Churches Selling Thing? Do You Agree?

Question

I feel like God has already told me that this is wrong. But I want to know if anyone els has felt the same conviction. Alot of churches these days are a Church and a Restuarant in one. Like just before church or just after church, they'll sell you a tray of food or a cup of coffee. I find it unchristian for two reasons. Jesus drove the money changers out of the temple. And second, Jesus always fed people for free. I think pot lucks are alot more Christian way to feed people at church. But of course alot of churches sell dinners claiming they need the money for missionaries. Early Christians had manditory tithing. Also Alot churches sell books and c.d.s. If you have to sell me a book on salvation, I'm not going to think you're real. A Church I use to go to now has a CASH REGISTER in the church selling coffee. I was asked for 50 cents for water. You know what Jesus said about giving someone a cup of water. It's almost as bad as churches that have scheduled smoke breaks.

Answer 1

Although the 'church' does not recognize the sabbath day(which is on SATURDAY, not Sunday), even if they did, and even if that sabbath were to be on Sunday, they violate the sabbath by doing the things you describe(see Nehemiah about buying and selling on the sabbath). The 'church' these days worship the god of mammon, not the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And since you recognize in your spirit that this is wrong, what does righteousness have to do with unrighteousness? Leave them, and find a group of MESSIANIC believers. They are out there.

Answer 2

You are 100% right and my pastor when he was alive frowned on this and thought it was wrong there is nothing wrong with having coffee in the fellowship hall but the sacturay of God no matter how big or how small should be holy and not everything should revolve around food. I remember we had a business meeting and some people wanted to have a bagel and coffee time before service and thankfully it was overruled and we did not implement this.
There is a time to eat and a time to worship and I dont care how christian one claims to be there are always those who dont clean up after themselves. I think also it was very rude when the teenagers in the back of my oldchurch would be eating and drinking during the service church is not a diner it is a place of worship. Some people think this is OK but Sunday is the Lords day and one should prioirotize thier time and eat breakfast at home and use worhsip and church time to honor God. If you bring your breakfast BEFORE sunday school and eat in the kitchen and be considerate and clean up your mess. You are so right this is very casual and disrecpectufl. Thank you for taking the time to speak up I am proud of you E4G

Answer 3

I think it's a little weird... there is a church near my home that serves coffee and dough nuts during the service and you eat it during the service inside the temple....... I just thought it was way to weird for me and even a bit disrespectful.

I don't know a selling stuff at church. I agree with the fact that the church needs money to keep it up, especially when tithing is not mandatory or very well accepted or advertised.
My church sells Cd's of the preachings that day... I love to buy them! Sometimes it helps me with a specific study or I can hear it in the car.

I think everyone has different convictions, I don't think selling stuff is that bad unless you loose God's vision and start treating it like a Walmart. Then the church turns into a joke.

Answer 4

first of all, keep in mind that the money changers were making a profit by providing a "shortcut" for others buy their sacrifices... taking advantage by means of an unclean offering, in the first place...

secondly, the whole deal with church cafe's etc... at one point, people were content with a cup of regular coffee... now everybody wants an espresso, a latte or some other specialty drink... i don't have a problem with churches selling coffee or whatever... as long as it is not merely a profit-generating center... they often promote fellowship, folks get there early and hang out later, etc. i do NOT think that one should be charged 50 cents for a cup of water...

and for books... many churches sell books at cost (no profit at all) providing access to books that are being used in various studies going on in the church, on various topics of interest/need that may or may not be hit on every sunday... and i know many people who question their salvation due to bad teaching or poor modeling in their life that would be greatly assured by a good book on salvation itself...

in all of this, if all Christians tithed the 10% set forth in the Bible, there would likely not be a need at all to charge for any of these things...

Answer 5

Honestly? I'm too busy trying to PROCESS what you're describing to even consider whether I think it's immoral or not. WHAT?!?!?! I have never, ever, EVER heard of ANY of the things you describe, let alone it being increasingly common. I say it again ... WHAT?!?!?! WHERE are you going to church, brother?

