Your Local “Church”:

“An House of Merchandise”

Copyright 2007

Steven M. McCalip

The reader can copy and distribute freely.

Not intended for profit by any user.

Website: kingjamesman.com

This website offers nothing for sale, especially nothing for sale in the name of God. I have no ministry to finance, and I am not peddling any of my books, Bible studies, etc. Any man of God that truly wants people to hear the truth to get saved should and could do the very same thing. The question is, “Why aren’t they?” Many will say, “Well, it costs money to publish these materials, and I have to have money to pay for more to give out. It costs me about 10.00 per year to publish my material on the Internet. How about putting material on the Internet and let a thousand times more people see your material than the few who might pick it up at a bookstore every now and then just so you can make a few dollars. God showed me that selling my book was wrong after I published my first book. I thought about not giving my new material and new books out because I might publish them one day. That was wrong. I was valuing money over people getting the material. If I cared about truth, I would forget about the money, and I did. Now, every time I see a website selling things connected with Christianity, I want to avoid it. Men and women of God should see that peddling things in the name of God is an abomination in the sight of God. If we fear the Lord, we should hate covetousness according to scripture. I especially hate it concerning the “church” and any covetous practices it exhibits. The Lord Jesus greatly hates these covetous practices, especially the selling of anything in the name of God. Anything. Anything at all. Anywhere. For any reason, but especially in the name of God and supposedly for him. We should call these people what God called them: moneychangers. Ching Ching. Money, money, money. There’s nothing like money to reveal the heart of man. Anything for another almighty dollar, all in the name of Jesus, of course. They are all rich and increased with goods and don’t know that they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. Laodecian Christians full-steam ahead. They will be spewed out of Jesus’ mouth according to Revelation 3:16-17:

“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

How does the Lord feel about covetousness, especially in his “church”? Just the fact that this church said it “was rich, and increased with goods,” Jesus said they were wretched and blind among other things. He called them this based solely on that fact of them saying they were rich and needed nothing.

One of the only times Jesus was said to get angry in scripture is when churchy Jews were selling religious items in the house of God. He said to take all those things hence and not make his Father’s house “an house of merchandise”. Our modern churches are so filled with merchandise we might think we walked into an exquisite shopping mall. We should be just as angry as Jesus was, but most of us are so used to it that we think nothing of it anymore. We are conditioned to it. The Lord overthrew their tables and got out a bullwhip and used it to drive out the moneychangers, those who sold anything in the house of God no matter if it was religious goods or not. How dare we attach a price tag to God and his words and peddle his truth like a salesman would a vacuum cleaner! How dare we use a house of God as a market place to peddle religious wares! The so-called church can make up all the reasons and justify all of its selling in the name of God it wants, but it will never convince me or, I hope, you, that it can sell whatever it wants because it’s selling it for God. One of the best things that could happen to the modern “church” would be to remove all this religious peddling and show people it is interested in people’s souls, not their money. As long as the “church” is designed the way it is in America, it will continue down this path increasing its goods and having need of nothing, not knowing that it is “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”

Anything for the “ministry” goes though. Just put that word “ministry” on it, and “presto”, it is okay by God. After all, the more you spend, the more money you give to the Lord, right? There couldn’t be a better con job than that. Gotta give credit where credit is due. Make people believe you are giving to the Lord by giving to a religious corporation, all tax-free of course. And you can always write it off your taxes as well. Isn’t that sweet. How convenient! One big operation that makes more money than most corporations. Who would want to shut that down that profit machine?

Jesus, the apostles, or their disciples never sold one item in the name of God. Never. Not once. And they had plenty of opportunity. The apostle Paul or any of the apostles could have become millionaires instantly by selling their books. After all, they were famous already. They could have been extremely wealthy. How come they weren’t? Did they market books, bibles, trinkets, conferences, Bible studies. Not at all. Nothing. Not once. Not ever. Why is that fact never brought up? Could it be that it’s because every “church” is guilty of this money-making scheme? Are they going to stop scamming once you bring this up to them? The answer is obvious. Not as long as they can keep building bigger barns and buying silkier suits. To stop would bring to a screeching halt the lavish living of these false prophets and deceived people. It would affect the pocketbooks of those religious hucksters that make a living “making merchandise of you.” How can any “church” or money hungry “Christian” justify peddling his religious wares? It can’t, but it does justify it to those who don’t recognize that this is nothing but a perversion of the preaching of God’s words. Saving souls costs nothing, but it does if you’re marketing your church to accomplish it.

God never instructed us to sell anything for him. Show me one scripture that he asks us to sell things for him. Show me one. You can’t. Not even Bibles are ever mentioned in the scripture as being sold or bought. The opposite is the case: Jesus said himself concerning all these religious items being sold for God-

“Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise” John 2:16.

