Buying and Selling in the Church

Buying and Selling in the Church

John 2:12-17 KJV

[12] After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.

[13] And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

[14] And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

15] And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;

[16] And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.

17] And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

For More Teaching and Preaching

Introduction

One of the common practices in churches today is the buying and selling of goods. I believe that Christ is not happy with many churches today because they have turned the house of God into something else. A place of buying and selling instead of a place where Christ is exalted.

And I believe that if Christ were to enter some churches today, he would wipe some pastors out of the church because they have polluted the place where his name should be magnified.

I want to share with you some observations in this passage with us to see what God thinks about buying and selling in the church.

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A. There must be a separation between God’s Business and Personal business.

Ezekiel 22:26 KJV

[26] Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

There are churches building schools charging money for people to attend schools, building shops, guest houses, churches into transportation, bakery, and many other things churches are involved in with the aim of making money for the church. Many of our Bible Believing churches are into buying and selling, and I believe that many are into this because of ignorant.

Why do you need such money if you are not being covetous? The more churches get involved in worldly business, the more their heart will be cold towards the things of God.

– People go to the temple for prayers

Example- Acts 3, they went to the temple at the hour of prayer.

People are not praying anymore, but they just go to attract business partners, instead of going to church to connect and communicate with the God of Heaven, they are busy looking for another person to discuss their business with.

– People go to the temple to offer unto the Lord

And some people just go there to sell their personal stuff, and they are not interested at all in spiritual matters.

And this is the state of many worshippers today, all they go to do in church is to make connections and network with others. There is a place for everything, and coming to church to do your personal business will take your mind off what you are supposed to do in the church.

Elijah and the Secret of His Power- Part 2

– People go to church to do God’s business.

People often say, the church is not a business place, but I disagree with them, the church is a business, but it is God’s business. God’s business is the greatest business in all over the world.

Luke 2:49-50 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

And they understood not the saying which he spoke unto them.

What is God’s business? It is gospel. We are to go out and make sure people hear about Christ Jesus and his work of redemption for mankind.

Ezekiel 44:23 KJV

[23] And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

Is Anything Too Hard For the Lord?

B. Selling of Religious Materials Should Kept Outside of the Church

Okay now?

We are just selling religious stuff, is there any problem with that pastor? We are just selling Christian books, anointing oil, protective chains, pictures of our founder, holy water, holy shoes, holy clothes, and so on.

When Christ drove these people out, they were not only selling worldly things, but they were selling doves, oxen, and sheep. All these things are needed in the temple for sacrifice, but Christ rebuked and scourged them outside because that is not a proper place for them to be selling those things.

Some churches know that some people will not give, therefore, they have already placed advertisements of things that will attract the people, they sell them, “my business go do well handkerchief” “My husband go love me soap”, and so many mouth-watering things.

The problem is, people, place their trust in those things rather than the maker of those things. In this church, as long as I am the pastor, and the Lord continues to bless you to give, we will make sure that everything is free in this church. I mean everything is free of charge, and we will not sell anything at all.

Christ is against buying and selling in the church.

C. Things Should Be Given Freely in the Church

I believe that things should be given freely, or people should be given the liberty to buy their things outside, and not inside the church.

For example, if we want to have a special program, this church should not get to the point of going outside to buy clothes in bulk, and then asking people to pay for the clothes. They can always go outside to buy their own clothes and use it for the special program.

This has caused problems for so many churches.

You see, whenever you move your focus from what Christ has commanded us to do, there will be chaos and confusion. And it is the reason why many churches are divided today.


Acts 6

Act 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

The first deacons were selected to take care of the widows and help with the distribution of food for free.

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Conclusion

There is no justification for buying and selling in the church, and I pray that Christ comes and begins the judgment in the house of God because many churches are making merchandise of God’s people.

And I pray that God’s people will desist from such practices in the house of God. It distracts your attention from the main business of the church.

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God bless you.