I write and publish small group Bible Studies on Amazon. I'll never get rich doing this. I do it to proclaim the Gospel and provide study material that helps people grow in their faith. At the same time, I'm now retired and on a fixed income. I see nothing wrong with charging a reasonable cost for the time and effort I put into writing and publishing these resources. BTW, I retired from church ministry. I don't hear people complain about paying pastors for ministry.
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Is selling study bibles, theology books, or commentaries "selling Jesus?" Is it wrong to "buy Jesus?"
- Thread starter 5 point Gillinist
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atpollard
Well-Known Member
I am willing to complain, if you would really like to hear it. I always operated under the working assumption that "nobody wanted to hear me complain".
Ben1445
Well-Known Member
You have lived in a wonderful place. I’m sorry to say that those people exist.
The guys that i work w in Africa barely have enough money for basic needs.
They have no extra money
They have no extra money
So your church folded?
I buy books to give away
I am a member of Good News for Everyone! (the successor to the Gideons in the UK).
We give away thousands of Bibles, NTs and other materials. However, that does not mean that they have no cost.
We give away thousands of Bibles, NTs and other materials. However, that does not mean that they have no cost.
Armchair Apologist
Active Member
Everything has a cost and the laborer is worthy of his hire!
Whoever produced the material needs some sort of means in which they may meet their financial obligations otherwise they will need to do something else instead of writing or creating content.
There is also cost involved for publishing, printing, marketing, warehousing, and distribution. Even if you received the materials for free, there was someone who shouldered the cost.
Should you do so for monetary gain or in order to become rich? It should not be your primary motive but one should not feel guilty if God chooses to bless your efforts and reward you monetarily.
Whoever produced the material needs some sort of means in which they may meet their financial obligations otherwise they will need to do something else instead of writing or creating content.
There is also cost involved for publishing, printing, marketing, warehousing, and distribution. Even if you received the materials for free, there was someone who shouldered the cost.
Should you do so for monetary gain or in order to become rich? It should not be your primary motive but one should not feel guilty if God chooses to bless your efforts and reward you monetarily.
This topic is interesting, and I have wondered the same.
Jesus said "freely you have recieved, give freely".
I lean towards the opinion of @Armchair Apologist . At the same time I am concerned about the kingdom work becoming a business.
I think about the money changes in the Temple.
I liked how John MacArthur made so many if his works avaliable without cost online. One could provide their own resources and print them. Or one could purchase them as a book.
But in the end of the day we are to equip ourselves as congregations. God gifts His churches with a pastor, with various ministers, with teachers. I am not sure that this should be outsourced.
Jesus said "freely you have recieved, give freely".
I lean towards the opinion of @Armchair Apologist . At the same time I am concerned about the kingdom work becoming a business.
I think about the money changes in the Temple.
I liked how John MacArthur made so many if his works avaliable without cost online. One could provide their own resources and print them. Or one could purchase them as a book.
But in the end of the day we are to equip ourselves as congregations. God gifts His churches with a pastor, with various ministers, with teachers. I am not sure that this should be outsourced.
Armchair Apologist
Active Member
In regards to the OP with the YouTube video, it seems to be "Big Business" these days how one is able to make a few revisions to material that is in the public domain and are then able to license it and make a boatload of money with very little effort on their part. I am seeing this especially among certain "Worship" artists (Chris Tomlin seems the worst offender) who make a new arrangement and slap a pithy chorus onto a classic hymn that is in the public domain, and are then able to secure a copyright for the arrangement and collect the CCLI money from every church that uses the arrangement! I am quite contemptuous at such antics and have told my church that if they want, I can come up with "Contemporary" arrangements to any hymn they want and it will not cost them a dime!