Examples of Business and Commerce in Religion

INTRODUCTION
There are many ways that religious organizations incorporate business  to accomplish their religious purposes. Similarly, there are many ways that private businesses incorporate religion and religious symbols to satisfy their business objectives. In all such cases, they are using, actually misusing, God, Jesus and the Bible to satisfy their fleshly needs and interests (i.e. pride and greed).

AUTHORS NOTE: In this series of pages, references to “corporate religious organizations” are to organizations that are legally organized by state and federal governments to function as non-profit charitable religious organizations for which contributions to the organization are considered tax deductible by the IRS). It must be said, however, that small, informal ministries and mission organizations are guilty of misusing God’s name and the bible for their own selfish purposes. It must be said also that the fact that the organizations provides useful services such as feeding the poor and housing orphans does not excuse them from guilt.

Because business in religion and religion in business are so common, it is hard to imagine that there is anything wrong with it. Using God and religion to make a living is acceptable and profitable, and there is no end to entrepreneurs who will do it. But once you catch on to it, it is easy to see that every church, large or small, every ministry, large or small, every mission effort, large or small, is involved in business. And once you start looking, it is easy to see how many private business, large and small, are really involved in religion.

Looking at religious organizations in particular, it can be said that if an organization deals with money at all, it is in business. And since all ministries depend on money (tithes, offerings, donations, fundraisers, etc.) to keep functioning, they must function like a business to prove to the IRS and their supporters that they manage money responsibly. And. looking at organizations that sell products or services that invoke religious themes or images, it is undeniable that their business models exploit God, Jesus and the Bible for personal, financial benefit.

It can be safely said that religious institutions in the USA (and perhaps elsewhere in the world) operate like businesses. We think this is a fair and accurate conclusion because the following facts about religious institutions satisfy nearly all of the definitions of business and commerce.

  • People (pastors, janitors, clerical staff, etc.) obtain their financial livelihood from religious institutions through employee/employer agreements and ontracts to provide services.
  • Churches and related non-profit religious corporations keep books of account of income and expenses and report all financial activity to the IRS.
  • People in non-profit, independent ministries gain their livelihood from activities that sell goods and services that are generally available to the consuming public. They keep books of account of income and expenses and report all financial activity to the IRS.
  • Religious corporations (churches, ministries, etc.) have implicit contracts with their members and adherents to provide spiritual services (preaching, teaching, counseling, weddings, funerals, etc.) in exchange for payments made to the corporation in the form of tithes, offerings, and other financial donations.
  • Private corporations that identify themselves as religious or Christian sell tangible commercial products (books, dvds, teaching, clothing, jewelry, etc.) over the counter or online to customers.
  • Most religious organizations own or lease property in which they conduct their religious activities (business).
  • All religious entities organized under Article 501.C.3 of the IRS Code for charitable religious organizations are exempt from income taxes on donations made to the organization.
  • Individual and corporate taxpayers who make qualified donations to a qualified religious organization may reduce their income tax burden by reporting those donations to the IRS on their income tax forms.
  • Corporate religious organizations purchase from private parties a variety of goods and services necessary to operate the corporation.

This is a short list of reasons why religious organizations can be called businesses. The way we see it, if it runs like a business it is a business. The fact that its products and services are cloaked in religion does not materially change the fact that it is a business.

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