Does God have a commercial value?

I'm always wary of anything that asks me to pay a monetary sum to know the 'truth'. The truth should be freely given, or its most likely not worth knowing. That's the general rule I apply, from the consumer side of the equation.

If you're talking about "Buy this super rare platinum edition serially numbered piece
of the ONE TRUE CROSS, mk 13" from the home shopping network, yeah, that's a bit
questionable.

Something, however, like the Tabasco commercial a few years ago, where a series of flaming meteors that were levlling cities turned out to be drops of hot sauce a deity
on a throne (Tobasco Inc says it's Zeus) was sprinkling on a pizza (and spilling), that's
funny, and gets them money, since people remember the brand.

ahman said:

Is there any way to justify using God for gain, the key example being monetary?

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Well, people can try to justify using God for gain.

How do you approach things such as the sale of Christian resources, and advertising...what takes God out of the church and puts him right there on the shelf next to the blue light specials?

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I try to avoid S.M.C. (stands for Sunday Mass Consumption - a term I use for that kind of stuff)

ahman said:

Is there any way to justify using God for gain, the key example being monetary?

How do you approach things such as the sale of Christian resources, and advertising...what takes God out of the church and puts him right there on the shelf next to the blue light specials?

Click to expand...

Can the same be said about tithes and offerings? I think the main purpose for the offering plate is to teach each and every Christian the art of giving and sharing. Could this be said about selling religious things?

And about "selling God or Jesus out", I'm not sure what I think about that. I remember how after The Passion of the Christ came out, people were selling replica nails that they would say were used to put Jesus on the cross. Why would someone want that?

I also think that for some people, it would help them remember their faith. But would buying things like statues and nail replicas be similar to idolatry? But can buying something to help remember your faith be similar to taking a picture of your child and putting it on a table?There are many "what-ifs" that I think can be tough to answer.

ahman said:

Is there any way to justify using God for gain, the key example being monetary?

How do you approach things such as the sale of Christian resources, and advertising...what takes God out of the church and puts him right there on the shelf next to the blue light specials?

Click to expand...

Well, I guess the only thing would be to help people understand God better and get the word out to people who haven't heard it.

However, you're right, God can be commercialized--I get sick when I see people on Sunday mornings at my church exchanging goods for money--sure it may go to Christian causes, but some don't seem too worthy--i.e. sending kids to a religious camp, helping fund church rennovation, etc.

God can be used in other harmful ways, like a person in authority claiming he believes in God and listens to God for advice--then uses it as an excuse to either attack people or accuse them wrongly. A preacher on TV says to give money to his ministry and then you find out he bought a mansion, cars, and other expensive items for himself with the money Sometimes God is used for an excuse for why people kill people.

I read Christian fiction and non-fiction however. I listen to Christian music.
I appreciate these things made available. It would be nice if it could be free like it should be, but then how would the people who do it support themselves?

Selling God is a sin.


Selling ancillary products that believers in God may like is not.

ahman said:

Is there any way to justify using God for gain, the key example being monetary?

Click to expand...

i like money. some people want to buy god-related material.

erm... is there any other reason?

I don't know how to answer this. Does God have Commercial value? Can you buy God? no.

Although, unfortunately, there are those who try to make you think you can, or at least all the benefits of salvation anyways...