Profiting on Bibles and 'Christian' products?

Question

How do you feel about people making a profit on the Bible (selling Bibles in Christian Book Stores) and other 'Christian' products?

Do you think that the people profiting are actually Christians themselves?

Who's having the last laugh?

Just curious what you people think.

(For reference I'm not a Christian)

"Freely ye have received, freely give." (Matt. X. 8)

Profit is the money accrued AFTER the cost of production.... so while there may be nothing wrong with covering costs of a product, why are they 'profiting' off the 'gospel'?

Answer 1

Certainly makes JWs look very good doesn't it? All our literature is free or voluntary contribution basis including the finest edition of the Bible including different translations.

Interestingly, Jesus, after listings all the things the apostles would be able to do including healing the sick and raising the dead, told them how much to charge at Matthew 10:8. Now those gifts are no longer needed as we have the completed Bible available to us. How much more should we give what we have freely?

Paul demonstrated the proper way in 2Thess. 3:8-10 where Paul and the other traveling brothers held jobs to earn money for life's necessities so as not to be a burden to the brothers there. He went on to state if someone in the congregation would not work, neither let him eat. Notice that nowhere here does he say to make a buck from any preaching or teaching or any Kingdom effort. Most of the apostles made money as tent or sail makers. Luke was a doctor.

For Jehovah's Witnesses, most of us have either full time or part time employment to take care of our needs. None of us ever charges for our ministry. Even back 40 years ago when we offered hardback books for a contribution of 50 cents, how much of a profit is 50 cents? That didn't cover of the cost of the paper!

Clearly, making great profits for the clergy is exactly like those Jesus threw out of the temple for making his Father's house a den of thieves.

Answer 2

If there are products that the public wants, then companies will exploit that demand. In the US, since most of the population is Christian, then most of the people profiting from "Christian" products will be Christian. I'd imagine most Christian bookstores are run by Christians, and most of them are in it for the profit.

If not religious products, people would profit off of something else, so I see nothing wrong with profiting off religion - just not in the way that televangelists do.

Answer 3

No there is nothing wrong with it. They need to make a living. In the olden days, many disciples did not take money for their actions; however, people would provide them with shelter, food, clothing, perfume etc...times have changed. People are indeed more selfish and will not let a stranger into their home and give them their food clothes etc...when was the last time you had taken a homeless person into your home and gave him/her free clothes or food? Or when was the last time you purchased clothes, made clothes, made food and gave it to shelters? So, really as you can see the average person does not go out of their way to share their values, thus times have changed. People that are working hard for God by making little to no money by selling Bibles, doesn't bother me one bit.

Answer 4

First I'll comment on all them "trinkets" and stuff.

I don't see it. I mean, "Christian" playing cards? "Christian" ashtrays? Where does it end?

But, as long as there's a market for them - as long as people are willing to pay a "fair" price for them, oh, well???

I DO enjoy wearing a "Christian" T-shirt identifying who I am. After all, I've seen some pretty RUDE T-shirts that people don't mind wearing. so if it's ok for them to advertise that they're idiots, I guess it's ok for me to advertise that I'm a Christian.

As far as Bibles go, that IS important enough to sell - even in Walmart!

It costs money to print the Bibles. It costs for ink, paper, electricity to run the presses (or did you think someone still uses a quill and copies them by hand?). The people operating the presses need to eat also, so their salary has to come from SOME where.

Now, if you DO want a Bible, but you can't afford one, the Gideons have been distributing Bibles freely for years. They are paid for by donations, usually by the members themselves in many cases, so that a person who NEEDS a Bible (or just simply WANTS one) can have one.

The Gideons distribute them to students, hospitals, motels, fire fighters, police officers, nurses, et cetera, and it doesn't cost a cent to the person receiving it.

Just out of curiousity, who IS having the "last laugh"? what exactly do you mean??? I mean, everybody gets what they want. People buy things because they WANT them, whether it has a "Christian" slogan, emblem or logo, or some "BUD-WI-SER" logo, or the name of their college or university imprinted on it. People don't buy things just so they can lose their money! Everybody wins. Everybody is happy.

One additional comment to jab h:
You better not buy food! Those people just want your money! They must be a cult!!!!! And what about your clothes? THEY just want your money, also!!! Better not buy clothes, either. Oh, and what about your rent? and the cost of your electricity? Perhaps you would be better off living under a bridge with no clothes, no food, no warmth in winter?

Good grief!!! Somepeople come up with the DUMBEST things to say without really THINKing about it!

Answer 5

One of my favorite stores is Evangel. I know I can always go there and find the perfect gift for my Christian friends and family. The fact that they make a profit from selling such items as Christian books and Bibles, is QUITE acceptable. I see absolutely nothing wrong with it. If they didn't sell such things, we couldn't BUY them and we would have to give secular gifts instead of spiritual ones. And we certainly can't expect them to give away things that cost money to print and package, can we? ;-)

God bless!

Answer 6

Any business has risks and can only stay in operation as long as the income exceeds the expenses. So no, I have no problem with charging for producing the Bibles and other material. However I think it would be great if you were to undertake the task of producing them at your expense if this is keeping you awake at night. When can I expect the first free Bible from you?

Answer 7

Even God stated that the priest should get 10% in the bible because they did not own land. People need to make a living and it cost money to make and sell products. Regardless of the item. Maybe these people sell these things because they feel like it is Gods will. God knows that people need to make a living, he just is concern if you did it honestly.

Answer 8

It costs to produce anything , including bibles . Those involved must eat , pay taxes or high rents , but clothing , and thousands of other necessities . The money has to come from somewhere. Business is business whether it's bibles or base-ball bats .
( I'm not a Christian either ) .

Answer 9

Even when I was a Xian that aspect of Xianity bothered me. If getting the word out was so important, then why does it cost anything? It's not about just having a bible these days. It has to be the correct translation, references, leather cover, gold leaf. I mean, come on! It's all about the mighty dollar.

Answer 10

The jehovahs' witnesses are the worse. They inundate you with their speeches, then they ask if you want a pamphlet. When you take it from them, they tell you that'll cost you blah-blah.!!

Let them profit from their myths. Who really cares. They're just hurting themselves.

They sell miracle 'holy water', handkerchiefs, oils, stones, sticks off the cross, what else??!??