Pastors and Business
 

I know a pastor who owns a small chain of convenience stores and gas stations. His businesses sell cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and other tobacco-related products. His businesses also sell alcohol. Oh, and he's Pentecostal.

Is there a conflict of interest?

Re: Pastors and Business
 

Conflict of interest? I'd say yes, but ultimately he's going to have to work it out for himself, between him and God. As for Pentecostal, you'll have to be more specific. Pentecostal as a label, just defines the type of praise. What type of Pentecostal? Trinitarian? Oneness? Other?

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if he sold only food, there would be no perceived conflict, right? Yet many are addicted to food. So imo there is no conflict, but there is a perceived conflict, which for a pastor might be enough, or at least worth considering.

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If he's wrong, then so is every Pentecostal who works at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants which sell alcohol. And before you counter with his ownership and how it differs from hourly workers, it doesn't. They choose to work there, just as he chooses what to sell.

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When they got wine for the Last Supper, they had to buy it from someone. Maybe they got it from Hershel's Jachin and Boaz Licka Sto?

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Maybe Dante is a grape juicer?

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maybe Pastor was never meant to be a job :)

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I'd have to ask, can anyone present Scripture specifically prohibiting tobacco and alcohol?

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well, but giving offense does not run along those lines.

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I have a problem with a Pastor selling alcohol and tobacco in HIS own store.

So here I am preaching, "God will deliver you," but just in case your deliverance doesn't come tonight, after service you can stop by my store and get some firewater.

An owner has control over what is sold in his store, unless it is a franchise like 7-11.

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Being a Pastor is high calling and not everyone can or should be a Pastor.

If the Pastor can't lay down his beer and liquor license, then maybe he should not be a Pastor.

Or maybe Jesus is ok with cigs and beer.

Or is it just wine that He is ok with and that, as long as you don't get drunk?

Should this same Pastor sell marijuanna once it is legalized in his or her state?

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JD - do you have any funds invested in the stock market? 401K? Mutual funds? Etc...

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I think I know where you are going with this question to him. One question I have of that pastor is the sole owner of those stores or is an investor with other partners.

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I know of a pastor who owns a cinema. It has caused a lot of division in his church. My cousin resigned as a board member, but still attends church for now because of the relationships he has there, but he won't stay much longer. The pastor justifies it because he has evangelism material in the lobby, they have church sponsored events there and he says they are trying to reach the unchurched in their city. Yet he is required by the studios to show certain movies that are the furthest thing any Christian should watch. Again he justifies it by saying he doesn't watch those flicks and he discourages his members from watching them.

This convenience store pastor needs to step down and be a local businessman. The cinema owning pastor needs to step down and be a local businessman.

Not just anyone should be a pastor.

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Bible Tobacco prohibition?

Maybe it's in the same verse where it says you shall never drink of the fermented grape less ye die?

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One of the strangest situations I've seen was with a sister who was in music ministry (he wasn't a pastor) in Dayton, Ohio. When her mother was diagnosed with cancer, she and her husband temporarily moved to Missouri to help her. Part of that involved running and managing her mother's adult entertainment boutique. So, this sister and her husband managed and ran the store as her mother underwent treatment. When her mother died, she left the store to her and so she and her husband became the "proud owners" of this shop. While running the store they actually made many friends among the clientele. They managed the store well, cleaned it up, and paid off her mother's debt. She and her husband eventually sold it once all the finances were in order. You just don't hear about a holiness Pentecostal couple owning a store like that every day. lol

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Before going out on a limb and mandating that a pastor give up a family business (or a business he built prior to his calling) over the sale of tobacco and alcohol, I think we should search the Scriptures to determine if the actually prohibit alcohol and tobacco.

I'm not saying that tobacco is good for you, we all know that it isn't. And I'd admonish that people give up the use of tobacco for the sake of health. But in all honesty, I do not see the actual prohibition of tobacco (or alcohol) in Scripture. I could be wrong, but I just don't see it.

So, before rushing to any judgment or condemnation, let's dig into the Scriptures themselves. Does the Bible clearly prohibit the use of tobacco and alcohol? Is it a matter of interpretation? Is it a Heaven or Hell issue?

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Should a Christian work in an abortion clinic?

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I think most Christians will agree that working in an abortion clinic is not acceptable for the Christian.

The question of the original post surrounds the sale of alcohol and tobacco.

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Maybe that was the original question, but the implication of the question is should Christians be involved, business-wise, with things that go against their beliefs.
So, to me it is a larger issue than the question that was posed.

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9You and your sons are not to drink wine or beer when you enter the tent of meeting

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I know a UPC guy who runs a jewelry store. I know a UPC woman who has a hair salon (color/cut).
I'm not saying either one is wrong, but it's just strange to me, because the organization would say these are sins, and some would go so far as to claim they are heaven or hell issues.

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The only heaven or hell issue I know of is being covered by the Blood..Don't believe works have anything at all to do with it

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Sherri, can you say Ronald Oree Nation?

What is stranger to me is that people who have left the Org and chose vanilla are always available to point out hypocrisy.

Every religion should be judged by its best, by those who represent honestly the views of their particular movement. If a minister's organization preaches against "sour milk" then he shouldn't be peddling buttermilk. It's that easy. If he preaches against Hollywood then he can't justify owning a theater. Yet, I believe you know those who are UPCI who believe and follow their manual. Yet, you want to let us know it's strange when a religious person is a hypocrite?

How long you been in religion? :heeheehee

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Homosexual behavior is a heaven or hell issue.

So, let me just say... It won't get you into heaven.

Sad but true.

:thumbsup

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in YOUR opinion it may be, But I stand on the Word. And furthermore, what did that have to do with my reply?

The word says homosexuality is heaven or hell.

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Im not here to debate your interpretation of the Word. I commented on the relevant thread and nothing more. I wont be involved in a theological debate.

Then the word has lost all meaning. By the way you commented on homosexuality, with implications in your words that it's not heaven or hell.

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What didn't it have to do with your reply?
You made it sound like the Gospel was totally inclusive of anything and everything. So, homosexuals are definitely candidates of damnation if they continue in their perverted lifestyle. So, by your accusation of me just holding an opinion and you standing on the Word is farcical. Because when challenged you cop out with a plea of not wanting to debate? Listen, don't tell anyone it's their opinion if you aren't prepared to back it up with some book, chapter, and verse.

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Exactly! :thumbsup

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Maybe you should do less standing on it, and more reading of it. :nod

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Me thinks the lady doth protest too much. LOL!

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You know, I didn't see anything about homosexuality in your above statement. It worries me when people read homosexuality into everything. Maybe their minds are on things other than the topic at hand.

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Homosexuality is a sin. However, God specializes in forgiving sinners, cleaning them up, and making them acceptable in His sight.

Right now, in today's culture, it worries me that we're so ready to bash one specific kind of sin over others. Sinners are sinners. Come one, come all. Christ forgives, imputes His own righteousness, and allows us to enter the process of sanctification under the umbrella of His grace.

God also specializes in taking the most imperfect of circumstances and people and making them something beautiful.

I believe that had the woman brought to Jesus who was caught in adultery have been a gay man caught in sodomy.... Jesus' response would have been the same.

John 8:3-11
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.