Gift shop in a church biblical? You missed the whole point of the story.

I was recently asked this question, "How come churches can have gift shops and sell stuff? Like biblically?" Without thinking much about the question I responded, "I guess to provide the resources a believer needs to grow in knowledge and strengthen their walk." I was told, "No, the church could not biblically have gift shops according to Mark 11:15-17. The same story is also mentioned in Matthew 21:12-13, Luke 19:45-46 and in John 2:13-21.

So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” Mark 11:15-17

First, let me say the story takes place in a temple and not a church, but the reason Jesus was angry and put the moneychangers and people who sold doves, sheep and oxen in the temple out was because they were doing it out of greed. They were using a form of godliness as a means of gain and it repulsed Him. Even the religious leaders of the temple were in on it. It was all a monopoly to get the people's money for themselves. It had nothing to do with God and that is why Jesus was angry because God's house was to be a place where people could go and be reconciled with Him. Even though sacrifices were required by God at that time, the religious leaders used it as a means to enrich themselves by saying the sacrifices the people were bringing were not worthy and so they had to buy the sacrifices the leaders said were worthy. What a coincidence the sacrifices that were worthy could be bought there in the temple. Hmm... What Jesus was actually saying is, "Stop making My Father's house a market place." In other words, He was angry because people were being cheated and taught that reconciliation with God was something that could be bought and we know that's not true. It's a free gift. 

I woke up this morning with the subject on my mind. I wanted to share a couple of things about this because this subject can be a stumbling block for people with sincere hearts seeking to serve the Lord. The point of the story was missed by this sincere brother, just as it is missed by many others causing them to interpret it incorrectly. Then judging or preventing themselves from receiving from ministries or ministers who sell teachings, prophetic art etc. in church gifts shops.

Remember, the main reason the Lord was filled with zeal and threw out the moneychangers is because of the corruption, but there's more to the story. We will find it in the book of John.

Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. John 2:13-21

In the last verse we see Jesus is referring to His body as the temple of God because that is where the Holy Spirit was residing. Holy Spirit was not in the temple Jesus was driving the moneychangers out of, He was at that very moment living in Jesus, a temple not built with man's hands.

“God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things." Acts 17:24-25

 

So the real question that needs to be answered is, where is the temple of God today? For the correct and accurate answer go look in the mirror. You are the temple of God today. You were not made with man's hands. God formed you in your mother's womb. Jeremiah 1:5 and Psalm 139:13

 

 

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

 

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. 2 Corinthians 6:14-16

 

It is clear in the scriptures mentioned above that God lives in us today. So we are the temple of God today, right? Then how do we apply Jesus' way of dealing with money changers in the temple today because He was clearly not referring to a church building, right? Read 1 Corinthian 6

 

 

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:15-20

 

So what should we be overturning in the temple of God today? Sin. Clear and simple, it is sin that we should be overturning in our lives today. The apostle Paul gives us example how to overturn the money changers in God's temple today.

 

but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected. 1 Corinthians 9:27 HNV and Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. 2 Corinthians 6:15

 

So does God have a problem with churches having bookstores or gift shops? Clearly the answer is no.

 

 

Does God have a problem with people being dollar driven? Clearly the answer is yes, but being dollar driven is not a temple matter, as of a building, but it is a heart issue.

 

 

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10

 

It's okay to have gift shops and bookstores in a church and if you have a problem with it find a church that doesn't have a gift shop or bookstore that you can go to, but do go to church. Be at peace with the household of God.

 

Receive this blessing:

 

May the Lord bless you and keep you,
May the Lord make His face shine upon you;
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

His best to you,

Samuel - Smashing Pillars...raising sons

 

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