Commerce within the house of God

I read with interest an article in my local paper concerning a raffle that was held during a church service to raise funds for local charities. Matthew 21:12 came to mind. "And Jesus went into the Temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves." However you would wish to interpret this verse the message of Jesus was clear, it angers God when you use his house inappropriately. Jesus went on to say "My house shall become a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves." He further illustrated the correct use of Gods house when "The blind, and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them."

Interestingly I had a conversation with a local Methodist outraged that her local church would not permit raffles within the walls of the church. She reasoned they where old fashioned and out dated. Perhaps it is much simpler than that. Could it be they fear God more than they fear man? Tragically a healthy fear of God is a essential Christian character trait in many places you would be hard pushed to find!