Are Any Church Fundraisers Appropriate?

Churches cannot survive without money. As with any other non-profit organization, a church relies on donations to meet its budget. But is it wrong for churches to hold fundraisers to supplement their donations?

I believe certain fund-raising efforts such as Bingo games and Raffles are inappropriate because they are tantamount to gambling. Having gotten that out of the way, let's now look at other fund-raising efforts as Rummage Sales, Soup & Sandwich Dinners, Bake Sales, etc. They are not related to gambling, but are they still wrong for the Lord's House? How did Jesus react to the moneychangers and merchants in the Jewish Temple (Matt. 21:12-13; Mark 12:15-17; Luke 19:45-46)? Without a doubt He was very upset! So if Christ has deemed it wrong to buy and sell in the Jewish Temple, then what makes it okay in the local church building? Do we not call the local church "The Lord's House" (a common term used for the Jewish Temples in the Old Testament)? Is not the local church where believers come together to worship God and pray (as the Jews did in their Temple)? Shouldn't we treat the local church building with the same reverence?

At this point my critics might argue that Christ was not upset with the exchange of merchandise in and of itself, but rather the fact that business was done dishonestly. They say that is precisely what Jesus meant when He accused the moneychangers and merchants of turning the Lord's House into "a den of thieves." That sounds reasonable unless you read John 2:14-16:

In the temple courts he [Jesus] found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market! (NIV emphasis added)

Do you see? Jesus objected to the very act of buying and selling in the Lord's House. The swindling and dishonest gain obviously fueled His anger all the more, but it seems He objected to the buying and selling in and of itself.

Whenever churches sell merchandise to raise funds, even with uttermost honesty and integrity, they unknowingly and unintentionally rob their patrons of the heavenly blessing. Think about it: there is no heavenly reward for the patron, because he has already received something in exchange for the money he has spent. He did not make a donation; he merely made a purchase. God rewards only those who give without any thought to what they can get in return (Matt. 6:1-4). Such fund-raising efforts may be okay for the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or the American Cancer Society, but not for the Lord's House.

I know of several larger churches that have coffeehouses and/or bookstores inside their buildings. I do not believe God objects to that so long as those businesses have their own bank account distinct from the church bank account. In such a case, those business are not being utilized to raise funds for the church.