Results 1 - 8 of 8
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | is selling in a church building fine? | John 2:13 | nimrod2 | 42553 | ||
The primary difference between what happened in Jesus' day and what you described as modern day "fund-raising" is this: The men in the temple of Jerusalem were making a mockery out of a Holy Place by having farm animals running around, which includes dealing with animal waste, which includes the odor, etc. On top of that, these men were profiteers, they were not raising funds for helping the youth group or to help distribute food and clothing to the needy. These men were strictly out to make money for themselves. They obviously did not care about God. The short answer is, yes, it is okay to sell items at a church, as long as the motivation to sell, and the proceeds that come from it are Christ-centered and help to build the church, benefit the public and/or its efforts are ultimately to reach others with the message of salvation. We frequently have auctions at our church. Instead of each family holding a garage or yard sale, we gather stuff collectively and the monies raised go directly to support some worthy cause. It's quite a bit different than running strictly a market place for profit. |
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2 | is selling in a church building fine? | John 2:13 | EdB | 59288 | ||
nimrod2 Sounds like you have been educated by someone that allows things to be sold in the church. The money changers and merchants in the temple were serving a very vital tasks. If you lived in Northern Israel and you went to Jerusalem you wouldn't/couldn't take a lamb for sacrifice with you. You sold you lamb at home then went to the temple and bought one of equal value to offer for sacrifice. Therefore the animal merchants were serving a needed task. Also only Temple money could be used to give in a offering so you had to convert your normal Roman money for Temple money to pay your tithe or offering. Again a money changer was needed. I’m sure there was a degree of larceny involved in the exchanges but probably no different than to today. No Jesus did not drive them out because they were cheats or the weren’t needed He drove them out for the reason he gave, This is to be a house of pray not of merchandise. Notice also he didn’t just drive out the merchants but also the buyers Mark 11:15. A church that allows any type of merchandising to take place is compromising it’s position. Believe me this does not go unnoticed by the unbelieving world. Their first reaction is see all the church is after is the money. We are to be a light and salt unto the world not fall into the same things they do. EdB |
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3 | is selling in a church building fine? | John 2:13 | nimrod2 | 59429 | ||
That's odd you'd say that Ed. We allow for love offerings when someone comes to speak at our church or play music that glorifies God. Afterwards, meaning after the service, if someone wishes to purchase a book or CD, they can do so. We don't hold auctions in our sanctuary on Sunday. The few times we have had these events the church has given ALL the proceeds to missionaries. We also have aerobics classes, basketball, volleyball and variety of events like dinners there. Why? Because our sanctuary is our gymnasium on certain days other than Sunday. Believe me, when we invite someone to a concert or dinner, or to any event, we plant seeds. Their first reaction is they're amazed what we do for others. All for the glory of God. If that's wrong tell me why. |
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4 | is selling in a church building fine? | John 2:13 | EdB | 59455 | ||
nimrod2 I have no problem holding church in a gym or any other place. However when it is time to worship the Lord all the semblance’s of worldly actives should be put aside. The purpose then becomes and should remain the worshipping of God. On fund raisers the question has to be asked is this what God wants? When Israel faced the daunting task of building the temple they raise the funds among themselves, they didn’t do it with auctions or covered dish dinners. They decided that is what they wanted to do and that their God was important enough to invest their money, time and talents. My main concern is those that hawk their latest CD or Book from the pulpit, to me that is merchandising in the house of the Lord which is in very poor taste and should not be allowed. It is hypocrisy at it’s best, “I have come to preach Jesus but I have something more important, let me sell you my latest wherever.” I have to believe this is a stench in the nostrils of the Lord. If a church wants to run a book store I think it is great but I also think it should not be opened on Sunday or before or after a service, therefore a distinction is made between coming together to worship God and going to the store and stopping in at church. I’m also baffled why churches resort to worldly ways to raise funds instead of being blessed by sacrificial giving. God has promised to provision us to accomplish His goals. By allowing worldly ways to raise finances are we really saying God we aren’t going to trust you didn’t keep your end of the bargain. I often wonder could it be our goals and God’s goals are different? These practices also taint the message to the unsaved world. Out of one side of our mouths we are telling them God is sufficient and out of the other side we are holding auctions to raise needed cash. Does that seem to be a oxymoron? To me a church can run auctions and sell whatever, I just don’t think they should talk to me about their faith that is not their expertise. I would rather have them talk about what they are good at. Running auctions or merchandising to a captive audience. We say the youth needs to raise money to go to youth camp. If we believe in our youth and think that youth camp is more than just a vacation then why aren’t we as Christians responsible to see them be able to attend without turning them in beggars? If a we believe in what the missionaries are doing and we believe that taking the message of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world is important why aren’t we willing to give whatever it takes to accomplish that? If we believe a new sanctuary is needed for our comfort then why aren’t we willing to pay for it? Why does the cash have to be begged, auctioned, or merchandised out of our pockets? Let me ask you one last question if you think merchandising the church is alright tell me why. EdB |
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5 | is selling in a church building fine? | John 2:13 | justme | 59458 | ||
Edb:I like much of what you said. Lots of food for thought. I have a thought, and wonder how you would respond. When I go to any Christian Book store CBD or the small town type, they have such a mish mash of autors that come from such wide range of perspectives. WOF over here and Liberal over here and the consistancy is no where to be found. As we know unless you are up to speed with who is who you can be led astray pretty easy. If a church had it's own book store, with wise leadership that could be a real help to growing Christians. That would be if the church is large enough. If the church is small then a book list would be well worth while, if the person was well grounded to make up such a list. I could see the list being on a back table for people to pick up. However if the church was large enough, hours could be set to not interfer with worship or other services. Just a thought, I came up with to make it more interesting on how to help churches grow Christians more in line with correct theology. I could see no reason this would be considered merchandising, if done in a mannor that does not effect Sunday worship. agape. justme |
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6 | is selling in a church building fine? | John 2:13 | EdB | 59490 | ||
Justme You said you were a pastor I believe, then you know the biggest problem facing the church today is getting the people to read their Bibles. I understand and appreciate the need for other authors and such, but where the church needs to put it's focus and main emphasis is on the Word of God and Bible reading not a book store. The church has been diverted on too many "sounds good things" and the main issue, the main purpose has gotten lost. the Church's main purpose was not to sell books or to even promote "good" Christian authors the church's purpose is to worship God and to equip the saints to do the work of the Lord. EdB |
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7 | is selling in a church building fine? | John 2:13 | Hank | 59493 | ||
It's a pleasure, EdB, to say hello to you once more. And I applaud what you have had to say about the Christian's duty to read God's word. I know a troubling number of professing Christians who would have a nervous fit if they missed a single book in the "Left Behind" series or the latest Stephen King or John Grisham thriller, but who, many of them, go for days on end without feeding on the word of life, the Holy Bible. If the bodies of some believers were deprived of nourishment to the extent that their spirits are, they would become weak and feeble physically. One can only guess at the condition of their spiritual lives. --Hank | ||||||
8 | is selling in a church building fine? | John 2:13 | EdB | 59494 | ||
Hank Thanks for the feedback. It is so nice to see you back and active once more. You sure threw a scare into us. EdB |
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