“And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” (John 2:13-16)

This lesson in the gospel of John teaches many lessons not the least of which is that Jesus was enraged when He found common business being done in the temple under the guise of assisting in the temple worship service.

Jesus clearly states that His reason for running the merchants out was because they made the House of God look like the common market place. A house of worship is for worship not for worship plus other things we like to do or need to do.

I think this speaks directly to the current trend of opening up coffee shops (and various other inventions of men) in the fellowship halls of churches. Now, I am not against having a cup of coffee and fellowshipping with the saints before or after worship, but I have seen many of these shops. They look and function no different than a Starbucks!

These things are added to churches under the guise of an evangelical tool. The argument is, “People need to buy coffee, why shouldn’t we fulfill that need and get them to church at the same time.” Doesn’t sound so bad does it?

However, this is the very reasoning that the merchants used to sell animals and change money in the temple. They were providing a service that people needed at the temple.

The key is, Jesus hated it!

And so should we.

Church is for worship. Coffee houses, rodeos, and carnivals need to stay out on Main Street.