Is it wrong for Christians to charge for their products?

I offer a hearty, "Amen!" on God blessing in abundance. I think it is only fair that Christians should be able to make a fair living using their gifts and talents. It is not right to assume that because it is Christian it should be free! I know of one ministry who offers many products for free on their website. Then they have another whole set of items for which they charge. However, the "prices" they set are much more than reasonable. I think that is a fair way to do "kingdom business." I do think it is our responsibility to purchase items or to give donations in return for the items we recieve from ministries. For, as you said they must also pay the people who work for them!

I echo your sentiments. I do think they should be compensated for their own costs at the very least. So.. do you think Christians should be able to "make a living" off of their products, or are they, unlike the "secular" world, supposed to just get by?

I hear ya! I think there should be much more giving in there too. More than just the tithe, I think. I believe if and when God prospers you there should be much giving to the poor and the widows. If we horde it all away, we are in greed and that is not God's blessing. I do not think it is wrong for people to "make a living"as Christian artists etc. I do think it is wrong for them to charge way out there prices and basically take advantage. For example, I can purchase a cd of a Christian artist for quite a bit less at Walmart than I can at the Christian bookstore. so then the quesiton becomes how can i be frugile with the money God has provided? As much as I would like to support the "Christian Book Store" but not when it costs so much more!

I hear ya on that one! Most "Christian" authors more than likely tithe and a lot of them are givers by nature. I guess we can suppose that most of them do give back in many ways. I think it is unfair to think that just because they are Christian their time, effort, studies and even materials are worth less than so called "secular" authors. They spend as much or more in the production of their publications.

PS: As some of you may have noticed in the past I am strongly against mixing money and ministry in any way. In today's world even our Christian Teaching System is controlled by money. If the money stops then so does the teaching system. I don't think this is what God had in mind for us and it is certainly against what Jesus taught. Our ministries are supposed to be supported by God's wisdom, and His power which He freely shares with us through the Anointing of the Holy Spirit. I believe money involved in our ministries either hinders or completely stops God from sharing His wisdom and power with us. You can see this working in our churches. The Christian Teachers are simply repeating what they have been taught by man. A lot of them have very little if any personal relationship with God and Jesus. We can just look around us and see that what the churches are doing is not working and I believe the way they involve money in them is the biggest reason for this. You hear the old argument that it costs people to run a ministry and they must at least get their money back. I don't buy this. I believe we will always be able to full fill God purpose for us as Christian Teachers without a cent in our pockets. Art

People simply have the wrong idea on the christian ministries. If we follow the plan Jesus laid down for us any ministry we may have will be in our homes or maybe in the home of a friend or neighbor. Where did Jesus sent the Apostles when he sent them out to establish His Church? He sent them to the homes of the believers. They were to help the people in the home reach a point where God could Anoint them with the Holy Spirit. A lot of their teaching concerned the holy Spirit and the many benefits of having it. In our homes today we are supposed to be concentrating on helping our children reach the point where God can Anoint them before they leave the home. We are supposed to be living this plan as a natural way of life for all to see. If we were doing what we should be we wouldn't need money to support Christian teaching. Remember this. If God and Jesus build their church in your home there is no power on earth that can destroy it other than God Himself. With or without money you will be able to do everything God expects of you. Jesus inte4nded for His true church to spread from one home to another. Kids getting married and setting up their home were actually setting up another Church for Jesus. The same applies to any of your friends or neighbors that become true believers. Read the last few verses of the book of Mark and see how Jesus described a true believer. That is what you and I should be and we should be living it in a natural way for all the world to see.

I really do agree with you for the most part. Freely I have recieved and freely I am to give. That is true, however, I did not recieve the paper for free that I printed the last newsletter on, nor was the ink free! IT came at a cost to me. I haveto trust Him that if Iam to get the job done so to speak, He must provide. When there is money involved there is usually trouble, corruption on some level and all. However if we were not to have money in ministry at all.. why did Jesus have someone who "carried" the purse for Him? Had He not had any money, Judas would not have had a pocket to steal it from....