sell bibles? It's kinda like they're profiting off the word of God, in a way. and we all know that about 60% of that money does not go to charities and such. it goes to getting the church better bathrooms and getting the pastor's (or preacher's, or priest's, i can't remember which at the moment) car washed.
lol, if you take offense to that last part, just answer the first part. don't ~you~ think it's weird that churches are profiting off the word of God?
2007-09-11 09:49:43 · 33 answers · asked by :) 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
cite my sources? I'm talking about the Christian churches in my area that sell them at football games and such things.
2007-09-11 10:01:13 · update #1
It's the collection plate where they get their profit.Not their literature.At least most of them are willing to give you the literature for free.Unless you go to a book store.They give you the book for free so that you will go to the church and then give to the collection plate.Sort of like giving you the recipe for brownies but hoping you will buy them at their shop.Not for profit is just a get out of tax paying card for this business.But it is a business.
2007-09-11 09:58:41 · answer #1 · answered by Demopublican 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christians and the church are two separate but sadly equated concepts.
Christians believe they are like Christ.
Ever listen to what Paul said when King Agrippa asked if Paul really thought he could convince the King to be a christian so soon?
The church believe in the faith of Abraham that was realized in Christ, God justifies the ungodly.
The christians say a lot of truth and don't live it because "they are ever seeing and never believing" "ever hearing and never doing".
It's not that they don't know, it's that they don't believe what they say.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all have eternal life.
It's not the sinner that is cast in hell, it's the sin. And we all will die in sin, some more so than others.
Anyone who sins is ungodly and anyone who says they are without sin are liars and the truth is not in them.
But in the end, how we live now will reflect on how we live when we are ALL born again in the spirit.
By the way, anyone know why the early church never called themselves born again?
Is it at all possible that the kingdom of God is spiritual, not seen but tasted in the physical?
The church loves all not out of duty or a command, but because they really believe that everyone they see are justified, they are overjoyed to proclaim the really freeing good news! Thanks be to Jesus.
Nicodemus was no dummy, he was simply a religious man seeking God's kingdom in the same way that any religious man still seeks it.
But Jesus said, My kingdom is not of this world. The kingdom of God is IN you.
Rest assure, the sinner is justified, the sins of man are what's going to hell, thanks be to Jesus Christ the Savior of the world!
2007-09-11 10:08:49 · answer #2 · answered by web_trace 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all missy... Are you Christian???? Are you a member of that Church? So how would you know where that money goes to??? As a member of a Christian Church we do not sell bibles. We give them away.... Atleast at my church. Now, The offering and the Tieds that go to the church is profitted to the church. Most money goes to the church for light bill, water bills, maintence etc. And there is alwasy a secretary in the church that keeps account of all the bills as well as all the money that comes in and writes montly reports and gives them to members in the church so that we can see what we gave for this money. and Most of hte time... like in my church, if the church has a founder or a bishop, the bishop pays the pastor at the church a montly salary so that he can have money to pay his bills etc, but the pastor does not touch the money. Get your facts st8. Ignorance kills.... DOnt you think that its kinda strange that the Catholic religion is wronge???? and it is known as the Great Harlot inthe book of revelations who drinks from the blood of the saints???? Do you know everything that goes on in the Catholic religion?? like how you guys woship saints that never died for you????? or benefitted anything for you. THe bible states that Jesus is the way the truth and the light and no one goes to the Father if its not through him... in other words, your comiiting Idolatry by praying to other saints! and worshiping them. There is no need for an intercesor, CHrist is the only one who interceeds for you!!!!! instead of looking at the spec in the christian churches eyes why dont you look at the Log that is coming out of the Catholic eyes???
2007-09-11 10:06:11 · answer #3 · answered by leenystar2003 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is illegal for Churches to make any profit at all. By federal designation in order to a chruch to be called a church they must file as a non-profit organization and abide likewise. Any church that does not comply with these regulations can lose their status and recieve hefty (6 digits) fines.
Personally I know very few churches who actually sell Bibles except very large churches that have a book store inside them. This would be about 3% of all churches. Well over 90% of Christian Churches in the United States are small and do not sell Bibles for any reason. Churches are better known for giving out Bibles.
Our church, for example gives out free Bibles to anyone in the church or becomes a part of the church who needs one.
***EDIT***
Seriously, there are churches who sell Bibles at football games? Ok, yea that just isn't right. How about giving away Bibles at football games? That would make more sense! :)
2007-09-11 09:55:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Printing costs money, so I don't think that it is odd that they try to recoup costs.
And if you don't think that trying to buy better bathrooms is OK, then keep that in mind the next time that you use the church bathroom and feel like complaining that there wasn't enough toilet paper, or the seat was lose.
Churches hand out free Bibles too; the cost of providing free Bibles to those who cannot afford them is born by the people who pay for the other bibles.
2007-09-11 09:56:14 · answer #5 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
True churches of God benefits when they spread the word of God. The Government also audits churches too. The church should be reimbursed for costs. Not big business.
2007-09-11 10:00:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
How else are bibles supposed to be circulated? You're also kidding yourself if you don't think atheists do the same thing. Richard Dawkins and the like make a lot more money than your average pastor or priest.
2007-09-11 10:03:48 · answer #7 · answered by Thom 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
all right, I'll bite--What Christian churches sell Bibles? I am familiar with the practices of several different denominations & none of them sell Bibles. Cite your sources, please.
Edit: Thank you. How do you know they're not just giving them away? The churches around here give them away, there's no charge for them.
2007-09-11 09:55:13 · answer #8 · answered by wanda3s48 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I've never heard of a church selling Bibles, but let's face it - paper costs money, ink costs money, labor to run the printers cost money, etc, etc, etc.
But there is one group that I know of that freely hands out copies of the Bible and receive donations to help pay for the cost of these Bibles. They are called Gideons, and they hand them out without cost or obligation.
2007-09-11 09:58:47 · answer #9 · answered by no1home2day 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yikes!!
and you think publishing bibles - the typesetting, the editing, the ink, the paper, the machinery used, the hours of labor, the binding, the artwork, etc - -all that comes free??
not to mention the translation process or the study notes for many editions...
and how do you know what the money is used for? how do you know how a church spends the money given it?
how do you know if it is going to wallpaper a pastor's golden toilet or if it going to support needy families in africa?? how do you know?
friend, you haven't thought your opinion through....
god bless
2007-09-11 10:00:11 · answer #10 · answered by happy pilgrim 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