The Business of the ChurchBy:Jovelyn Ordonia

Nowadays, we could not deny how people question the churches particularly the Roman Catholic Church on how could they be charged of such unfair fees for church services. Thats why late last year, the Catholic News Agency carried this story as Boo Chanco quoted as: Pope Francis condemned priests and laity who turn their parishes into a business by charging for things such as baptisms, blessings and Mass intentions calling it a scandal thats hard to forgive. But who are to be blamed for this? Who is really the one who should forgive? Is it really the church or the people of God?The story to be found in the bible in Matthew 21:12-13 goes: And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He said to them, "It is written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER'; but you are making it a ROBBERS' DEN."As we read, we could feel the rage of Jesus because of the businesses in the church and that we must understand and obey His command that His house is for prayer not for businesses. Truly, even without looking into the bible, we could feel that doing business in the church is an act of disrespect to Him.Its scandalous for the priests to ask overpriced payment just for a baptism or a wedding and other mass intentions but we should ask ourselves, are we giving whats rightful for the church?Read in 1 Timothy 5:17-18 as it says: Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain, and, The laborer deserves his wages.Thus, I agree when Boo Chanco said that he personally believe we ought to compensate our priests like we do any professional monthly stipend, health and retirement benefits and even further training. And this is possible if only we all contribute our share to the church finances.In Malachi 3:8-10: Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, How have we robbed you? In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says theLordof hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.Yes! All of those who do not give their tithes and offerings are the robbers! All the priests who ask for more than what should be for their sustenance are the robbers! Thats why I wholly disagree with what the Pope told in mass attendees in the Vaticans Saint Martha guesthouse on Nov. 21 that: But there are two things that the people of God cannot forgive: a priest attached to money and a priest who mistreats people. This they cannot forgive! It is scandalousWe who are truly the children of God do not judge other people for in Matthew 7:1:Judge not, that you be not judged. And in Romans 14:4: Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Thus if God forgave us for our sins, who are we not to forgive?In Philippians 4:19:And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.Thats why I agree when Boo Chanco said It is also clearly said by Jesus: the worker deserves his sustenance.The worker of God must not be overly-concerned with material things, but the people of God must never fail in their duty to give the worker of God what he needs to sustain himself. We, the Church, have the duty to pray for the work of spreading the gospel and support it with our material resources.

I know it is easier said than done. I imagine the practice of having a menu of church services with corresponding prices exists out of necessity. But it is also true that the modern Catholic laity here, as a rule, had not been too generous in contributing to the support of the church.And the only answer to this could only be found in the bible particularly in Genesis 28:22: And this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you. As Boo Chanco said that the Roman Catholic Church is so different with other Christian church since unlike our Born Again church, the Roman Catholic Church do not practice tithing. Thats why we are able to support the churchs activities but not to build large churches like the INC and CCF and Quiboloy putting up larger ones. For we are mainly concerned with spreading the Gospel and making disciples. And we believe for in Luke 6:38said that: Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.I agree that people are just being practical or should I say materialistic for as Boo Chanco said: In the end, people just want to know where their money is going and our religious leaders must do better than our government leaders.But the main point is that true Christians or children of God dont concern themselves with material things or the competition on whos going to be better between the religious leaders and the government leaders. But we are mainly concerned in honoring God and spreading His Gospel.Our Church did it so why not the Roman Catholic Church?