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Ministry should be supported, not sold.

We’re a group of pastors and disciples of Jesus, who love him and want everyone to have free access to truth about him. The commercialization of ministry deeply concerns us, practically and theologically. We hope you’ll take a moment to carefully consider God’s Word on this matter.

Conversations

Christians Who Sell Jesus

Articles

Selling Ministry

Ten Times Commercializing Ministry Is Condemned

Many have tried to profit from ministry, even back in biblical times.

Why Moral Failing Invariably Accompanies the Sale of Biblical Instruction

The sale of biblical instruction necessarily entails an ulterior motive of gain. As such, it constitutes a compromise of sincerity that will invariably ma...

The Sin of Buying Jesus

It is not only ministers who are culpable for the commercialization of Christianity, buyers who willingly support the sale of ministry also fall into sin.

Adaptation & Inspiration

As much as they reflect the truth of Scripture itself, adaptations of Scripture have the power and authority of Scripture.

The Sin of Judas and the Sale of Christian Teaching

Is selling Christian teaching really the same as betraying Jesus for money?

The Sin of Balaam

The New Testament authors identify Balaam as a prototypical false teacher, worthy of special consideration. To understand false teaching, we ought to understand Balaam.

The Wages of a Prostitute

Why Donating Ministry Income Doesn’t Justify the Sale of Christian Teaching

Application

Should Preachers be Paid?

Jesus was clear that the preached word should be freely given, so is it right for preachers of God's Word to be paid? Yes. As this article explains.

Objections to Paying Pastors

Some people have been so put off by the commercialization of ministry that it has led them to question whether pastors should be paid at all.

Covering Costs — Can You Charge for Printed Books?

Some Christian resources are expensive to produce and distribute, and this can make it challenging to give them for free if there is limited funding available.

Biblical Counseling Should Be Free

Biblical counseling is ministry and so should flourish through generous funding, not by charging those seeking healing in Christ.

Charging Fees for Biblical Counseling?

Should a ministry relationship, either in its initiation or continuation, ever be conditioned on the payment of a fee? Should the fulfillment of a biblical responsibility to care for God's people ever be conditioned on the p...

Should Christian Ministry Be Supported by Ads?

Some things in life require honor and respect, and shouldn't be turned into advertising opportunities.

Christian Conferences Should Be Free

God has forbidden finance-based partiality, and this is precisely what is done when tickets to Christian conferences are sold.

The Folly of Pragmatism in Ministry Fundraising

Practical concerns cannot be determinative when in conflict with a biblical principle.

Copyright & Licensing

Copyright & Jesus’ Command to Freely Give

If a minister is to give freely, has he really done so if he retains exclusive rights to the content of his proclamation?

The Bondage of the Word: Copyright and the Bible

For nearly a century, copyright legislation has been subtly but effectively applied, misused and abused in regard to the word of God in order to chain the Bible to a new pulpit, differing in kind but not ...

Does Copyright Actually Protect the Text of Scripture from Corruption?

Is it truly dangerous to let God’s Word out into the open, unchained? Or is the greater danger in thinking we can keep it safe?

A Biblical Approach to Abuse of Resources

While it is understandable to have concerns about the potential misuse of Christian resources, the biblical approach calls us to prioritize the free and generous sharing of these resources over any legal protections co...

Letting Go — Releasing Biblical Content

This paper addresses many of the concerns that are raised by those desiring to openly license resources and describes a strategy that equips the global Church for freedom. Although it doesn’t advocate for dedicating all mi...

On the Specter of Copyright Hijacking

Can someone republish public domain works and claim them as their own? No, here's why.

The Problem with Creative Commons ShareAlike

It is only through waiving every claim to works of ministry that the gospel may be freely given as it was freely received.

Contemporary Commerce

Bible Publishers — Stewards or Gatekeepers?

The church has gradually handed God's Word over to businesses that claim it as their own.

The Worship Tax

How church worship is exploited by the Christian music industry for commercial gain, despite religious exemptions for churches.

ACBC Counseling Fees

The Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, contrary to Scripture's teaching, leaves the door open for individual counselors to decide whether or not they will charge, and how much. In doing so unintentionally undermine their foundational premise that th...

Who Owns the Manuscripts and Critical Texts?

While it is appropriate to treat physical manuscripts as property, Scripture itself should not be subject to ownership.

The KJV Is Still Restricted by Copyright

From its inception, the KJV has been tightly managed under the Crown's perpetual copyright in the United Kingdom.

Blood Money and Its Connection to Ministry

If blood donation can be supported, instead of sold, why can’t we do the same with Christian ministry?

Further Study