Christian Business?

[shugotenshi]

  I'm just curious of what people feel about owning/runninga  Christian business?  My feelings are that the word of God is 'free', but the items that it goes on or associates with is not...and we all have to eat.  To me, i'm NOT selling the word or Christianity, but the raw materials costs money and I have to eat.  How does anyone feel about this?  The reason i'm asking is, I'm an artist...yippie.  I like to draw angel warriors and cartoon angels and such.  I would like to involve scripture because it's in my heart 'to involve scripture'.  I primarily like to have a clothign line but, not for the sake of fashion, but to wear the word proudly.  granted a huge part of the disign is my art but, i'm not really trying to emphasis that.  I'm more trying to emphasize:  'Look, I was given a gift...I would like to use my gifts to praise the Lord and become some sort of witnessing tool.'...that's about it.

Not sure if it's against the rules, but here's my site:  http://www.orlanimation.com

It's in Flash, so have the latest Flashplayer and a highspeed connection is recomended.  

At the same time, I don't feel the shirts I make should cost a lot, it should be affordable...less than $12, retail.  But, the retail outlets usually mark up 50%.  So, if a shirt costs $6 to produce, and I only mark up $1 per shirt, the retail value would be around $14.  I dont' feel that consumers should pay such an amount considering my cost is around $6.  Hmmm.  BTW, $1 a shirt mark up is quite low...looks like i'll be eating only rice for a while...  So, if I sell directly to consumers at let's say...$9...that's very inexpensive, it costs LESS for the consumer and I make around $3 per shirt.  Not trying to be so 'money orientated'.  I have a whole line of kid's designs and teens designs..choosing the clothing type is easy.  

So, any comments on this?  

[Saved_4ever]

Yes well you might think the Word of God is not for sale however, if you use any translation outside of the KJV you may find yourself with a coyright violation.

No I don't think it's wrong to sell your shirts if they are of decent quality and all.  I'd say you could even sell them at $10 and no one would complain and still think they were cheap. The average T with nothing costs about $12-$14.  I don't know what your overhead is but you will find it quickly adds up.   Have you taken into account the legal matters and costs from the state & gov't?  Taxes and the like?  

[Saved_4ever]

Ugh, a MAC person.  

[shugotenshi]

Yes.  I'm trying to distribute in wholesale, rather than being a retailer.  But wholesale prices would apply to youth groups or churches who are in need of doing fundraisers as well.

[Whitehorse]

Your concern is so godly. I'm not sure what the answers are, but I'm certain God is going to be very pleased with whatever you do for Him.

[shugotenshi]

Thanks man.  How this world is structured, money is need to do things, but we are to be seperate from the world at the same time we are held accountable to pay what we owe.  So there's a little struggle there.  Trust me, if I can have these shirts made, delivered and packaged for free...i promise everyone would have my shirts for free and i'd just get a part time job to make ends meet.  I would like to own a home just due to the fact that it's cheaper than renting...much cheaper.  Not for any material reasons, it's just cheaper than renting..plus I can make a day care out of it or something, lol.  Peace...  

[Whitehorse]

True, money is needed to make the world go around. And it's great that you don't want wealth to be a trap. But it's okay to be fair to yourself. Enjoy whatever material blessings God sends your way, as long as they don't become more important to you than God. If it makes someone do things that are ungodly or unfair to others, or less reliant upon God, that's one thing. But remember that Job, Abraham, and Solomon were all blessed materially by God, simply because they didn't seek it primarily. In fact, the book of Proverbs talks about wealth as a blessing, a reward for a job well done. Nothing wrong with that, at all.

Your heart is in a good place.

[Saved_4ever]

Thanks man.  How this world is structured, money is need to do things, but we are to be seperate from the world at the same time we are held accountable to pay what we owe.  So there's a little struggle there.  Trust me, if I can have these shirts made, delivered and packaged for free...i promise everyone would have my shirts for free and i'd just get a part time job to make ends meet.  I would like to own a home just due to the fact that it's cheaper than renting...much cheaper.  Not for any material reasons, it's just cheaper than renting..plus I can make a day care out of it or something, lol.  Peace...  

Don't get too confused on this issue.  We are told to be IN the world and not OF the world.  We are also told to render unto Ceasar wha is Ceasar's.  Paul worked to help take care of himself as well.  Working is not wrong, but if your job takes over to the point you leave Jesus to the wind you have a problem.  Your jopb can be used to witness to people etc etc.

[shugotenshi]

Yes, give to caeser what is caeser (taxes, interest, etc) and living int he world not OF the world amen...