How is a church bookstore different than the tables Jesus turned in the temple?

[theearstohear]

Piper avoids the most damning statement of the Lord's indictment, "Take these things hence; make not my father's house an HOUSE OF MERCHANDISE." (John 2:16) This matter is not some enigmatic puzzle we must ponder for ages and never resolve. It seems as simple as answering the question - what is merchandise? It's stuff you sell. Are you selling books? Then you're selling merchandise and making the church a "house of merchandise."

[NoTrueFace1]

My church used to hold various events and fundraisers in the church building. the church is of course a non profit organization in the end, but certain individuals probably did profit from some of those events. It struck me as absurd. At the very least, use the perfectly good gym you have right next to it! i don't know about dens of robbers, but it certainly seemed disrespectful.

[JDLeinweber]

Something I thought of while watching this video:

A good way to avoid looking like you're using the church to make money from the bookstore might be to sell the books at cost. Charge NO MORE than what is necessary to pay for the books themselves, with shipping. That way you lose nothing, and you gain nothing, financially, for making the books available.

[jon083166]

i like john, and agree with him on many things. but here he clearly has admitted that he could be mistaken and i am sure he is. in another passage the word of god condembs the house hold of god being a place of business or merchantise. the church has no business being in business. bake sales or any other means of getting profit is condembed. the only means of income for a church was donations given by only its members.

[MetalSandman999]

@jon083166 What passage(s)?

[jon083166]

@MetalSandman999

really! well matt 21:13, mar 11:17, luke 19:46...i realize that those who have a bias torwards allowing these things will insert things like well they were cheating them...but thats not what it says.. in one of the passages it was called a place of merchandise. now a good argument was that this took place in the old testament under the mosaic law cause christ had not died, but here we clearly see christ setting an example for all worship especially in the nt

[MetalSandman999]

@jon083166 I mean, what other passages; you said there were other passages besides the account of Jesus overturning tables in the temple (which Piper goes over in the video).

[jon083166]

@MetalSandman999

does there really need to be. common sense says there was no authority for it in the first place. 2nd it is simple that god is not involved in buying and selling things even at cost. what seems to be the problem with people just buying it themselves. in this day and age my mother who is 76 can order things online and have them delivered to the front door. why is it an issue. this leaves room for mismanagement, theft, and profiteering. dont say it has not happen

[allM3inM3Christ]

I believe in your case it would be wisest to silently observe, listen, & read with the sincere effort of understanding the faith of Christianity. To speak so thoughtlessly proves you really don't know what it's about. To answer just a couple of your objections: no, most books by living theologians aren't free; & God is good--His mercy is beyond comprehension! This last one can only be understood (& then, barely) w/ an understanding that He freely gives 2 those who humbly seek Him through Christ.

[tempemonkey2323]

I mean "desert scribblings"

[bhz]

The Temple was for the worship of God (Ie. Jesus). Jesus called the merchants robbers who were gouging those who came to give sacrifices. If a church bookstore is charging an exorbitant amount then it has become like the temple robbers. The bookstore at the church where I attend charges at or often below cost. I don't think they operate at a profit. It also sells books for the many classes that take place there. Including an on campus accredited Christian college satellite program.

[pcrvg0808]

I believe Christ was talking about the people who changed the Roman coins into Jewish coins . The Jews didn,t buy their offerings with Roman coins wich had the head of the Roman Emperor on it . For God is the only King they serve .

[s25598]

They cant even get when Lord Jesus Christ died and rose, because it was on wednesday even and rose Saturday nite 3days and 3 nights! Jesus was the Passover Lamb unspotted no sin!! Im a True Christian.

[s25598]

Question is why do you have to have all this book for anyways, it just man or woman's opinion thats why there's so much wrong , The bible is scripture , but Lord Jesus Christ is the Word of God! Thats why man brought in paganism through changing the Sabbath which is Friday sunset to Saturday sunset they changed it to Sunday, brought in easter=ishtar, brought x-mas because Christ is not in it was not born Dec25 but on Tabernacle!!

[TobyKenz1]

My church gets around this by instead having a library in their North Campus that is available to all members. I've always appreciated that.

[tempemonkey2323]

How is this guy different than a guy at the library reading a fairy tale story to kids at the library....... The Difference: The people he is reading the fairy tale to are adults!!!

[fdgdsch]

@tempemonkey2323 What a surprise...yet another Youtube anti-religious bigot critiquing a tradition and philosophy about which they have little or no understanding! If your understanding of Christianity was more "adult", you would learn to be less intolerant of beliefs that you yourself do not hold.

