Profit

m02050

TITLE: TURNING A PROFIT

Let us consider something logically.

IF we believe that man cannot go to heaven without the Gospel of Jesus Christ

AND

IF we believe that Jesus Christ wants us to tell every man woman and child on earth that they can go to heaven

THEN

WHY do we charge $44.95 for the Bibles, books and studies that tell the reader of this glorious gift of salvation?

If we really believe that God wants the world saved, and we really believe that we have the salvation message, why would we want to profit from it?

If we really believe the information that God has led authors and artists to write and produce, can change peoples' lives, why would we want to allow only those that can afford to buy it to have it?

If God is interested in the entire world, why are we not giving so that we can produce INEXPENSIVE BIBLES - at cost - for shipment to foreign countries?

It constantly amazes me to see the commercials for the books, tapes, videos and software that promise to change your life - THAT ARE ALL SUPPOSEDLY BASED ON GOD'S PRINCIPLES FROM HIS WORD - on sale for various prices aimed at turning a profit for the publisher and author.

Then there are the many BIBLE colleges that are training God's chosen for the ministry to the world - at several thousand dollars a year. It soon will be the church's practice to send prospective ministers/missionaries out on deputation to finance their schooling, then after they have finished they can go out again to raise support to go tell the world of the Lord.

Let's see, that is five years for school deputation, four years for school, and then five years deputation for the ministry - that is only fourteen years to prepare for the ministry. And we have church leaders wondering about the cost effectiveness of missions today - wait till tomorrow!

If today's practices are really true to the practices of Godly people, Jesus is the biggest failure that ever walked the earth. He gave away all that teaching, he healed all those people and never charged a mite for any of it. What a failure! He didn't even copyright any of that stuff so the disciples could have made tapes and records to sell to build a strong financial base so they could go out to the world with the Gospel.

He didn't even teach the disciples good stewardship by charging them for their three-year education - not even room and board!

You say this sounds like sour grapes? You could be right! But then I believe that the Gospel should be free to all. I believe that the life changing power of the Word should be made available to all the world, not just to those that can afford to buy it.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Judas was the only follower that turned a profit on the Lord and we all know how history views him.