Revival Meeting Experience.

[FanOfU2]

Hello again Catholic Answers,

At the beginning of this year, we had a “revival meeting” in my Southern Baptist church. Upon coming into the church, the preacher had a table set up in a hallway with his own study guides, his sermons on Audio tape, and various books. He was selling them for money, and they were all fairly expensive (I believe a very thin study guide was like $12.99.)

Anyway, in the middle of his preaching, he takes it upon himself to advertise that his tapes and books were being sold. He said that the sales of these items are one of the only sources of his income, besides donations from churches that he speaks at.

So there I am, sitting in a pew and listening to this guy advertise his things. Nobody else seemed to have a problem. Deep down, I just felt that it was wrong. and kept thinking of Christ driving the money lenders out of the temple.

Just wondering what other people would think of this?

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

There are priests who earn money by selling books and CDs and I don’t think that’s a problem. I gladly buy such material.I wouldn’t be impressed if a priest was to advertise his stuff during a sermon, that would be absolutely innapropriate.

 

[Jenniferolg]

I guess the difference between the money changers Jesus drove from the Temple and your visiting preacher, even though the preacher tried to guilt you into buying his books and audio’s, is that in the Temple, it was necessary for the people to buy the animals and/or change their currency or they were being denied access to the Temple and the rituals. Thankfully, we do not have to pay any preacher to benefit from Jesus’ saving actions on he cross for us.

Still, I am with you and usually find selling of books et al to be somewhat nauseating in church.

 

[Hesychios]

… in the middle of his preaching, he takes it upon himself to advertise that his tapes and books were being sold. He said that the sales of these items are one of the only sources of his income, besides donations from churches that he speaks at.

So there I am, sitting in a pew and listening to this guy advertise his things. Nobody else seemed to have a problem. Deep down, I just felt that it was wrong. and kept thinking of Christ driving the money lenders out of the temple.

Just wondering what other people would think of this?

Study aids and whatnot should be available, preferably for free .

But it is a common practice to sell things like that. Long ago, before radio, it was common for individuals to rent theatres and charge admission, and people would come to hear the person’s point of view (Samuel Clemens made a heap of money that way, Aimee Semple Mcpherson seems to have also). Now at an actual church revival the parish or community church probably pays the speaker, “for the good of the community” (and because it often raises membership) and perhaps they get a break on the fee if the speaker is allowed to sell his material.

I think that an announcement at the conclusion or at an intermission would be appropriate.

BTW, I think revivals are good. Catholic and Orthodox parishes should sponsor them. In fact they often do, but don’t necessarily call them revivals.

Much better than bingo.

 

[Sufjon]

Hello again Catholic Answers,

At the beginning of this year, we had a “revival meeting” in my Southern Baptist church. Upon coming into the church, the preacher had a table set up in a hallway with his own study guides, his sermons on Audio tape, and various books. He was selling them for money, and they were all fairly expensive (I believe a very thin study guide was like $12.99.)

Anyway, in the middle of his preaching, he takes it upon himself to advertise that his tapes and books were being sold. He said that the sales of these items are one of the only sources of his income, besides donations from churches that he speaks at.

So there I am, sitting in a pew and listening to this guy advertise his things. Nobody else seemed to have a problem. Deep down, I just felt that it was wrong. and kept thinking of Christ driving the money lenders out of the temple.

Just wondering what other people would think of this?

Dear FanOfU2: That is a very interesting issue you have brought up. I can’t say what the right answer is in your faith, but I can share my experience. I have found the best teachers in my faith to have very little and they ask for little. The best of them seem to own little more than a blanket and could care less about the things they don’t have. They take no care to care for themselves, and yet somehow they always seem to get what they need when and where they need it. I avoid the ones who have flashy lifestyles and talk about things like success. When I was a boy I called them “Hummers” because after they would speak I would end up leaving saying “hmmm…”

I have learned to be kinder since then, but I still think that if someone makes you go “hmmm,” then he or she probably isn’t the right McCoy for you. I think when it’s right, you just know it.

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[Redbaron998]

I dont have a problem with a Priest/minster/whatever at the end of a sermon throwing in a short “If you want to know more I have some materials for purchase in the back” or something similiar to that. If however they as spending the entire sermon harping on how you should buy thier book thats a bit silly

 

[agbasinger]

Study aids and whatnot should be available, preferably for free .

But it is a common practice to sell things like that. Long ago, before radio, it was common for individuals to rent theatres and charge admission, and people would come to hear the person’s point of view (Samuel Clemens made a heap of money that way, Aimee Semple Mcpherson seems to have also). Now at an actual church revival the parish or community church probably pays the speaker, “for the good of the community” (and because it often raises membership) and perhaps they get a break on the fee if the speaker is allowed to sell his material.

I think that an announcement at the conclusion or at an intermission would be appropriate.

BTW, I think revivals are good. Catholic and Orthodox parishes should sponsor them. In fact they often do, but don’t necessarily call them revivals.

Much better than bingo.

I think you are right about the origins of these sorts of meetings. They seem a bit dated today.

I grew up in a Baptist Church and attended a few revivals. I remember going through the extremes of emotions (i.e. despair, ecstasy, hatred, etc.) within a few hour period. I walked away from those meetings exhausted.

I don’t want to knock revivals because it really does help getting some people back on track with the Lord. but at the same time, I wonder if some people attend them because it’s like a freak show or a roller coaster- you go for a scare and the rush of adrenaline.

 

[JHow]

Wait, didn’t we just hear this reading?

For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned?

Maybe the sermon isn’t the place to hawk tapes and books, but the guy has to eat, right?

 

[FanOfU2]

Well, I understand that this particular mans livelihood depended on love offerings, and our congregation needs to support him as an act of Christian love and charity.I was just taken aback by how he advertised his items in the middle of the sermon.

It shouldn’t be made into a huge issue, but I think out of this whole experience my problem is that no one else in my church seemed to think it was wrong (at least I never heard anyone complain about it)

 

[fbl9]

Well, I understand that this particular mans livelihood depended on love offerings, and our congregation needs to support him as an act of Christian love and charity.I was just taken aback by how he advertised his items in the middle of the sermon.

It shouldn’t be made into a huge issue, but I think out of this whole experience my problem is that no one else in my church seemed to think it was wrong (at least I never heard anyone complain about it)

Personally it would offend me , but may God be thier guide. Most likely you’ll never see this preacher again why habour any ill will.

 

[Oldtimer_7]

I thought Baptists were careful not to allow any hawking of merchandise in the sanctuary. I have even been told that some churches make sure that the Fellowship Hall is not physically accessible from the sanctuary to preclude any such mixing. Still, a revival meeting is not the same as the regular service, but this does make me a bit uneasy also. I think it was the man’s timing. If he had announced it at the end of the service or if a deacon or the pastor had made the announcement, it might have been better. I have never thought to charge for any of my writings, but then I am retired and get by on my pension.