Poor People: Church Sin
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!”
John 2:14-16 (NKJV)
Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” He said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of robbers.’ ”
Matthew 21:12-14 (NIV)
When a whip-flashing Jesus got angry with covetous temple merchandisers, calling them out and flipping their tables– because He had witnessed them routinely…
Profiting from visitors seeking God,
Taking advantage of naivety,
Charging unfair currency exchange rates,
Inflating the price of sacrifices,
Putting a price on hope, faith, and worship! *
He commanded: 'Stop making My Father's house a place of business' (John 2:16).
Something I ponder: Did Jerusalem’s top priests take a cut? Looking at their shrewdness, priorities, and ostentatious lifestyles… perhaps so!
Was it justified as a win-win-win? The sellers, the buyers, and God Himself?
To consider churches as businesses seems reasonable. They have bills to pay. But among those working for God full-time… some big questions must be asked and answered:
Are we seeking 'First His Kingdom and His righteousness' (Matthew 6:33)?
Are we trusting Him first for all our needs?
Or have we become savvy businessmen, seeking first a profitable lifestyle… profiting from the tithes of poor people?
Because if profit becomes our first focus, if show-off pastors in show-off buildings speak show-off sermons with “me-first” choices… then we may face the scouring whip of Christ.
How can we know good shepherds from the bad? 'You will know them by their fruits' (Matthew 7:16).
Consider two ways:
Does your church keep its focus on the poor? Because the King of kings focused on them. He was pointedly, remarkably clear: how we treat the poor is how we treat Him.**
Do your pastors example Christ off-stage? Do they speak, live, and love like Jesus did? Are they unselfishly more than willing to sacrifice their time (and themselves) for us?***
Poor People: Church Sin (Part 24)
NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players.’ Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES & RESOURCES:
* Jesus driving out the temple profiteers:
John 2:14-16 NASB - And within the temple grounds He found - Bible Gateway;
Matthew 21:12-13 NASB - Cleansing the Temple - And Jesus - Bible Gateway
* Interesting article and cool song on the subject:
Would Jesus Turn Over Tables in Today’s Church?
* Judgment criteria:
Matthew 25:31-46 NKJV - The Son of Man Will Judge the Nations - Bible Gateway
*** The Good Shepherd v. the Hireling: