Can a ministry be for profit?
This question is based on a false premise because ministry never ceases in the Body of Christ.
Consider this: Does a Christian businessman who earns a living from a for-profit company ever stop being a disciple of Jesus?
If the Spirit of Christ dwells in him 24/7, is he not always doing the Lord’s work?
And if he is always doing the Lord’s work, is it wrong for him to make an honest profit at the same time?
Christians do not hesitate to support faith-based businesses such as Chick-fil-A, Hobby Lobby and In-N-Out Burger. Yet everyone understands that these companies intend to make a profit.
So if we feel good about buying a hamburger that feeds us physically while helping a Christian-owned business grow, why would we feel differently about purchasing a resource from a Christian business?
That resource may feed us spiritually while also helping advance the Kingdom of God.
Somehow, we have allowed government and secular culture to establish the ground rules and shape our thinking instead of the Word of God.
The result is a false dichotomy. We often hold a capitalistic view of Christian businesses and a socialistic view of Christian ministries.
What Exactly Is a 501(c)(3)?
Many people assume that an organization doing ministry must operate as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, but they are not always sure why.
A 501(c)(3) organization is a nonprofit entity that may receive federal tax-exempt status under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
I support and collaborate with many 501(c)(3) ministries. However, I saw no biblical requirement to establish another one when forming my own business.
Instead, I deliberately chose a for-profit corporation. The following eight considerations helped shape that decision.
Why I Chose a For-Profit Structure
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The First Amendment says Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise.
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Churches and ministries were added to Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code in 1954. Although this structure provides tax advantages, it also carries legal requirements and restrictions.
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Government places requirements on nonprofit and for-profit corporations alike. However, a religious nonprofit accepts a different regulatory framework than a conventional business.
Romans 13 teaches that God established civil government and that Christians should submit to lawful authority. That includes paying taxes and obeying the law.
Given a choice, I believe a for-profit business gives us more freedom to pursue our vision. It also avoids organizing the company itself as a tax-exempt religious institution.
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Even if I believed government regulation of religious organizations was especially beneficial, that model would not fit my business.
I am not interested merely in building a religious institution. I want to live under the headship of Jesus Christ, serve within the church community and reach the world with the gospel.
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Because Christ is in me 24/7, I am in ministry all the time regardless of where I work.
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As Christ’s disciple, I have both the Dominion Mandate and the Great Commission.
I determined that a privately held, for-profit corporation offered the least restrictive environment for pursuing those responsibilities.
That includes creating useful products, services and resources.
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By choosing to capitalize the business rather than fundraise, we do not have to compete with nonprofit ministries for charitable donations.
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I want to champion Christ-centered capitalism rather than government-centered socialism.
I believe free enterprise can encourage productivity, stewardship, generosity and voluntary community when Christians practice it faithfully.
Is Making Money a Bad Thing?
One of the most frequently misquoted verses in the Bible is 1 Timothy 6:10.
Paul does not teach that money itself is the root of all evil. He warns that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
In other words, greed is the sin, not money itself.
Money is simply a resource people use as a medium of exchange. Like every other resource, it ultimately belongs to God (Psalm 24:1; Psalm 50:10; Colossians 1:16).
Nothing about money makes it inherently evil. It is a tool.
The love of money can infect any organization, whether nonprofit or for-profit.
Both structures include poor and prosperous people. Both can contain honorable or selfish motives, good stewardship or bad stewardship.
The legal structure does not define us. What we do with the resources entrusted to us does.
Regardless of how much money passes through our hands on earth, our true riches remain in Christ.
How Can Business Glorify God With Profit?
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Operate a Christ-centered, free-market, privately held business without a hidden agenda.
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Run a lean, effective and efficient company. Seek to honor Christ and practice generosity toward the local church and others in need.
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Practice what you preach by combining spiritual conviction with practical business stewardship.
Use the opportunities of a free-market economy to serve others and advance the Kingdom of God.
Ministry Is Bigger Than a Tax Status
A ministry does not become ministry because the IRS places it in a particular tax category.
Likewise, earning a profit does not automatically make Christian work less spiritual.
The more important questions involve ownership, stewardship, motives and obedience.
For Christians, ministry does not begin when we enter a church building or end when we clock into a business.
If Christ is Lord over all of life, then business belongs under His lordship too.