Churches & money-Making Programs together -- is it Biblical?

[jprieto]

I know local pastors that have gotten involved in money-making opportunities to help the church financially...

Most of those programs I'm not crazy about (except for one), but they have indeed raised funds to help their church.

But is this Biblical?

Church & State

Church & Money

Is this ethical?

A new federal law prohibits monopoly in the energy industry. Now there are several companies competing with each other to provide electricity to residential and commercial users.

I got involved with a company that will pay me a monthly commission each time a person I refer to them pays their electric bill.

A friend of mine rapidly got involved in this and makes over $10k weekly. You can imagine how well his tithing does for his church.

Anyways, I wanted to approach some other pastor and get them involved in this (im making about $1,00 weekly, but im only in it for 2 months).

How will God see this?

Would you recommend that I do NOT get the pastors involved?

The company prefers to use their advertising dollars in paying commissions than to waste it in printing and mailing out propaganda which are not read and are quickly discarded in the trash can.

I created a web page to explain how it works (see my signature)

BUT ....

I want to know what YOU think HOW I am seeing by God from a Biblical perpective.

I do NOT want to approach the local pastors UNTIL I get your feedback as to whether it is proper or not

Since this company has converted their marketing into multi-level, it will serve the churches well financially. Imagine the church getting about $2 or more (per member) EVERY MONTH every time a member pays their monthly electric bill.

And everyone MUST pay for their electricity usage every month ... no matter what.

So why not get a share of their payments for the benefit of the church.

Please, Im at an inner war as to whether to get local churches involved or not .... what Bible verse signals that I should NOT.

I got involved to fund my ministry -- we are a small local house church with emphasis on doing good deeds .... all monies collected are used strictly for good deeds, and members vote as to best to spend it. It is only AFTER we feed, clothe, and shelter the poor that we come forward with the message.

My intent in this thread is to ask your opinion on whether or not I should introduce other churches, big and small, to this money making program.

It is working for us. We do not have to sell anything. We simply recommend people to check out the free presentations by this company.

The guy who got me into this was the BIG BOSS at CHURCH CHICKEN and he quit his job because he now make in a week what he was making in a month.

What say You?

ps: they also provide home internet service, telephone service, satellite tv service, security alarm service, and many more -- each time someone pays for any of these services, they send me a monthly check ... per person, per month

 

[Mexdeaf]

I am a pastor and I refuse to get involved in selling products to my church people. I'll work in any other area but direct marketing or any other scheme that involves convincing my flock or friends to 'sign up under me' as that will only lead to problems and bad feelings down the road. Some of my church members do these type of programs and they frequently cause problems in the church.

I always feel tricked when I am invited to someone's house for 'fellowship' and to turns out to be an Amw*y or AmbIt energy presentation.

 

[Salty]

I trust this is not going too far off OP.
As you mentioned - you only reccomend

But as Mex said, what about business such as Mary Kay (founded on Christian principals)

Is it all right to sell to the ladies of the church, is it okay to solicit new sales rep within the church?

 

[JonC]

I think that the line between church and para-church organizations are often blurred these days.

 

[Mexdeaf]

I trust this is not going too far off OP.
As you mentioned - you only reccomend

But as Mex said, what about business such as Mary Kay (founded on Christian principals)

Is it all right to sell to the ladies of the church, is it okay to solicit new sales rep within the church?

IMHO- sell, yes, but no high-pressure tactics. Solicit people to be under you that you will hold accountable for the inflation of your bottom line- no.

 

[jprieto]

Well, Im still uncetain about this.
There is no pressure placed on the members of the church.
And this program does work -- it has for me and everyone else I have recommended to get involved in it.

My issue here is whether or not MY personal Christian testimony may suffer due to people thinking that Im using Christianity to make money.

I dont use pressure tactics.
I simply show people my bank account online for them to see the weekly deposits and that seem to do the final convincing.

But as for the replies, I dont sense a general agreement IN FABOR or AGAINST IT.

So I guess it is back to prayer for revelation.

EVERYONE has to pay a monthly eletric bill, why not get a small chunk of that money? And why not have pastors benefit from this, too?

If anyone can reply with supporting verses it will be greaty appreciated.

Thanks brothers (and sisters)!!

 

[ktn4eg]

jprieto,

What kind of Better Business Bureau rating does this organization that you are trying to promote on BB have for itself?
------------------------------------------------
Also, some friendly advice:

You might want to check with some BB Moderators/Administrators to ensure that what you are trying to promote on BB doesn't (maybe unintentionally on your part) violate any of BB's laws regarding the contents of things that are posted here on BB.

Not saying that you are violating anything here on BB, but you might possibly be--unintentionally on your part--violating some of the rules that the BB administrators/moderators have established for BB.

Doesn't hurt to be absolutely certain on these matters. You may save yourself some unnecessary grief.

 

[12strings]

1. I don't see anything biblically wrong with a pastor doing side work to make extra money, either for him and his family, or for the church. Our Church's children's pastor started a website that now brings in about $30,000 a year. His stated goal is to grow it big enough so that the church doesn't have to pay him anymore and he can work for free.

2. That said...This sounds fishy, and I think you should run away as fast as you can, especially since as a pastor, people will trust you, and if they do end up losing money, your credibility will suffer, even though you yourself were not trying to decieve them.

