By Oladipo Oluwatosin Emmanuel
Christian Life & Society
“It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of thieves.”
— Matthew 21:13 (KJV)
The New Marketplace in the Sanctuary
On any given Sunday, the atmosphere in many churches feels alive — praise resounds, the congregation is vibrant, and ushers smile as they lead people to their seats. Yet, beyond the sacred rhythm of worship, another sound hums quietly: the whisper of deals, business introductions, and client exchanges.
What was once the House of Prayer now feels like a hub of enterprise. From choir rehearsals to church WhatsApp groups, conversations about contracts, brands, and networking opportunities abound. The altar meant for divine encounter has become, for some, a business arena.
As an old African adage warns:
“When the market enters the shrine, worship loses its meaning.”
Why Has the Church Become a Marketplace?
1. The Prosperity Obsession
The modern church is heavily influenced by the idea that godliness equals financial success. Some believers now attend church not for transformation but for transaction. The ancient command —
“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33) —
is often replaced by an unspoken mantra: Seek success and call it Kingdom breakthrough.
2. Economic Pressure and Unemployment
In difficult economies, the church becomes a refuge not just for souls, but for survival. Young entrepreneurs and professionals use church connections to promote products or meet potential clients. It’s understandable — yet spiritually dangerous when it overshadows the true mission of worship.
As the Yoruba proverb says:
“A hungry man does not hear the word of God clearly.”
3. Leadership Failure and Shallow Discipleship
Many church members are active but not transformed. Without deep discipleship, believers remain carnal — attending church without an encounter with Christ. A church full of activities but empty of spiritual formation becomes no different from a social club.
4. Commercialization of Religion
The sale of anointing oil, branded handkerchiefs, and ticketed prayer meetings is now common. What began as ministry becomes merchandise.
Peter foresaw this danger:
“Through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you.” (2 Peter 2:3)
Effects: When Business Overshadows the Gospel
1. Loss of Spiritual Focus
When the church becomes a place to connect clients instead of connect with Christ, the Holy Spirit quietly withdraws. True worship becomes replaced by showmanship and strategy.
2. Erosion of Genuine Fellowship
Love becomes conditional — driven by profit, not purpose. Relationships become transactional: “What can I gain from you?” rather than “How can I serve you?”
3. Hypocrisy and Double Life
The believer becomes a Sunday saint but a weekday schemer. The church wears holiness as a garment but hides greed in the heart.
4. Weak Witness to the World
When unbelievers see the same corruption in the pews as in the marketplace, the church loses her moral authority.
“The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Romans 2:24)
Restoring the True Business of the Kingdom
1. Return to the Original Mandate
Jesus at age 12 said,
“I must be about My Father’s business.” (Luke 2:49)
His Father’s business was not trading but transforming — saving souls, teaching truth, and reconciling man to God.
2. Raise Disciples, Not Consumers
The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20) is not a marketing plan but a discipleship mandate. Churches must focus on spiritual maturity, not mere membership.
3. Teach Godly Prosperity and Contentment
“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6)
Believers must learn that prosperity without purpose leads to spiritual poverty.
4. Draw Boundaries Between the Altar and the Market
Empowering entrepreneurs is good — but sacred spaces must remain sacred. The altar must never be reduced to a display shelf for human ambition.
5. Restore Reverence and Holiness
A revival of purity will drive out the merchants from the temple again. Just as Jesus cleansed the temple with a whip, the modern church must cleanse her motives with repentance.
Emphasis
“The true business of the Father is not buying and selling but saving and discipling souls.”
“The church is not a company; she is the Bride of Christ.”
“When gold enters the temple, the glory departs.”
Conclusion: A Call to Examine Ourselves
The time has come for each believer to ask:
Am I truly serving Christ, or am I using church as a meeting point for my personal gain?
For the day will come when every man’s work shall be revealed by fire (1 Corinthians 3:13). On that day, only those who labored for souls — not sales — will be rewarded.
The Church must once again echo the words of Jesus:
“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (Mark 11:17)
African Sayings for Reflection
- “When profit enters the pulpit, power leaves the altar.”
- “He who sells faith for fame will one day buy shame with tears.”
- “A trader in the temple may prosper on earth, but not in heaven.”
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