ponzi scheme relying on the complicity of trusted church officials.

Hundreds of parishioners opened their wallets to a businessman promising 50-percent returns on a foolproof investment opportunity. From the pulpit, some ministers encouraged their entire congregations to get involved.

But the pastors and parishioners didn't receive 50-percent returns. Instead, they got fleeced out of a combined $160 million. Meanwhile, this businessman financed his lavish lifestyle. This is just one example in a growing trend.

When the corporate representatives approach me, the jig goes something like this: a corporate representative says: "Instead of giving $5,000 to the Red Cross this year, we decided to keep it in the community. I notice your parish doesn't have a bus. Now, I know the money won't buy a bus, but we thought it could help. I'll trust you know the best way for the money to help the church."

I've never accepted such offers. But you would be amazed at how common it is for pastors to become beholden to local corporate interests that way.

All across the country, churches are circulating corporate promotional calendars, fliers, and, if the corporation is really lucky, broadcasting an endorsement straight from the pulpit. Trusting the pastor's judgment, the flock simply surrenders their money to whatever service the corporate representative is hawking.

In such a manner, the pastor cheats his fellow Christians. An acquaintance of mine once attended a retreat where he heard about morticians coaxing favors from pastors by offering free gifts--beepers, funeral plots, country-club memberships and large sums of cash.

It's quite a deal for the mortuary. They invest $6 in a beeper, and, in return, they get a pastor who feels obliged to send bodies their way.

Many of these large churches could, in fact, offer a free funeral to their members. Instead, these ministers use their positions as trusted leaders to fleece their parishioners.

Of course, when they get caught, the story is always the same: A heartfelt confession peppered with talk of "sin" and a plea for forgiveness. The truly gifted speakers even regain some position of leadership in a community desperate to believe their church is less infected with sin than the world.

Henceforth, I suggest that we be a whole lot less forgiving with regard to reinstating those ministers who use their pulpits to dupe their parishioners. Anything other than a zero-tolerance stand will threaten the stability of the church.

Parishes should demand that their pastors refrain from corporate sponsorship during their sermons. Doing so would help prevent the swindling of countless families, while re-establishing the church as a trusted sanctuary during a family's most desperate time of need.

Such moments should not be considered purchasable by local corporations.

By A.R. Bernard, pastor of Christian Cultural Center, a thriving church in Brooklyn, New York. Visit his Web site at cccinfo.org, and send your comments by e-mail to arb@cccinfo.org