piano lessons at church

I personally think people take this Biblical principal too far! I think God does not want his house to be known as a place to purchase goods. I know of a church that turned the basement into a restaurant. - The Rib Crib. As far as providing a service - I see nothing wrong with it. And how many churches allow groups to come in and sing and then sell their tapes and cds at the back of the church...I really don't see anything wrong with it. Some churches even operat small christian bookstores for their members and visitors.

 

The money changers story is a "whole 'nother" issue.
I am a piano teacher, too, and I teach from my home (the parsonage). I believe that regenerating church musicians is part of my calling. Therefore, I give 3 "scholarships" to students who couldn't take lessons otherwise. I also have some I "barter" with - like two sisters who watch my children in exchange for free lessons. There is also a student whose mother is a photographer, and we barter, too. We are in the country, too, so I also charge waaay less than the going rate in the city. We hold recitals at the church and no one has had a problem with it. Sometimes I give the lessons at the church when the need arises or close to recital time.

And if someone is going to learn to play the organ, they pretty much have to learn at church! What better place is there that can provide a positive and supportive learning environment.

But if folks have a problem with it, maybe you should just teach at home. It doesn't seem like a hill worth dying on. Just my opinion!
Best wishes!
TaterTot

 

Does your church secretary run the church?

 

dcor, this is the thing. The money changers story was one of abuse. What they would do would be to take all the money and exchange it for temple money. they really started to abuse it. Jesus didn't attack every temple for money changing, he attacked one. So the theroy that you could give piano lessons at church is a sound one but, most if not all Baptist fundamental churches want no kind of appearance of evil, so they cut it out totally. That way there is nothing to defend.

 

It looks to me like what is wrong is that the church secretary thinks she is in charge. Who appointed her to make this decision?

If you are a church member teaching church kids, I don't have a big problem with it.

 

I think it's totally wrong, but as it's already going to cause a problem, I wouldn't push it. If it appears she made this decision on her own though, I might approach the pastor with something like this:
"Pastor, I was really hoping to be able to help the students here afford music lessons, and thought it would be convenient to offer them right here since the room, the instruments, and the students are already here. I was told that this isn't allowed to happen because it would be like the money changers in the temple. I don't understand why it's like that and although I want to keep the peace and not make a big fuss over this, I'd like a bit more explanation on how adding an elective class would be doing that."

This way the pastor would be aware of the situation, nobody directly is named so nobody gets defensive, and he has the opportunity to either get this on the road to happening, or providing you with a more satisfactory explanation.
Gina

 

Good advice, Gina! I'll second that.

 

Always go to the pastor before planning to do something at the church that you know isn't a normal activity. Secrateries do not run the church. I see no problem with makeing new musicians for the church by training them. Your church has a school, I wonder if they charge? If she going to miss apply scripture I wonder if she applies it to the school?

 

That was a common complaint in teh early church. In Acts 6, Peter and the others gave a solution ... deacons ...

 

Since you mention that it will be after school, which is at the church, why not "sell" the idea as an extension of the SCHOOL's program, not the CHURCH's or your own business?
Jesus didn't drive the moneychangers out of a school.

BTW, Debbie, I'm a church musician too, my name is Debby, and I often go by the username of dcrockett. Interesting coincidences, yes? Welcome to the BB, and do post more often!

 

dcorbett---there's a big difference between a church secretary and a church pastor

Secretary answers phone

Pastor answers questions

We have exactly what you have here! A lady in the community had been teaching lessons for years at her house----one day she casually asked me of the possibility of using the church facilities for lessons---we have 4 members now taking lessons from her---she is not a member here---but I told her she could(I'm not the secretary---I'm the pastor)---Deacon's meeting rolled around and I just casually informed them of what was happening---and in the words of Arnold Swartnegger---"No Prob-blem-o!" She's been giving lessons here now for 2 1/2 years!

As for the "Money Changers" alibi---that won't work! What happened in Jesus' situation was that He came in to the Temple---and saw that these changers were "hoggin'" what was called the Court of the Gentiles(which doubled also as the Court of the Women) preventing the Gentiles AND Jewish women from their rightful place of worship in the Temple! That was enough cause to make Jesus go "Bear Huntin' with a Fly Swatter!"

Tell the Secretary that when she gets through filein' her nails and paintin' 'um---that you'd like to speak to the Pastor!!

Brother David

 

Many secretaries act as gate keepers whether in business or otherwise.So you need to make an appiontment to see the pastor.