Jesus and his disciples would not be welcome in all these health and wealth club churches or these traditional, ornate, gaudy, mausoleums that try to pass themselves off as a house of God. The fashion police would kick him out and denounce him as too unbelieving in God’s great blessing of prosperity. He would obviously be labeled as an outsider not worth paying attention to. No nice suits, no flashy jewelry, no 50,000 dollar car. He must be doing something wrong. Where is his faith? We are all wrong if we assume that giant, beautiful buildings are an indication that God has blessed that church. We are all wrong to assume that God’s blessing has anything to do with the material possessions of a church. Lies are always big and beautiful, shiny on the outside and empty on the inside. An inch deep and a mile wide.

Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: Ex. 18:21

Why should we hate covetousness so much, especially in the “house of God”? Covetousness is no different than worshipping idols. Covetous is idolatry. It is not a measure of how much God has blessed you. It is a measure of how much you worship things and money. The above verse in Exodus said God wants rulers that hate covetousness. Let’s see how many preachers we would have if we took away their paid salaries, benefits, parsonages, paid vacations, insurance, church vehicles, conference trips, paid meals, etc., marriage and death stipends, etc. What would be left is those who care about preaching, not for filthy lucre, but for the love of the Lord Jesus and his words.

Making Merchandise of You

And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. John 2:15-17.

When Jesus did this, his disciples remembered the scripture “the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up” from Psalm 69:9: “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” This is critical. The Bible connects having zeal with hating the fact that the selling of merchandise is occuring in the house of God. That is one reason why this study should be taken so seriously and one reason why I am making a big deal out of this doctrine. We are to have the zeal of God on this issue and call for the complete removal of the selling of merchandise in the house of God. Is the zeal of God’s house eating you up? Are we sickened by what is going on in the name of God? Are we willing to overthrow some tables and get out a bullwhip? If not, why not? If so, then let’s get started.

Notice that the religious people were selling doves for sacrifices. This was for God, of course, and the doves were being used to justify their selling. It was all for God. Well, God wasn’t impressed and didn’t want it. When Jesus said, “make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise,” he was calling for ALL MERCHANDISE to be removed, especially the religious merchandise. Well, what would that entail today? You would have to remove half the church building’s contents. The bookstores, the tape ministry, the coffee shops, the marketing rooms, the church carnivals, the big screen TV’s, the pool tables, the vending machines, the basketball courts, the ATM’s, (yes, those are there). And so on and so on, ad nauseum. Pass the vomit bucket.

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 2 Pet. 2:1-3

People sell themselves to the false prophets; therefore, they are being made merchandise to them. How do they make merchandise of you? They buy and sell you like merchandise. The false prophets, teachers, and preachers use you to make money, all in the name of God. They use you to work for them by claiming you are working for God. They use you to sell more for them. What other business in the world can say they have people working for them who don’t get any money and, in fact, pay money to work for the business? They bribe you, they call you “God robbers” if you don’t pay at least ten percent of your income to them. What a scam! The religious world puts the heathen con artists to shame! They sell you modern day indulgences so you will stay saved. They say your salvation is in jeopardy if you don’t come to church and “forsake not the assembling of yourselves.”

They sell you every latest tape, book, conference, and seminar so you can purchase the gifts of God through their teaching of course. Peter told a false disciple named Simon a very relevant thing:

“But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.” (Acts 8:20-21).

What an indictment of the modern “church” and its big business practices. That scripture is exactly what is going on when other big name ministers try to sell you their “secrets” to success so you can have the “same gifts” as them. Peter told Simon that the mere fact he was trying to buy this gift proved his heart wasn’t right in the sight of God. He told Simon he was lost and going to hell, for he said “thy money perish with thee,” and the word “perish” is always a reference to a lost person going to hell-for example, “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish.” You are bought and sold like a cheap piece of meat. That is how they “make merchandise”of you. If you want to be made merchandise, that is your business. Those of you that don’t, you will have to come out from among them. These people that are doing this merchandising are called false prophets and teachers whose damnation is imminent.

And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her. Deut. 21:14

The above scripture is our biblical definition of “making merchandise” of someone. It is selling someone. When the New Testament makes mention of this phrase, it is also teaching that we are being sold if we buy into the sellers’ doctrines.

For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. Rev. 18:3

If you have not done a study of the great whore of Babylon, please see my article on the website. I list over 50 characteristics God gave of the false church, the great whore. As to this study, look below at the shopping list that this whore sells the merchants of this world. Scripture says the merchants of this earth actually weep when this church is destroyed, for the whore gave the merchants all their business.

