Results 1 - 5 of 5
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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 | EdB | 59491 | ||
roark89 I like the story about the man with the helicopter and all but that is man’s wisdom. So is the wisdom that “God helps those that help themselves.” No I’m not advocating sitting around waiting for God to move as an excuse to be lazy. Let’s look at Paul when the believers in Jerusalem were in trouble who did Paul go to, the world? Or the church in other areas and where he took up offerings to help them. I think that was given as an example not just passing commentary. When God commissioned Paul to preach did Paul make a CD and sell it to continue the ministry or did Paul go about preaching and if the church supported him great if not he found other work and supported himself. No I’m, not advocating preachers not getting paid. I think as Paul if the they feed you spiritually you have a duty and obligation to feed them physically. Today if a man saw the burning bush as Moses did, he probably would write a book and do the TV circuit and the children of Israel would still be sitting in Egypt waiting for a leader. So often we use the argument the end justifies the means. We have ministry to do and that requires funds, so we have to raise the funds, will sell what God freely gave to raise those funds and call it ministry. That is not the way it is to be. Ministry is something that is done because God has a call on your life, it makes no difference if there is money in it or not. Your are doing it because God said go do this. Along with that God has promised when ever He sends someone out He will provision you to do it. Now we as Christian have a stake in this, we have to understand a man is worthy of his hire, if he has done something that has benefited us either through preaching, song or something else he have an obligation to pay. If we don’t we are freeloaders and no different than the world. Now there is another aspect a God given talent. We can use it as a ministry and bless people and let the money be secondary. Or we can merchandise it and make it our lives works. Either way is okay. The problem is when your using the talent to make money while calling it a ministry. Church should be able to build or buy anything it wants but it should also be willing to pay for it. To involve the world in fund raising sends the wrong signal to the world and appears to be against God’s plan for the church. I know you said God doesn’t want us to sit around and wait for Him. But be honest how many churches were built under God direction? Most of the time the people decide they NEED and pull out the stops and don’t look back cause here we come and God was never in it. Show me one incident in the Bible where God gave someone a ministry and did not provide the resources to achieve that ministry. Why do we think is different today. Paul never ran a church auction we should we expect to. Timothy never held a church fund raiser why do we. Because we want what we want and we do it. That is okay as long as we don’t drag down the name of Jesus Christ doing it. EdB |
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2 | is selling in a church building fine? | John 2:13 | roark89 | 59602 | ||
I can't really disagree with you on your point of view. I wasn't referring to those who hit the road to hock the CD for profit in the churches. I really refer to those who bring their wares with them, offering them in the foyer or side area, not during service but something available after the fact. In terms of donations we see in Acts where Peter is accepting the gifts of those who sold their things and brought them to the apostles. While we may not call this a rummage sale as we see it today. It still seems to amount to the same thing. Of course the real point was the fate of Anninias and his wife who held something back from the Lord. With those donations given to the early church, could we not attribute that to the Lord providing through the people who sold their things to others and gave the money to the Apostles? Just food for thought. I agree with the sentiment of keeping it out of the church, but I struggle to rebuke Christians who hold fundraisers to support a bible study ministry or mission project for the Youth..etc. |
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3 | is selling in a church building fine? | John 2:13 | EdB | 59641 | ||
roark89 The people that gave to Paul might well have had a rummage sale but it wasn't church sponsored they held the sale and brought the money to Paul -no problem there. As for singing groups to make Cd's and then sell them after the service is still capitalizing on the fact the audience came to worship and are then given a sales pitch. Think about it most merchandisers would kill for a similar chance. I was involved with a group that wanted a church picture directory. the companies would all come and take the pictures for free. Then they would schedule appointments and have the people pick the picture they wanted in the directory. Of course at that time they also sold the families any pictures they wanted for extra for their families. Not problem right? I didn’t like the selling aspect. I suggested Photo company come to our church take the pictures and allow the people to pick the ones they wanted for the directory and then if they wanted to go to a nearby location (which the church would rent) where they could then choose what pictures they wanted to purchase. Not ONE company would agree. I later found out these companies on average make 168 dollars in sales per family. Think about it when is the last time you spent 168 dollars for pictures. They knew the vantage having a captive audience gave them. Plus the fact they would say such things as the Pearsons where just here and they saw your pictures and said they were the just perfect. Or the Thomas’ just bought 500 dollars worth of pictures surely you are willing to spend 200. Or the Regbies were here and they loved the pictures but they are having financial problems and were unable to purchase any of their beautiful pictures. Don’t think for a moment many purchases at tape tables aren’t made by people that don’t want to be known as unable or tight. That type of pressure ought not be in the church. We have come to worship God let’s worship God and conduct business elsewhere. EdB |
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4 | is selling in a church building fine? | John 2:13 | roark89 | 59648 | ||
I agree with your position on everything you describe. I too saw the picture thing in a Methodist church I formally attended. In fact the hocking of goods and the constant asking of money became bothersome. I guess it depends on the spirit in which its done. Because I was turned off by the concept of "Church" for about a year because of it. Fortunately me and my family are excitedly involved in a church that strives to worship and please God. In Acts it was Peter and if the church is the body and the body is made up of people, then isn't the sell off of personal goods really being done by the church. Peter and the Apostles just become the administrators of the funds? |
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5 | is selling in a church building fine? | John 2:13 | EdB | 59739 | ||
roark89 I think you may be playing word games here. Yes the church is the people and the people were selling, but there a difference between the you or I selling something and the First Church holding a rumage sell. And that is the difference the world sees. EdB |
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