Fundamental
Evangelistic Association
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©FOUNDATION
A MAGAZINE OF BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALISM
Dennis W. Costella, Editor; Karel Beyer, Production Manager; Matt
Costella,
Copy Editor
M.H. Reynolds, Jr. (1919-1997), Founding Editor
A House of Merchandise
by Morris Humphrey Roach, Th.D.
Bibliotheca Sacra, A Theological Quarterly, July 1934
IS THE
TENDENCY to make the church an emporium at variance with God's instruction? Are Jesus'
words "Make not my Father's house an house of merchandise" apropos? Should
Paul's teaching on Christian giving be disregarded?
The majority of Protestant churches are continually, or at
intervals, engaged in merchandising plans to aid in the support of the church. Nationally
promoted plans, as well as local schemes, have enjoyed the enthusiasm of an unquestioning
church. There has not lacked ingenuity to devise plans, but there has lacked the spiritual
integrity to despise them. The church has been solicited by commercial enterprises to
prostitute her ideals of Christian giving for a two percent profit. Dinners, card parties,
raffles, food sales, plays, musicals, etc., ad infinitum, have also been promoted
in the interest of church financing. This is merchandising for the sake of the Gospel. It
is selling something in order to apply the profits to Christian work. The worthiness of
the purpose does not recommend the method. "The end does not justify the means."
No matter how freely a purchase is made, it is not a gift. If it is right for a church to
be an emporium, Paul was wrong in s teaching on Christian giving. If merchandising in the
house of God is right, then Jesus was wrong in driving business out of the temple.
The purging of commercialism from the temple occurred on
two different occasions. The first was probably early in the public ministry of our Lord
and at the Passover season (John 2:13-16). The second was on the day of the Triumphal
Entry (Matt. 21:12, 13; Mark 11: 1518; Luke 19:45, 46). The "zeal" for the house
of God burned within Him as He witnessed the market scene in the outer court of the
temple. He was "eaten up" with indignation at the abuse of getting and spending
in the Father's house. It is true that the oxen, sheep and doves were needed for the
sacrifices and that change was needed for the temple tax. Some have maintained that for
these reasons a certain amount of shopping was necessary; but Jesus did not try to reform
the "den of thieves," neither did He try to reduce the excessive prices being
charged. The house of prayer had been transformed into a house of merchandise. He
energetically purged the temple of its commercialism by casting out those who bought as
well as those who sold. Amidst the scene of overturned tables, scattered money and the
exodus of angry merchants with beasts and doves our Lord utters, with all the passion of
His indignation, "Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of
merchandise."
In addition to the example and teaching our Lord gives on
the propriety of running a business in connection with the house of God, we have the
positive instruction of Paul on the matter of Christian giving. This strikes more directly
at the modern problem because merchandise is not only in connection with the church but
also, in very fact, a means of support for the church. Buying is not giving, and
Paul stresses giving as the only method of supporting the Lord's work (2 Cor. 8 and 9).
Giving is a Christian "grace" which is expected
of all those who have first given themselves to the Lord (2 Cor. 8:5, 7). The method is
for "everyone" to give on the "first day of the week ... as God has
prospered" (1 Cor. 16:2). The principle of the collection is not the tithe. The tithe
was a necessity under the law. The Christian grace of giving is not "of
necessity" (2 Cor. 9:7). The gift is to be given cheerfully and willingly (2 Cor.
9:7). Willingness alone is not sufficient but should be accompanied by "a performance
also out of that which ye have" (2 Cor. 8:11). Giving is an expression of the purpose
of the heart (2 Cor. 9:7) and is to be prosecuted as the Lord "hath prospered"
(1 Cor. 16:2). The tithe antedates the law and runs throughout Scripture. Christian giving
should not be less than the tithe, and the motive might well prompt a larger gift.
Sacrificial giving is the touchstone for the support of
the Lord's work. It is the only type of giving that reaches the life of the giver and
consequently commands his interest. Purchasing items to have profit accrue to the church
is too impersonal. The communicant's grace of giving is not exercised by a medium of
barter. The direct and outright gift is an expression of the heart's desire and interprets
both faith and appreciation in terms of practical help. The example of the Macedonian
church is that out of their "deep poverty" they gave sacrificially.
The result was that it "abounded unto the riches of
their liberality." They did not make poverty an excuse (2 Cor. 8:2) neither did the
"poor widow" (Luke 21:1-4). They did not wait to be urged or primed by a special
campaign. The fact of their liberality was noteworthy, not for the amount given,
but the amount remaining for the giver. It was not the largeness of the gift in God's
sight, but the display of the heart's desire. After giving themselves to the Lord, the
material ministry came as a fruit of their spirituality.
The motive which prompts such giving is the person of
Jesus Christ. Giving is "to prove the sincerity of your love" (2 Cor. 8:8) and
is "the proof of your love" (2 Cor. 8:24). Love for whom? "For ye know the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became
poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich" (2 Cor. 8:9).
Christ was rich (Heb. 1:2, 3) in possessions, as
"heir of all things"; in ability, as the One by whom the worlds were
made; in glory, as the brightness of the Father's glory; in personality, as
"the express image of his person"; in power, as the One "upholding
all things by the word of his power"; in service, as One who "had by
himself purged our sins"; and in fellowship, as the One who "sat down on
the right hand of the Majesty on high." Christ was rich; but, laying aside His
riches, He, who was "in the form of God," "made himself of no
reputation," took on the "form of a servant," "was made in the
likeness of men," "humbled himself," and became obedient unto the death of
the cross. This was done that His poverty might abound unto our riches.
We are debtors in appreciation of the riches of God's free
grace. We are rich in possessions-"heirs of God and joint-heirs with
Christ" (Rom. 8:17); in ability-"I can do all things through
Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13); in glory-"that we may be also
glorified together" (Rom. 8:17); in personality-a new creature in Christ
(compare John 3:7 with 2 Cor. 5:17); in power-strengthened through Christ (Phil.
4:13 with John 15:5); in service-"created in Christ Jesus unto good
works" (Eph. 2: 1 0); and in fellowship-"so shall we ever be with
the Lord"(I Thess.4:17; John 14:3).
Christian giving is motivated by appreciation of what has
been done for us. A willing gift is a proof of our sincerity and love, and rewards are
added to encourage this type of giving. In the first place, God's love is commended to us
for "God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). In the second place, "It is
more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). It is a means of laying up
"treasures in heaven."
Neither in the example and teaching of Jesus Christ nor in
the instruction of Paul is there any warrant for the money making schemes in the modem
church. Neglecting the love gift, the traffic is in the coin of apathy. Dissipating their
love for their Lord, they barter for a profit. Having no appreciation for the riches
provided through Christ, and no heart of love to mediate the Gospel of His love to all
people, they meagerly support the Lord's work on a profit and loss basis.
Present methods of financing delineate an outwardly
religious but spiritually barren condition in the church. There is probably no more subtle
attack on the effectiveness of church work than the merchandising program. It is a
difficult situation in which to about face; but rich dividends in spiritual growth, in
church financing and in Christian service await the churches that will cease merchandising
and apply the teaching of Scripture.
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