[tempemonkey2323]

@fdgdsch Im adult enough to understand that my family and culture tried to brain was me with these fairy tales.... And I am adult enough to understand that people create social policy based upon fairy tales (its called Christianity).... This pathetic shield from reality is starting to be exposed for what it is.... DANGEROUS LIES!!!!

When Christian dogma leaves science, politics, and education I will leave this site.

[bhz]

@tempemonkey2323 Temple-Monkey that's interesting. Does that mean you desire to be worshiped?

[tempemonkey2323]

@bhz Read my name again.. Why are xians have a worshiping complex. To you guys, either everyone should be worshiping an imaginary friend or they want to be worshiped. If you put down the dessert scribblings, you may realize that people are not worthless amoral dirt bags who all have power complexes. I, for one, am a pretty nice person who cares about others, I have self worth and I DO NOT deserve eternal torture, and I get really frustrated at those who have no respect for evidence and reason.

[bhz]

@tempemonkey2323 "Xians"- I like that and use it often. It usually stirs up interesting discussions among Xians especially regarding Xmas and how the Greek letter X-chi was used as a marketing abbreviation for Christmas. 

[bhz]

@bhz Re: screen name Sorry Tempe (Arizona) got it thanks.

[allM3inM3Christ]

John Piper has many of his books on PDF at his website for free! Entire books!

[tempemonkey2323]

@allM3inM3Christ Harry potter commentary may have more relevance to reality though. Maybe. You do realize that the bible is just an ancient fairy tale about a horrific god type fellow. And this guys commentary... well.... lets just say its a commentary on make believe garbage designed to scare us of death and lure us with eternal bliss. Follow this or die and if you do you will be rewarded. Classic brainwashing garbage.... Of course its free!!!..... How can you call the god of the bible good?

[bhz]

@tempemonkey2323 There is a great deal of Historical Data that supports the events of the bible. Take some time and read the bible and compare it to secular archeological evidence, the ancient civilizations mentioned in the bible such as ancient Babylon, Greece, Rome as well as the history of Israel as a nation. While this may not prove the existence of a good God to you, it does lend historical evidence that refutes the "Ancient Fairy Tale" view. BTW, God is Just, Patient, Merciful and Good.

[the13thof12]

They were probably over-charging the poor people.

[lommylom]

gee um lets see.... they were in the TEMPLE OF GOD

[SacredSocietyAP]

The next time you go in your church bookstore or whatever they are selling..ask them for a receipt and pay taxes...They are required to pay taxes on everything they sell from a bible to a cd or anybook...If they don't charge you tax they might not be paying it either..Most people don't know that Churches aren't 100% tax free.

[aarontrombley]

I mean, all the books in the church book store just try to expound on whatever series of sermons and doctrinally congruent messages that church is trying to sell. It's basically like a gym that seems 'Life water' and crap like that. But, shouldn't the flock be strong enough not to need that? Shouldn't the Shepard have equipped them readily enough? How much of this revenue is streamed toward the church? And the part about the upselling bibles in the welcome message..plays right into there fiscal.

[aarontrombley]

27.50 for the Purpose Drive Life is robbery.

[sungmee45]

If God provides all things, why would Church bookstore need to collect any money? Instead of just provided it for free. Christ said, as freely as you have receive, freely give. Part of me do understand the Q., I too agree that church should not charge people money for the material provided in the bookstore. Specially if will help individual in their relationship with Jesus Christ and the Father..This is my option.

[sicstyl]

Here's an answer... Someone with a question like the one in this video is spending too much time accusing the church and not enough time on the message the church is sending. If a church is attempting to make money in an un-Godly way, it'll be obvious in the manner in which the Gospel is preached, how sin is treated; the overall Christ centered-ness (or lack thereof) of the church will reveal the motives that follow.

[SoldierofChrist87]

I like Sanderson1611's video about this called "Houses of Merchandise".

[810suited]

sanderson 1611 is a false teacher

[SoldierofChrist87]

Proof from the bible of that being true?

[810suited]

I would be willing to discuss this over messaging

[hubbs86]

it's really pretty simple. The sellers were overcharging for sacrifices...sacrifices that were for the purpose of having their sins forgiven. therefore, frankly, they were blackmailing peoples sin for huge profits.

The whole 'bookstore at church' thing i think he handles well. i dont think you can make a biblical case for not having books forsale at church, but it's a matter that requires caution and wisdom on the part of the leadership.

[gondorking86]

"If someone bought a lamb outside the Temple, he had to take it to be inspected by the priests and declared without blemish or spot; or he could buy a lamb already certified by the priests within the Temple complex. Most people bought lambs in the Temple, knowing from bitter experience that the priests could almost always manage to find some minute imperfection on any animal from the outside." - Ceil & Moishe Rosen, Christ in the Passover, 2006 Moody Publishers, Chicago