Trade Show Exhibit Display Booths

Question for Christians on your churches?

I've noticed that several churches nowadays have booths set up with t-shirts, videos, Bible Studies, etc that can be purchased before and after the service. How is this different from Matthew 21:12-13? http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2021:11-20;&version=31; How would these booths and displays that are so prevalent in the churches today be glorifying to God? Do you feel that they are different from the money changers, if so, how?

Public Comments

1. Christians would just simply die for tacky car souvenirs
2. Where I've seen that stuff sold in churches that I've attended, it's always just sold off for the purchased-price only; the church doesn't make any profit off of it, it's just to offset costs. Like students that buy their books for classes, I suppose. My experience has always been that it's different from the account about the money changers, b/c in these cases no profit's being made and nobody's just setting up like a vendor trying to make a buck. I
3. I'd suspect the items can be purchased any time, not just around the times of the services, when you are there. If people want t-shirts with their church name on them, or study materials, where should the church sell them? Outside, from the trunk of a car? These sorts of sale items are prevalent in the churches you go to, the past six churches I've visited, from three different denominations, didn't have them. If they bother you, go to a smaller or different church. The scripture you linked -- I'd encourage you to read the NRSV, not the NIV -- was people who were making money from the animal sacrifices people were required to make. The scene is representative of the legalism that Jesus came to correct and to change. There's a world of difference between selling t-shirts to people who want them, as a money-making effort for the church, so the money can be put to good use, and the money changers who made personal profits by exploiting the people who were 'required' to make sacrifices. At my church Sunday, we're having a big special event, in the fellowship hall, NOT in the sanctuary. And there is a difference . . . I don't think the people are selling T-shirts in the sanctuary, are they? Again, if it makes you uncomfortable, go to a different church. 12 Then Jesus entered the temple* and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13He said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer”; but you are making it a den of robbers.’
4. If we have a special music performance and the people have tapes and such, we allow them to sell after the performance, but I did not know it was an ongoing thing with some churches. That seems very inappropriate.
5. Good question, and one that has me thinking. Our church has such a booth, mostly for signing up for ministries, Bible studies, you can also purchase a Bible or a book there. CD's are offered for a suggested donation. My feeling is this: the money I pay for a book there is used in the ministry of the church. It's not like the moneychangers in the temple, it doesn't have anything to do with making a sacrifice, it's just a convenient way of studying a particular book. Since we have so many new people coming in, some who have never attended church or don't own a Bible, it is an immediate way for them to get one. BTW, these same items are also offered for free, no charge, kind of an "honor system", you give what you can-no questions asked. I think it really depends on the attitude of the church, the intention of whether it is a service for the congregation, or a way of getting money out of them. In our church, I believe it is a service. (((((((((Searcher))))))))))))))
6. I think it's different,because these things are not things that we need to get in the church, I think back then they needed the birds or whatever for their worship(a sacrifice) and the money changers were cheating people too. when we sale a t shirt or whatever it may be it supports the church and we are not pushing anything on anyone. if someone said,boy I'd like to have one of those but I don't have the money,we would give them one. hope this helped.
7. THE ONLY THING WE HAVE ARE TAPES FROM THE SERVICE WHICH IS TAPE COST ONLY AND THEN ONCE IN A WHILE T-SHIRTS FOR THE TEENS. BUT AS FAR AS BOOKSTORE TYPE THING, NO OUR CHURCH DOESN'T HAVE IT. BUT YOU DO BRING UP SOMETHING INTERESTING. SEE IT WASN'T WRONG TO BUY OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE YOUR SACRIFICE IF YOU DID NOT HAVE ONE, IT WAS THE JACKED UP PRICES THAT MADE THEM THEIVES IN THE TEMPLE.
8. I think that there is a big difference, in the first place whether the Church makes a profit off from them is irrelevant. to see the difference you have to look at the way that the temple that Jesus was so upset about was run. at that time, the only sacrifice that the priest would accept was ones sold in the temple, at an inflated price, because they were guaranteed to meet priestly standards. So to meet the requirements of sacrifice you had to by from the temple. also you had to pay in Hebrew money, while the people at that time only used Roman coin. that is the reason that they had money changers in the temple, so that they could convert your roman coin into Hebrew coin to buy your certified sacrifice with. now for the booths in the Churches, most of these are set up to encourage you, and the price on them are often the same as you would pay at the bible book store, or less.
9. No, they are no different from the money changers only I hope they are not stealing from the saints. This only shows a lack of trust in God for finances. God ment for the church and the pastor to be taken care of by the tithe and offering of the saints. "Try me and see if I will open up the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing" this was not given as prosperity doctrine so the sainrs can be rich but to take care of the house hold of God and his prophet. Of course I know people will refute this by saying that was under law. Hey did not Abraham pay the tithe before the law?