 

[Jerome]

Here is Pastor James Merritt. President of the SBC a decade ago, at the pulpit promoting the "Fortune High Tech Marketing" pyramid scheme:

http://vimeo.com/31660219

 

[HAMel]

jprieto, you have to do for yourself.

"I know local pastors that have gotten involved in money-making opportunities to help the church financially..." Your question is, is this okay? My answer would be, only if he wants to.

There's nothing wrong with anyone making money. As for any Pastor, his first responsibility and obligation is to carry out the work of the Lord. The pastor needs to be administering the work of the Lord and others need to be distributing the food.

If a pastor has a sideline financial interest why should that be wrong? Well, if he's using his congregation to enhance his financial endeavors that would be a conflict of interest. But on the other hand, if the Pastor's wife owned a flower shop and members of the church bought flowers from her..., why would that be wrong?

I am in an MLM myself and will soon being another. To use this forum to generate interest and/or leads would be wrong and as such, I've never mentioned or offered it to anyone on here. I've never spoken of my efforts to anyone in my church. However, if one knows I'm in a business and inquires about it I'd certain satisfy their interest. (I did inquire about advertising on this forum but their rates are just outta sight so I moved on.)

It's a known fact that many will be threatened if one they know makes a passionate push toward financial success. They will feel threatened and criticize you to death. Thirty grand a year folks like to hang out with thirty grand a year friends. Fifty grand a year folks like to hang out with their peers as does those who earn 100 grand a year. We are the company we keep.

Money pays for all Christian endeavors. From the local church to missionaries in the field. Christian orphanages. Care for abandoned children. The harvest is great but the laborers are few and, we know the Lord loves a cheerful giver.

My advise is to charge ahead with your endeavor. Make all you can and support the work of the Lord like a crazy man. Do it all for the right reasons and the Lord will bless. Do it for all the wrong reasons and you will reap accordingly.

Do not however use the church, church members, their families, etc., as leads. All many of them will do is get involved, end up failing and ultimately point the finger at you. This hurts MLM's.

ps: Almost everyone in an MLM is earning 10 grand a month. Most accomplish this in six months? Yep, that they do.

pps: This very forum was created I'm sure, by Bible Believing individuals. Do they make money off of it? You know they do and while many on here will take a dim view with a church leader/activist being involved in a sideline business they are helping to support one not even realizing it.

 

[freeatlast]

Well, Im still uncetain about this.
There is no pressure placed on the members of the church.
And this program does work -- it has for me and everyone else I have recommended to get involved in it.

My issue here is whether or not MY personal Christian testimony may suffer due to people thinking that Im using Christianity to make money.

I dont use pressure tactics.
I simply show people my bank account online for them to see the weekly deposits and that seem to do the final convincing.

But as for the replies, I dont sense a general agreement IN FABOR or AGAINST IT.

So I guess it is back to prayer for revelation.

EVERYONE has to pay a monthly eletric bill, why not get a small chunk of that money? And why not have pastors benefit from this, too?

If anyone can reply with supporting verses it will be greaty appreciated.

Thanks brothers (and sisters)!!

In reading both your explanations on this I have a sense of red flags. One reason is that you are appealing to peoples greed (love of money) to get involved in this. I base that on this statement;
"I don't use pressure tactics.
I simply show people my bank account online for them to see the weekly deposits and that seem to do the final convincing."

That is a pressure tactic whether you see it or not as well as a temptation. If you want to give more then do without more, but promoting gimmicks to give while we get I just feel is dangerous.

You are putting too much emphases on giving and opening a door for trouble. That is my opinion.

 

[drfuss]

I don't know if a Pastor making money with another job involving people in his church is right or wrong. However, there are two situations in the Bible that may be related.

1. Under the law, the Levites were given only enough land to provide for their families. As far as I know, there is no instance where the Levites made money to support the Temple.

2. The Chief Priest were making money by over charging for the animals to be sacrificed. We all know what Jesus said about that, i.e. Den of Thieves.

IMHO, a Pastor should not make money by using his position to influence people in the church. Whether he intends to take advantage of his position or not, his position is a factor.

Other other hand, if a Pastor wants to make money by interfacing with people that have no connection with his church, I see no problem.

I was a supervisor in the government for many years. I was forbidden from have a second job that in any way involved those people working with me. It was considered unethical and against the law. It is interesting that the government ethics in this area is higher that those in some churches.

 

[12strings]

I don't know if a Pastor making money with another job involving people in his church is right or wrong. However, there are two situations in the Bible that may be related.

1. Under the law, the Levites were given only enough land to provide for their families. As far as I know, there is no instance where the Levites made money to support the Temple.

2. The Chief Priest were making money by over charging for the animals to be sacrificed. We all know what Jesus said about that, i.e. Den of Thieves.

IMHO, a Pastor should not make money by using his position to influence people in the church. Whether he intends to take advantage of his position or not, his position is a factor.

Other other hand, if a Pastor wants to make money by interfacing with people that have no connection with his church, I see no problem.

I was a supervisor in the government for many years. I was forbidden from have a second job that in any way involved those people working with me. It was considered unethical and against the law. It is interesting that the government ethics in this area is higher that those in some churches.

Excellent points...starting at IMHO. I'm not sure your biblical illustrations prove any points. Paul made tents.