Is Church Marketing A Sin?
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Is Church Marketing A Sin? This question seems to be one which has lead many people to my blog and I think it is definitely worth discussing here.
I think we first have to look at the word “marketing”. Dictionary.com lists two main definitions:
- The act of buying or selling in a market.
- The total of activities involved in the transfer of goods from the producer or seller to the consumer or buyer, including advertising, shipping, storing, and selling.
Nothing there seems to go against the Bible – unless the activity might happen to involve something immoral or illegal. The Bible also contains stories of people who would more than likely sell their products or services; artisans, weapon makers, blacksmith’s, fishermen, doctors, shepherds, etc. Marketing in an honest form appears to not be sinful in and of itself.
The next roadblock and some of the arguments against church marketing are usually based off of Matthew 21:12-13; Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, ” ‘My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.”
Does this scripture really apply to marketing a church? After all, the money-changers were selling their goods in the temple for a dishonest and unfair gain which is definitely wrong. The temple also wasn’t a place of worshiping God anymore and instead became a market place. No doubt this would upset Jesus and dishonor God because coming together as a church is for the purpose of worship, disciplining, and fellowship not for business transactions and networking.
But if we base our church marketing argument on this piece of scripture it would also be possible to think that Jesus meant He didn’t want people hocking their wares in church at all. Could selling goods in the church – baked pies, sermon messages, books, or worship CD’s be sinful activities? Most people would say no because these acts are not done in a way that dishonors God and actually helps spread the Gospel.
So what is the case of people thinking church marketing is a sin? What is it that doesn’t fit with the two words church and marketing? I’ll explore my hypothesis in the second part of this series.
I guess it depends on your definition of the term ‘church marketing’. I don’t think there is anything wrong with promoting (or marketing) a church in order to increase the congregation. Indeed, most churches will already perform some form of marketing without making an active effort – simple things like a sign outside the church detailing the theme of the week’s sermon is marketing – but where the waters get a bit muddier is when the Church is perceived to be marketing in order to increase revenue. Printing church brochures is something that can help bring people into the church and is less ’sinful’ (to me, at least) than selling goods in the church itself.
You know where I stand on this.
Doing marketing for the church that is mediocre…that is what we should be ashamed of.
@ Chris – Thanks for stopping by and commenting…and you’re right – most churches DO already perform some form of marketing (bulletins, signs, stickers) so either they are all sinning or it has to do with something else. That’s part two.
@Michael – Yes, you and I have talked extensively about it! We don’t want to do mediocre stuff but we also don’t want to create slick car ads either – which will also be discussed in part two.
[...] Posted on Jpm3upmThu, 20 Mar 2008 16:10:33 +000008 5, 2007 by James Dalman In part one of “Is Church Marketing a Sin” I talked about if the problem of marketing a church is wrong or a sin. While I came to the [...]
Selling Goods in the church is wrong every which way you slice it. Preachers should not worry about getting extra money, or drawing in more people because first of all the Lord said a cattle on a thousand hills is his and he will provide, and second of all if the preacher is right the holy spirit will lead them, and God will increase the numbers abundantly.
Thanks for the post. I understand where Deshunta is coming from but I do not think there is grounds to say that all selling in church is wrong. Personally I think that if a person likes a particular message the church can sell a DVD or CD to them. Also a great book store is a priceless treasure in a church. People can get a book after church that helps them throughout out the week. Also a coffee shop can create a time of fellowship after and before services. I do not think that trying to make an enormous profit is not acceptable.
Those are just my thoughts.