PARACHURCH ORGANIZATIONS

Introduction

1. Men want to do a good, needed, helpful work for the Lord.

2. They do NOT want to be under any eldership.

3. They form their own non-profit company, with a board of directors

4. This is called a “parachurch” organization – Para = beside

5. There are many such organizations today seeking churches to support them.

Basic Principles to understand

1. The local congregation is given authority to give financial support to their own work, other congregations and people in need of help.

2. There is a difference in supporting an organization and buying its service.

3. Individuals are given liberty to support many things that a church may not support.

   1. Cancer Society, Boy / Girl Scouts, social or civic club

   2. Local schools – fund raising, sports, school trips

4. An action of an individual is not an action of a local church.

5. Status as a non-profit organization does not mean that support by a church is scriptural.

6. The financial work of the church must be approached the same way as worship is approached.

7. To justify support of parachurch organizations = the old missionary society.

8. Such organizations might be expedient, but for something to be expedient it must first be lawful. 1 Corinthians 6:12; 10:23

9. Success in doing some good work does not mean the Lord's approval.

Some scenarios

1. Christian couple is concerned about single mothers, homeless women, battered and abused women – form a organization to help them. No church or eldership is involved.

2. Mission minded men want to broadcast the gospel on radio or TV around the world. They form a corporation, have a board of Christians to oversee the work. Then they appeal to churches to support this work.

3. Parents concerned about situation in public schools. They form a private Christian school. They have a board of directors.

4. Brethren form a private college or university but they want help for the salaries of the teachers in the Bible department. They ask churches to support their work. But the elders and churches have no say in the hiring or firing of the men they support.

5. Emergencies (floods, hurricanes, tornadoes) happen around the USA. A special non-profit corporation is formed and they expect local congregations to fund this work.

6. Seeing the need for better mission training, preacher training, printing and distribution of Bible and literature, etc. They form an organization, appoint a board, ask churches to support their good work.

Conclusion

1. Individuals may support many works, but not the church.

2. Churches must not go outside the biblical authority to add extra organizations.

3. Why desire to change, add, devise, reorient, or restructure the Lord's church?

From material by Roy H. Lanier, Jr.