What Makes a Christian Nonprofit Ministry Godly?
So, you have been invited to volunteer at a Christian nonprofit ministry. Or maybe you received a letter asking to help for a few dollars for a Christian orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya. Or, more likely, you hear of a Christian pro-life pregnancy center asking for donations of children’s clothing in your area. You are excited about the opportunity to serve the Lord!
However, you pause for a moment. Is this a good Christian organization? Is this ministry something I want to be a part of? How do I know that they are pleasing to the Lord and that I should support them? They say they are Christian and they do good work. Is that enough?
There are hundreds of thousands of “Christian” nonprofit ministries worldwide. Some of these organizations are great and serve the Lord for the glory of God. Others are Christian in name only, denying the Gospel, and ultimately, the one true God. So how can you tell them apart? They both say they are Christian and meet people’s needs. Is there a difference? Does it really matter?
When researching Christian nonprofit ministries, I ask myself, are they a godly organization? Do they meet the standards of godliness? In the rest of this blog, I explore what it means to be godly, why it matters, and some useful tips for individuals and organizations.
What Does the Term Godly Mean?
According to most dictionary definitions the term godly or godliness is a religious phrase meaning devout or pious. However, the term godly is clearer than that definition. The suffix -ly means having the qualities of. The actual word therefore means having the qualities or characteristics of God.
Consider the words motherly and fatherly, for example. If you describe someone or something as having those traits. You would ascribe characteristics that match the description. If a person is kind and compassionate, they are often referred to as a motherly figure. If a person is protective or supportive, you might say they are a fatherly figure.
Godly or godliness also follows that same logic. A believer who shows true love for others (1 John 4:8), is faithful to friends (1 Corinthians 10:13) and shows compassion to those in need (Psalm 116:5) might be referred to as being godly or demonstrating godliness.
What Does Godliness Mean for a Christian Nonprofit Organization?
If a person is godly, it means having the same characteristics or traits as God. The same holds true for a Christian nonprofit ministry. A truly godly organization will not be perfect but will demonstrate a high level of godliness. Here are some examples.
God is truth. John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” Godly Christian nonprofit ministries hold to the truth of God’s Word. No organization that denies the Bible can be considered godly. Now, we may disagree as to what theologically that fully entails. When honestly looking at an organization, if it denies the Bible, it is not godly.
God is the way. As mentioned in the verse above, God is the way of salvation. 1 Timothy 2:5 says, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” The only way of salvation is through Jesus Christ; any other means, whether through good works, universalism, or some other god, is false. Any organization that denies the Gospel cannot be considered godly. Godly organizations hold to and preach the Gospel.
These are two examples of godly characteristics that a Christian nonprofit organization must have in order to be godly. There are other examples, such as honesty, compassion, and love. All of these characteristics are vital for every organization, but are not conclusive of all characteristics that go into making a Christian nonprofit ministry godly.
What Does Godliness Not Mean for a Christian Nonprofit Organization?
Godliness in a Christian ministry does not mean simply an outward expression. Godly organizations act based on the staff’s inward willingness to please the Lord. However, this part is impossible for anyone to fully determine. God sees the heart and knows whether an organizational leaders, staff members, and volunteers are acting for His glory or theirs. Ungodly actions come from the heart (Matthew 15:17-19), and even though an organization may do things that seem godly, it could still be an ungodly or false ministry.
Also, being a godly Christian ministry does not mean perfection. There has never been and will never be a perfect nonprofit organization. Ministries make mistakes, fail, and fall short of expectations. However, that does not mean that they are completely ungodly.
If you look hard enough at any organization, you will find shortcomings you oppose or believe are wrong. That is okay. As long as you do not believe those shortcomings are non-negotiables, you should feel comfortable continuing to work in partnership with the organization. I personally would not partner with an organization that denies God, the Bible, or the Gospel in a meaningful way. Those are my main non-negotiables. As an individual, you have to pray and decide where your line should be and where organizations cannot cross. Then, if you desire to serve the ministry, do so with a clean conscience.
Does it Matter?
Why does a Christian nonprofit ministry have to be godly? It is not the church, and its role does not include taking the place of the church. As long as the organization helps people and meet their needs, does it matter if they are godly? The answer is quite simple: yes, it matters!
1 Corinthians 10:23 says that everything is to be done for the glory of God. The purpose of everything in life, organization or not, is to bring glory to God. Anything that does not glorify God is ultimately a waste. Though people may be helped and benefited by ungodly organizations, it is still not pleasing to God (Hebrews 11:6). Ungodly “Christian” nonprofits are ultimately working for their own glory and self-righteousness.
A godly Christian ministry works for God's glory. It serves so that people may see the Lord's work and glorify God in heaven. Ultimately, what godly Christian nonprofit ministries do will last for eternity, while the works of ungodly organizations may only last for a day.
Helpful Hints for a Ministry to Better Demonstrate Godliness
Check your statement of faith - A strong statement of faith is a quick and simple way to demonstrate godliness to prospective volunteers and donors. Many times, statements of faith are hastily written in the early stages of ministry to avoid the least amount of controversy. However, by analyzing your faith statement, you may be able to find doctrinal weak points that could be strengthened to show a more godly ministry.
Publish content demonstrating godliness - Use videos, podcasts, and written material that emphasize areas where the ministry is demonstrating godliness.
Create an environment where staff are encouraged to live godly lives - Believers are called to challenge one another to pursue the works of the Lord. Whether you are a leader or not, challenge your coworkers to pursue God for His glory. Challenging coworkers can take place through prayer, devotionals, and or personal relationships.
Stand against ungodliness when it arrives - If you see something ungodly happening, speak up! Do not let peer pressure keep you from protecting the ministry from falling into ungodliness.
Helpful Hints for Those Determining if a Christian Ministry is Godly
Read their statement of faith - Simply reading the statement of faith can tell you a lot about what the ministry believes about God.
Watch videos and see how they talk about God - Watching videos can be a good way to see how an organization publicly speaks about the Gospel and God. If an organization never speaks of God or never demonstrates actions that would align with godliness, it may be a sign that it is an ungodly organization.
Visit and ask questions regarding beliefs and practices - Asking questions behind closed doors about the ministry is a great way to see what the organization says outside of the public eye. Are they a facade, or do they truly believe what they say and do?
Attend an event - Attending an event is another way to determine if an organization is godly. You can talk to people, listen to staff members, and get a personal feel for the organization during the festivities.
In conclusion, a godly Christian ministry is an organization that demonstrates God's characteristics and traits. It may not always be easy to tell when an organization is godly, but Christian organizations must be godly and work diligently to please the Lord! So next time you see or hear about a cool new Christian nonprofit ministry, ask yourself, are they godly?