Sunday Trading
I have recently offered to help at our church's Traidcraft stall which we have after the service once a month. As Traidcraft is a charity, I haven't really felt uncomfortable that this happens. Now we have a very talented young lady who makes cards and sells them with the proceeds going towards the building fund of the church which again I don't have a problem with. But on Sunday there was another stall and I'm starting to feel really uneasy at all the commerce that's going on. Should I be uneasy? Or am I just being silly? Could anyone enlighten me?
posted by Helsalata @ 5:26 pm
7 comments
7 Comments:
hmm... as I read this it reminds me of Jesus and the temple...
Yes! And you weren't even there!
I wouldn't count Traidcraft as commerce. Your object of being there is not to make money.
Ditto the girl for the building fund.
The temple was about people exploiting the worshippers for a quick buck. That seems quite differnet.
No I don't view Traidcraft in that light but I'm unsure about the third table that was set up. I probably need further information but my unease is still there...
I also think having more tables there made me feel more uneasy as one or two tables look like an aside whereas a hall full of tables makes it look like a place of commerce which makes me feel wrong and seems to take the focus away from God.
these things always start innocently ;)
Definition of Commerce:
Commerce is the trading of something of economic value such as goods, services, information or money between two or more entities.
Therefore if traidcraft is selling something at the back of church its still commerce.
I think there should only be two stalls that sell or promote information in a church, the rest should be (sorry for this) removed - but thats my opinion. The two stalls are that which brings revenue in to support the church and hence its operation, and a stall detailing conferences / diary events.
Anything else means it can become a free for all and it would be better to reign it in. If you want to support traidcraft, there should be literature on how to do that available.
Sorry, rant over.
But if selling in church is wrong surely it's wrong for all the stalls, not just the third or fourth ones there?
I'm not comfortable with selling things in church at all, I think it's too consumerist and like Helen said, reminds me of the stalls in the temple - a significant time when Jesus got angry.
The temple people were selling animals to sacrifice etc and although it maybe was an aid to worship Jesus still got angry - would he be just as angry today with our Christian books and merchandise, however helpful they may be.
Selling in aid of a charity does seem different though - but I'm not sure as different as to make it right.
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