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Is it right?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Ulsterman, Mar 6, 2007.

  1. Ulsterman

    Ulsterman New Member

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    If a church is selling its property (building), is it right to sell to false religious groups, or to someone who may use it for worldly purposes such as a nightclub?
     
  2. bapmom

    bapmom New Member

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    I think perhaps this would fall under the category of eating meat offered to idols. If you KNOW it will be used for something wicked than, IMO, the church should try and find another buyer.

    However, in this world there are no guarantees. What if they sell it to someone who they think is a good church, and it turns out it was a cult?
     
  3. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    In the United States you can't discriminate based upon another groups religious beliefs.

    When a nearby 'First Baptist' church sold their property, a Jewish congregation bought it.

    Unless you sell the property yourself, without a real estate agent, offering it only to those whom you approve, you really have little choice.

    Rob
     
  4. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    I think not discriminating is the best way to go. You aren't promoting a group by selling to them. In the next town over there was a JW's kingdom hall, they built a bigger building and sold their old one, guess whose in it now? A baptist church.
     
  5. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    Sometimes there is very little control over that. I grew up in the First Presbyterian Church in Gulfport, MS which stood right next to the First Baptist Church right on the coast. Both were destroyed by varying degrees by Katrina in 2005. They have since been bulldozed, and the land sold. They did not rebuild there because of insurance and other considerations. No doubt that the land will end up with either a casino on it, or an establishment that supports the industry, since that is what the town now thrives on, a far cry from when I grew up there.
     
  6. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Sell it to them , and charge them double, then take the money and put it to God's use!!!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

    I'm not sure this is legal. So tell em tiny said so.:tonofbricks:
     
  7. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

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    After we built our new church, our old church building was bought by the state. It is used as a school for the mentally challenged.

    I don't think it would be right to sell it to a false religion, a bar, etc.
     
  8. DodgeRamFanatic

    DodgeRamFanatic New Member

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    Yeah, it sounds awful. I heard about a church that shut down and turned into a bar. It's almost like they're giving ground to the ol' Nick himself.
    DRF
     
  9. Bro. James Reed

    Bro. James Reed New Member

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    That's not true. You don't have to sell to anyone you don't like. If I don't want to sell my house to an unmarried couple, I don't have to. If I don't want to sell my house to a non-Christian, I don't have to. Even if I don't want to sell my house to a "certain race" of person, I don't have to.

    The church is no different.

    A person selling a property has every right to remove their property from the market if they don't like who the potential buyers are, or sell to another party, even for a lower price, if they like one potential buyer over another.

    My church did just this a few years ago. We had 2 competing businesses on either side of us. On one side was a small Marble company owned by 2 middle eastern brothers, although both were born here and were Christians. On the other side was a very large manufacturing company. The larger company offered $25,000 more for the property than the other company, but we chose to sell to the Marble company, for the lesser amount, because they were more friendly. The old church building is now renovated and serves as their main office.

    There is no way we would have sold the building to an irreputable person or company, including those ho would advance an ungodly agenda.

    That said, if the Marbel company ever decides to sell, they could very well sell to a strip club or something else of like character. In that, we have no control. (Of course, that may be illegal since there is a large Elementary school right across the street.)

    I can just imagine Fred Phelps and Co. putting their church up for sale and being told they have to sell to a homosexual group because they can't discriminate. It ain't happening.:laugh:
     
  10. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    All they have to do is have a third party buy the property from you and then sell to them. I can't see how you are helping the Lord by not just selling the property and using the money for the Lord's work. If I were an unsavery business that wanted your property, it would be not problem for me to get around you not wanting to sell to a particular party.

    Of course I could see where people would also talk about you if you sold to someone like that. So, I would try to find someone who was a descent company but its not always possible. We do have laws to protect schools and such. I guess it could cause a problem, I would have to really know the situation before saying ya or na. I can see why you are concerned.
     
    #10 Brother Bob, Mar 14, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 14, 2007
  11. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    The church is the people, not the building.

    Now, I would advise to the new owners that the building had been sanctified to the Lord, after that I would just leave it in Gods hand.

    Salty
     
  12. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    I am not sure but think you can stipulate how it may be used before you sell it but the new owner but it would have to be recorded in the new deed. New housing developments do that al the time to increase the sales price and value to tghe new owner.
     
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