The previous article talked about the importance of taking action when others are keeping people from worshiping God. Let’s take another look at the same passage, and then ask a more challenging question. You don’t have to come to the same conclusions as me, but maybe we can offer each other something to think about.
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
Mark 11:15-17 NIV
Here’s the question: Is it OK for churches (including the congregation that I worship and serve with) to sell things on Sunday morning, whether coffee, breakfast sandwiches, soft drinks, clothing, or other promotions?
Selfishly, I know that my family appreciates being able to acquire caffeine in-between services, but let’s consider what Jesus said: He quoted that God’s house was to be a “house of prayer for all nations”. On a typical Sunday morning that I’m used to, no one has to go through any paywalls or someone selling things in order to give and receive prayer, nor are our church’s sales keeping anyone from worshiping God.
Jesus also quoted that people had made the temple “a den of robbers”, suggesting that the merchants were exploiting visitors to the temple. If we were to say that participants in the Sunday morning service couldn’t attend unless they were wearing a certain church-branded shirt, or if they could only give their tithes and offerings in a special token-based currency, I think that we would be guilty of the same thing (especially if our prices and exchange rates were unfair). However, offering conveniences and goods at a fair price as part of our community doesn’t seem – at least to me – to make us a “den of robbers”.
On the other hand, (mentioned by Black, p.202), the destruction of another – earlier – temple is prophesied after Jeremiah 7:11, which is the passage apparently referenced by Jesus here. We shouldn’t expect to be blocking people from worshiping God, or taking advantage of them, and still expect Him to bless us.
The Lookout also points out the “for all nations” portion of Jesus’ statements. Just as the money-changers were likely charging unfair rates for out-of-town visitors to the temple, if we create any obstacle for people of all backgrounds to worship God with us, we’re kind of standing in the way, aren’t we? This is the opposite of the actual scope of God’s love, as described in John 3:16.
For instance:
- This might be shaming a visitor (or looking at them funny) for what they look like or how they are dressed.
- It might be ignoring someone who looks like they don’t know where to go.
- Or maybe we don’t explain the service as we go through it, so that someone who doesn’t know our traditions feels awkward.
- …and there are other things that we can do to either block or take advantage of others who want to worship God, but who aren’t like us.
There’s another way to look at this, too: A commentator (Black, p.200-202) suggests that the commercial activity was set up in the Court of the Gentiles, so a place specifically intended for people of other nations had been turned into a market. So, if we told some people that they could only worship God in the café when they attended services, but we stood nearby loudly talking about coffee and T-shirts while they are trying to worship God, I guess that we would be guilty of the same sort of thing.
So, it seems to me that not all business held in the proximity of the church is inherently sinful. (In fact, I believe that at least some of the funds raised on Sunday mornings within my congregation go directly towards missions.) However, we must accept that this comes with a responsibility to ensure that it is always secondary to what is more important: connecting people with Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for April 2, 2023
References:
- The Lookout, April 2, 2023, © 2022 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Mark, by Allen Black. © 1995 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 