Nonprofits...

Can Be Prophetic

I apologize for this article getting out a little later today.

I attend a gathering this morning of non-profits which coincidentally delays my writing about prophets. Still, I am hoping that, by the end of this article, you will believe in and support the idea that Nonprofits Can Be Prophetic.

Reading through the Bible…Numbers 9-11/Mark 5:1-20

But Moses said, “Are you jealous for me? Would that all God’s people were prophets. Would that God would put his Spirit on all of them.” (Numbers 11:29)

Prophets in the Bible are called by God, empowered by His Spirit, and often act as the conscience of the people, defending the poor against the wealthy.

Our passage today zooms in on two prophets who are mentioned only once: Eldad and Medad. Both of their names derive from a Hebrew word dowd, meaning love.

Unfortunately, these two prophets aren’t feeling the love. The entire camp resents that they continue to prophesy after the seventy elders stop.

The people want them to stop. Moses, however, encourages them to continue. In fact, he wants everybody to join them. Would that all God’s people were prophets!

In the New Testament, he gets his wish. God pours out God’s Spirit on every kind of people: Men and women prophesy. (Joel 2:28/Acts 2:17)

Not just Peter but all of the 120 followers of Jesus who gather in the upper room, declare the wonders of God in the unique languages of the different tribes who gather in Jerusalem for Pentecost. (Acts 2:11)

Writing…

I wonder, can you declare the wonders of God with works as well as words? If so, I just gather today with a group numbering well over 120 people, who do.

Is it the Holy Spirit who gives birth to their efforts? Could it be that each nonprofit represented today uniquely and prophetically addresses differing needs in the community?

Since I know many of the people who gather this morning, my opinions are prejudiced. Still, I believe that nonprofits do have a prophetic role in our community and in every community.

Jut to be fair, however, and perhaps a little snide, we actually have a nonprofit person running our government right now.

The guy who gives a speech last night, in four of the six years between 2015 and 2020, declares a negative income on his federal tax returns, He, in effect, declares himself to be a nonprofit. This, of course, means that he pays little or no federal income tax. (Google AI)

Building…

So, let me say prophetically and maybe politically, that it is possible to be a nonprofit without being prophetic.

However, I still want to say to the majority of those nonprofits who gather with me this morning. Thanks!

As a pastor of nonprofit churches, I emphasize that we must earn our status as nonprofits by actually profiting society. Nonprofit churches, with the help of the Holy Spirit, must declare the wonders of God in word and work in ways that address the unique needs of our local communities.

Many who gather this morning for our Nonprofit Community Assessment sponsored by LNA, are doing just that. In a variety of ways they prophetically profit our local community…

So does my late wife Jeannette through Brownson Properties. For a list of the some of the nonprofits that Jeannette is able to support, see

jbbbc.com

And remember, you can support some of them too with a paid subscription.