FORGET what you just described. Again, that's too weird for me to even consider morally. In general I tend to agree with you, but I DID hear an interesting take on the capitalistic Christian by Pastor Rick Warren of The Purpose Driven Life fame. Warren essentially said that people in his church, him included, try to exploit every capitalistic opportunity that they can to make as much money as they can so that they can give it away. Warren has made millions off of Purpose and the last I heard CLAIMS to be living the same way he was before the runaway success of his book, CLAIMS to not take a penny as pastor of this HUGE church, and CLAIMS to give away lots and lots of the money from his book.

So, is that Christian? So, could a church run a Christian daycare facility and charge the going rates but then use the money to do the Lord's work? Could a church own local businesses, charge the going rates for goods and services and then use the money to do the Lord's work? We all need to pray on it.

AND ... you need to pray on what church the Lord wants you attending. There are LOTS of churches that give away free water, coffee, soda, food to the poor, etc. Not a cash register in sight. Seek one out!

Answer 6

i think for before and after the service then no charge as most people are putting stuff in the collection plate anyways (although i personally prefer a box at the back)

my church does tea and coffee after church (no charge) just to encourage people to fellowship together and they are a friendly and good hearted bunch

occasionally we do have a pot luck meal too - again people bring what the have and share - again FREE OF CHARGE

here in the uk churches are reluctant to be seen to keep asking for money because of the erroroneous teachings from the usa where a few preachers go all out to manipluate as much money from people as possible

so they have a different take on fundrasing and finances.

for example

1) - most people (other than the ministers) here in the uk are not paid to help in the church and dont expect to be - hence that leaves more room for more people to join in and help out and feel more of a part of the church community

2) - fundraising in a low key but amiable way - having table top sales (ie members of the public can for a small fee sell various items of their choice) in the church building for example - that gets people who are unchurched into the building and bridges can be built with those people in the community with the church

3) one church invited children and families from local schools to have their teddies parachuted from the church steeple for £1 a time - there was quite a queue (and guess whose teddy got stuck on the hands of the church clock on the way down and had to be rescued by a man on a ladder? erhem! *claims 5th emendment quick!*)

4) a garden party/BBQ in the church grounds with various items for sale and again being open to the public

Answer 7

I totally understand and agree with some of what you're saying. However, it does cost to offer food, drink/whatever to people. People tend to take advantage after a while and do not "pay it forward". The church I attend does have it's own food/beverage place for people to get together and hang out...their prices are much less than any other place that sells such things. I truly believe that if you went in the bookstore and could not buy a book on salvation, our church would give it to you....but I do agree with you like I said that it does seem to have gotten a bit over the top....

Answer 8

It has always been the way of the world, especially in the recents years.
There's always have been people, trying to con a quick buck from the unsuspecting faithful.
Like the early Church Fathers and the witch burners, who so called "identify" wealthy widows or landowners of witchcraft, so they can lay their hands on their victims health.
Even the Knight Templars, protectors of the pilgrims, were harmed by the greedy King and Pope.
These people are the ones who gives religion a bad name, using their flock to enrich themselves.
Especially those in larger congregations, they should actually think about where the tithe money goes into.
Sadly, in Singapore, we have a rather recent case of a CEO of the one of the largest charity found guilty of embezzlement and fraud. The people, with goodwill, donated their money and time to help the poor, but the money ended up going into golden taps for the CEO

Answer 9

You forgot the dances, bar-b-ques, cake sells and THEN all the christian channels that put on their clowns who beg all day. If Jesus came to earth today he would do the same as he did to the ignorant ones at the temple he threw out. I find it hypocritical of Christians who talk of a POWERFUL God in heaven who supplies all their "needs" while in reality all I have ever seen is well dressed BEGGARS living off widow's pensions, the hopelessly desperate, and the sick seeking to buy a healing from these charlatans. I have never understood why one of these kind can stand on a corner of any town and beg, while a homeless person does it a cop comes around to arrest them and throws them in jail. I should know, I spent 8 1/2 years on the streets at one time.....

Answer 10

Purified,
Tithing was never spoken of in the Churches of the New Testament. Paul said we are to give as we have been prospered on the First Day of the Week. He also said that they partook of the Lord's Table on the first day of the week. The only mention of Churches receiving money was from the giving on that First Day Service. I do NOT see the Churches as having any authority to have a restaurant, swerve drinks, or sell anything at all for profit. These are things that are done by men/women NOT by Churches of our Savior. I suggest that you find a Church that follows only the New TEstament Scriptures and not the creeds and ideas of man. Have a wonderful evening.
Thanks,
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