Is it wrong for people to make money of the death of Jesus Christ?

Question

My last questioned bombed cause of too much sarcasm. I just got in the mail last week a free Bible and a free Qu'ran. So this is clearly not what I'm talking about.

But I go to bookstores and see lots of people getting rich off selling books about Jesus's death. Not educational, but "self-help" stuff.

I just think theres a difference between knowledge and clear televanglism for profit or books on Jesus cause theres a market for it.

Do you think its right for people to call themselves Christian and try and make money off the cruifixition of their lord and savior.

I do.

The word of God should be free.

Answer 1

I agree with you 100%, and I am a Born Again Christian myself. Whenever I visit a Christian book store, I am sickened by the barrage of pseudo-Christian mumbo jumbo that's foisted upon us. Having said that, I readily admit there's alot of really helpful stuff out there. As with any purchase, the buyer should use common sense. There's really no need to own a jewelry box full of "The Passion of the Christ" necklaces and stick pins.

But theres nothing wrong with a person buying at least three translations of the Bible, a concordance and books containing solid theological teachings. Oh -- and at least one "Jesus Fish" for your car (yes, I have one).

As far as televanglism, I go by one rule of thumb: if he or she asks me to "sow a financial seed" so I can receive future blessings, I turn the channel and never watch that person's broadcast again.

Answer 2

I know you already know the answer to this one, but I'll bite.

The fact is that religion = business. Sure, there's nuns who live in relative poverty as a way to show their faith and many pastors do not take a large salary, but keep looking up the ladder and you'll see that the organizations at the top of every major religion are quite wealthy. I know, I know the Catholic Church is having financial problems, etc., but when I see them on TV on Easter they're still drinking out of gold chalices.

But this isn't even where the real money is. The accouterments of faith are where the real bucks are made. Kent Hovind and his nonsensical rantings make hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of dollars every year. Religious books? Likely a multi-billion dollar a year industry. Speaking engagements, religious fiction, gold crucifixes, glow-in-the-dark Jesuses (Jesuii?) are all a way for these corporations to sell their product.

Strangely enough, their product isn't even the actual products they are selling. They are actually dealing with reassurance (you'll have a better chance of getting into heaven if you read "Left Behind" and know how to prepare) and ego-stroking (aren't you glad you're not going to be left behind with all the sinners? You're special.)

All of this because people simply cannot accept the fact that one day they will die.

Basically, "right" and "wrong" don't enter into this equation. Making money off of these ideas is the whole shebang.

Answer 3

I honestly agree with you that it should be wrong for people to profit from the death of someone we believe to be KING. However, if they are stopped from doing such a thing, then that means that we've opened a whole new can of worms. Stop and think about it for a minute. If you say "Eh ah - you can't profit from writing about someone's life and death as a self help." Aren't we also limiting individuals such as psychiatrists from doing the same when it comes to writing about those who rape, murder and go above and beyond murder - talking about mutilation. These are books designed to give an insight as to what someone was about, their thoughts, feelings and beliefs. For me, I enjoy finding out what makes someone tick, and how and why someone could go to such an extreme. I know I may have gotten a little off the beaten path from Jesus, but in reality, it's still the same, profit from a life/death experience.

The best way I can say to view it is to realize that your values and morals are greater than those that you are speaking of. Be thankful that you have morals and values which allow you to question what you believe and allow you to determine right from wrong. Obviously, morals are a thing of the past as more and more have become materialistic, focus on the dollar signs and don't care who they hurt in the process.

Answer 4

I completely agree with you, you shouldn't have to pay something to learn about a religion. They are taking advantage of people's beliefs so they can buy their cadillacs. Besides, most of those kinda books are just people's opinions anyways, so most are probably corrupted to further the author of it along. To me, doing that is the same thing as the concession stand at his crucifixion, total disrespect. It actually kinda reminds me of the gladiators in the colesseum during the rule of the Roman Empire, it was just a show to the audience and you know some were making profit off of it.

Answer 5

You must know that there are many people just out to make money off of what ever they can. Titus 1: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. A person that is trying to get the gospel out and does it full time then it is OK for the people to take care of him. 1 Corinthians 9: 18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

Answer 6

You have to understand that when Christians go out and share the word of God with the world, be it the way Mel Gibson did with his movie of the Passion of the Christ, and they are telling the truth, and it brings glory to God, then God will reward them for glorifying Him that way.
Now if people take the Holy bible and make drastic changes in it the way they are doing with bibles like NIV, the standard versions, etc, to where they have changed the meaning of the words in the scriptures to where it no longer means what God said, just to they can have a copy write on that "new version" so they can make a profit, and it does not bring glory to God, then that is wrong. God is very clear about taking away from the bible and adding to it. This is what He says...

Revelation 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

If you were born again, your name was written in the Lambs book of life, and will go to heaven. If you violated this book by taking away the words or changing them, your name will be removes from the Lambs book of life and end up in hell.

The point is, as long as you are doing the selling of books and movies and things of the death of Jesus, that is the truth and you do not taint it to adjust to this sinful world's ways, and bring glory to God, then if He rewards people monitarily, that's their blessing in life. Mel Gibson gave away all of his profits to charity that he made from the Passion of the Christ.

Answer 7

It's free here! The people who took the time to write those books need their bills paid and probably not profiting much because of the money they spent to get it published. A Great major sacrifice to get the word of God out. Don't cha think?

Answer 8

It is not right to make money off God. Jesus tore apart a temple where people were selling items there and priests were making money off of people who wanted to worship God. So, Jesus says no.
There are costs associated with books and bibles, etc. You can't publish a book for free, so you have to make up costs. Some people want to live off of their writing and teaching. This is between them and God as to how much they charge.

Answer 9

The Word of God is free... however even the Bible mandates giving money to the church... and as bizarre as this may sound coming from a minister who refuses to accept a salary, but the money (tithe) given to the church is actually intended to take care of the needs of the priests (ministers) and levites (church staff/deacons).

The reality that many televangelists and even local pastors fail to face is that God didn't intend for clergy to become WEALTHY off the money of the people.. but rather to take care of their own immediate needs and then see to the needs of the congregation.

Answer 10

Its kinda idealistic to sit there and say "the word of God should be free." Of course the word is free, but it takes money to finance anything we do on this earth. Churches need electricity, heat, ac, and etc... Ministries need money to make trips to different parts of the country and the world to share the gospel. Money make the world go round...you cant do anything without the proper financial backing.

Also...the bible says that we should pay our tithes...like I said before without them the church building would be uninhabitable.