And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men…And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! Rev. 18:11-13,16

All this merchandise is bought by the false churches to go into their churches and be used for all of its lavish activities and furnishings. God goes to great lengths to show us how much the false church is involved with merchandise and the selling of goods. Scripture in Revelation 18 lists all the goods they sell, and it takes up several paragraphs. Something very interesting in the list is the last item for sale-the souls of men, one of the definitive proofs this is a false religious system being talked about.

Coveting

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: Col. 3:5

Why is covetousness idolatry? It is placing things and money before God in our hearts. It is exalting them with our actions, not necessarily our beliefs. Covetousness is idolatry and is no different than worshipping false gods. It is the worship of a false god-money. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. This is why God hates covetousness so much because it is the worship of another god.

To not covet is one of the Ten Commandments.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s. Ex. 20:17

The Lord says he hates certain people, and one of those is the covetous…God says you are wicked if you “blesseth the covetous.” Religious, wicked people actually BLESS the covetous. This means that the false church will pronounce blessing on those that covet material goods. They will honor those who do this and dishonor those who don’t. They will justify covetousness in the name of God and say that it is not covetousness to desire wealth-it is just God’s blessing. They are wrong as the day is long. The Lord abhors these people as the next verse clearly demonstrates:

For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. Ps. 10:3

Jeremiah rebukes all the priests and prophets of his day, all of them, for being covetous. The scripture says “every one” of them is given to covetousness. If I were to tell you that every major priest and preacher on television and in the money making churches are given to covetousness, you would say I am blowing things out of proportion. Yet, the scripture says that everyone was back in those days, and the last days are going to be worse than those.

For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. Jer. 6:13

If they are showing “much love” with their mouth, this is talking about religious people who “sit before thee AS MY PEOPLE and hear thy words.” By them sitting with the righteous to hear the word of God, this is showing that it is religious, lost people who “goeth after their covetousness.”

And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. EZ. 33:31

Jesus himself warns us to BEWARE of covetousness. This should be the greatest warning we can receive if Jesus tells us to BEWARE. It sure gets my attention.

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke 12:15

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. Matt 19:21

If you want to address covetousness in a hurry, sell what you have and give it away, assuming your heart is right to begin with of course. The main religious denomination’s chief characteristic of that day was that they were covetous and ridiculed those who didn’t want to be so. Religious people today do the exact same thing. They defend their covetousness and try to prove to you that you are not as godly as they because God has blessed them more. They want you to assume that blessing translates to receiving material goods from God. When God blesses us, it is him making us more like him, more humble, more loving, more obedient. It has nothing to do with acquiring material goods. God will add these things to us, but it is not to satisfy our desires to have more goods.

And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. Luke 16:14

But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 1 Cor. 5:11

Covetousness is so serious that we are to break fellowship WITH A BROTHER if that brother is given to it, not even eating with him. Covetousness is lumped in the same category as fornicators and drunkards according to God himself. This is how much God hates covetousness. It is how much we should hate it. How many of us could say we broke fellowship with a so-called brother because he was covetous? We would be mocked and derided like they did Jesus.

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Eph 5:3

We should hate covetousness as much as we detest fornication. Most true Christians wouldn’t dream of cheating on their spouse through fornication, but where is that attitude toward money?

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 2 Tim 3:2

Second on the list of the signs of the perilous times we live in is people given over to covetousness. It is perilous for us to have that attitude or entertain it. It is the mind of the heathen to do these things. It is lumped with “boasters,” and “blasphemers” and “unholy” people. Ah, but people will say, “God just wants us to have the best of everything, right?” I don’t see that scripture anywhere. Jesus didn’t have anywhere to lay his head. Was he out of the will of God? The apostles lived in caves. Did they just not have enough faith? I trow not.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Heb. 13:5

Contentment is the key and our commandment for dealing with covetousness. If we are not content, we will be given over to covetousness. If we learn contentment, God can actually entrust to us more so that we won’t get covetous if he does decide to increase our wealth.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 1 Tim. 6:10-11

Look how serious it is to covet. By doing so, we “erred from the faith.” We have great sorrow by doing so. Not only are we to avoid it, we are to “flee” from it. It is that dangerous. We are to run and not look back. We will pierce ourselves through with many sorrows. Are we that afraid of covetousness?

Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. Prov. 23:23

We are not to sell anything that is the truth. That would definitely be Bibles. It would be anything or book that contains the truth. Is this command to simple and straightforward for us? How are we to buy the truth then? Jesus said to buy it from him in Revelation 3: “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire.” We are to buy from Jesus and purchase it with our death.

Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye. Hosea 4:18

Leaders of the church like saying “Give ye to me.” In other words, they like telling others to give to them. This verse’s part about “Give ye” is totally missing in the modern perversions and changed to something completely different and not even remotely connected with the same meaning. Looks like this scripture hit home with some of them, so it must be changed to hide their sins. Got to hide those religious con artists’ motives.

Gain

Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 1 Tim. 6:5

Paul tells us that if someone believes that “gain is godliness,” they are destitute of the truth and perverse. We should immediately break fellowship with them: withdraw ourselves. This is missing in the NASB bible and others. This also applies heavily to those who say that if you have a lot of material goods, God has blessed you. That assumes that material goods always go hand in hand with God’s blessing. That is a lie. Gain is not godliness according to 1 Tim. 6:5. Not so in the NASB, though, because it is just a means of godliness to them and their translation.

Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. Ez. 22:27

God’s Things Are Free

Because all saved people have “freely” received their salvation, we are commanded to “freely give”. We are not to put conditions, stipulations, implied contracts, obligations to join, etc. on any sinner:

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Matt. 10:8

But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.Rom 5 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. Rom 5:15,16,18

God’s gift of eternal life is called a “free gift” in the above verse. Anything we add to it, via church service pressuring, working for the church, forced tithing, offerings-all of this cheapens the “free gift” of Jesus Christ and makes it something you bargain for. If you will just come to church, we can offer you this free gift they say. These “churches” might as well join forces with these resort clubs, for they are doing the same thing. They probably have joined forces in many cities come to think of it.

“He that hath no money” are told not to come, for they can’t tithe enough and are looked down upon. They need to go to the other side of town, the side where they are not “rich and increased with goods.”

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Is 55:1

Can you imagine Jesus selling books, tapes, charging for speaking engagements, etc. Is that just sick? Who would take him seriously if he did this? Why then do we take others seriously who, in the name of God, do the exact same thing?

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. Rev. 21;6

Most of us have been offered free vacations, fancy gifts, and money prizes that are called “free”, but they come with a catch-we have to go visit their sales pitch at some resort area where they are selling homes, condos, property etc. Their “free gift” is not so free after all, for we are pressured into joining their club. Sound familiar? Sounds very familiar. The church pressures us to join their religious club just like the resort clubs. Their free gift is cheapened as well. Their gift of eternal life, which is supposedly free, comes with all kinds of “catches.” You have to join their church; you have to do this, you have to do that. Sign this welcome card, join this ministry. Get planted so we can put you to work for us! Strings are attached everywhere you look. No wonder people are leaving the churches in droves.

Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely 2 Cor. 11:7

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Rev. 22;17

No charge

Paul went out of his way not to be “chargeable unto any of you.” How many preachers today could say the same thing?

For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 1 Thess 2:9

Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 2 Thess 3:8

What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. 1 Cor. 9:18

And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. 2 Cor. 11:9

When did Jesus or his disciples charge anyone for preaching to them? When did they take up offerings for their own personal use and spending? The only time Paul collected money was to distribute it to the necessity of the saints. He didn’t keep any for himself. Paul could have made millions selling books and materials, and yet he sold none. That is the heart of a Christian.

Greed

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live. Pr. 15:27

God rebukes the “shepherds” because they all look to their own way because of greed. The same thing is happening today.

Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Is. 57

Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Eph 4:19

One of the main requirements of a deacon or bishop is not to be greedy of money, to not even give the appearance of it.

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 1 Tim. 3:3

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 1 Tim. 3:8

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 1 Pet. 5:2

Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. Titus 1:11

One of the main requirements of a spiritual leader is to not be covetous of money for any reason, especially for “ministries.”

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. Jude 1:11

Mammon

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (money). Matt. 6:24

You cannot serve God and serve money. You cannot mix the two in any way. They are two masters, and you will hate one and love the other. That scripture is oftentimes misread. Jesus is saying that by loving one, you hate the other automatically. That is scary. If you love money, you will hate God. If you love God, you will hate money. That is the clear teaching of this verse. There is no middle ground there. They are opposed to each other, especially in the ministry.

And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. Luke 16:9

This is one of the few times Jesus was using biting sarcasm and mocking those who trusted in money. He said to go ahead and make friends with money and see if it would receive them into heaven. What a great analogy! It is great because Jesus is equating money as the god of the people which doesn’t have the power to receive them into heaven!

If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? Luke 16:11(Mammon defined here as false riches or money)

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Luke 16:13

I don’t care how many buses you own
Or the size of your sanctuary
It doesn’t matter how steep your steeple is
If it’s sittin’ on a cemetery
I don’t care if you pave your parking lot
Or put pads upon your pews
What good is picture perfect stage
If you’re missin’ all the cues?

The Steeple Song by Don Francisco