Cleansing of the Temple, Cleansing of the Church

[전승훈2]

In today’s passage, the original purpose of the temple—being a house of prayer for all nations—has been lost. Instead, the temple has become a place where livestock for offerings are bought and sold, and financial interests are exchanged. 

Let’s compare this to today’s churches.  Based on this passage, no buying or selling should ever take place within the church. Even raising mission funds through selling goods should not be allowed. The church building is a house of prayer for all nations. 

Things like cafés or daycare centers could be permitted if they do not prioritize profit and instead contribute to the community and bring people in. However, can the church or the holy people of God truly remain so pure? 

It would be better to operate a café or similar services at a loss than to profit from them. If the church provides excellent services to those who come, even to the point of incurring losses, it should continue. But if there is profit, it should stop. Just as vultures gather where there is a corpse, where there is profit, those seeking gain will gather, and even pastors or the holy people of God may succumb to greed. 

Ultimately, the church building should be a place where people are given the opportunity to come and pray. It must not become a place where financial interests take precedence and hinder prayer. 

The church is a place for all nations to pray and for teaching the Word. These two reasons are why churches exist as places of worship.

Excerpt from the sermon by Pastor Lee, Nov 18, 2024.

Luke 19:45-48