WATCHWORD:
13 It was Passover, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple colonnade area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” John 2:13-16
Meditation:
Marketing or Worshipping?
There are several televangelists that I follow regularly. I tune in to TBN for Allen Jackson Ministries, Pastor Robert Morris, Joyce Meyer, Steven Furtick, David Jeremiah and occasionally others. Most of the time their messages are thought-provoking, and some have inspired these devotionals, Watchwords.
But I have a puzzlement and it’s related to the John 2 passage. One of the things that each of these teachers/preachers have in common is they all seem to be hawking a book, a video, a cruise to Alaska, or products like collagen. Now I would be remiss if I didn’t admit that I bought some of those books and I would love to go on a cruise to Alaska, but there’s a part of me that does not have a positive reaction when I hear some of the ads which follow closely behind a truly blessed sermon. The unspoken message seems to be, I’ve done my part, now it’s time for you to pay the piper, buy my book. (One pastor tells us to buy his daughter’s book!)
What happens, too often, is that after listening to an excellent message, I leave the broadcast upset because they’re trying to sell me something. I’m fully aware that it takes money to keep these programs on the air, which means marketing the writings of these pastors, or simply selling stuff. You and I have been to events where something is being given to us and then an announcement is made about a ‘free will’ offering. For the most part, that gives us the freedom to give, often beyond the value of what we have received. I have a book or two by one of the above-named authors where I paid more than the value of the book, according to the price on the cover, when I was simply asked to make “a contribution of any amount in support of this ministry.”
I do not equate such marketing as being related to tithing. In my mind, “In support of this ministry,” has nothing to do with tithing. We tithe in recognition of the fact that it all belongs to the Lord, and we are stewards of what belongs to the Lord. Our tithe is our way of expressing our gratitude for the blessings we have received. Not that our buck buys something.
If I had been there in Jesus’ day, watching him express his anger at what was going on within the colonnade of the temple, I would like to believe that I would be cheering for Him, thinking it’s about time we got those bulls and goats and birds, and all their droppings, out of the church. But I wonder.
We may not be so blatant as to bring animals into our sanctuaries, guide dogs, maybe, and there have been other exceptions. One church, I’ve been told, regularly has snakes as an occasional sermon illustration. I have attended some heifer programs in churches which included a selection of animals, but it is an exception, it’s a good cause…isn’t it? Hmm. Bad example.
What do you think? How holy is the House of God where you worship? I believe we should keep marketing out of worship. How about you?
Closing Prayer:
Dear Father God, thank You for your countless blessings and the challenges that draw us near to You. Thank You for challenging moments when You gave us the strength we need to wait out the storm. You are so good and You help us deal with whatever storms come into our lives. You are our rock and shelter. Thank You for the graces that fill our lives, that lift us up beyond the darkness that sadness brings and instills in us the absolute faith that You are there and that You never fail. Thank You for your sustenance that fills me, your light that surrounds me, and your love that never fails. In Jesus name Amen.
