Is it okay to sell stuff at church or a Christian conference?


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This message is taught by Amos Johnson Jr, PhD. He leads and pastors Church for Entrepreneurs. God has given him a calling to help believers succeed at their calling. He believes a fulfilled life comes from clearly knowing what God has called you to do and doing it.

Summary of question

The scenario behind this question is they are unsure if they should be a vendor at a particular Christian conference because of how Jesus kicked out the money changers from the temple for transacting business.

Here is a paraphrase of the question …

I want to sell my photos with scripture at a Women’s Christian conference. The conference leaders sell booth space to vendors in the hotel atrium of the conference. The vendors sell a variety of products or services not necessarily Christian based.

The vendors have become a big part of the conference as much as the featured speaker. Is this what Jesus meant about money changers in Matthew 21? My photography is Christian based and I am a Christian and this conference welcomes and encourages us to bring everyone sisters mothers etc, Am I misinterpreting this scripture?

Scripture references for answer

Matthew 21:12-15

[12] And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
[13] And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
[14] And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
[15] And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased,

John 2:13-16

[13] And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
[14] And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
[15] And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;
[16] And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.

Mark 11:11-19

[11] And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
[12] And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
[13] And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
[14] And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
[15] And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
[16] And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
[17] And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
[18] And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.

Proverbs 11:1

[1] A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight.

Proverbs 20:23

[23] Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false scale is not good.


 

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