Before we consider the four ethical questions (and the answers), let’s define affiliate marketing.

Affiliate marketing is about sharing a third-party product with others, whereby the sharer will receive a percentage for each sale. Normally, this is automatically tracked by the affiliate link.

The reason I defined the following questions as ethical questions is because they’re dealing with your choice between doing more good and not doing more good.

Obviously, as a church or ministry, you are already doing a lot of good. What if you could easily and freely do more good.

Would you do so?

The first ethical question…

Should churches and ministries share third-party products with their audience that will result in additional funds?

While we can certainly make the answer way more complicated than it needs to be, it’s rather simple.

Will the product genuinely benefit their audience?

If so, why not share it?

Is it better to share a product or not to share a product that will genuinely benefit your audience?

The second ethical question…

If churches and ministries could easily, freely, and legitimately receive additional funds, should they make use of such an opportunity?

Without question, affiliate marking will give churches and ministries additional funds, without any cost or effort on their part.

As Charity Navigator points out, affiliate programs will give non-profits “additional, unrestricted revenue.”

Needless to say, those additional funds will allow them to do more than what they’re currently doing.

If that’s the case, why not pursue such an opportunity?

Is it better to legitimately gain additional funds in order to reach and help more people, or is it better not to do so?

The third ethical question…

Should churches and ministries ignore or even reject affiliate marketing as a legitimate option?

If churches and ministries could easily and freely do more for the spread of God’s gospel (Mark 16:15), the persecuted (Heb. 13:3), and the poor (Gal. 2:10), should they do so?

Paul wrote: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10).

Undoubtedly, affiliate marketing will give churches and ministries an opportunity to do more good.

If that’s true, why not do so?

Is it better to do more for the spread of God’s gospel and to help the persecuted and the poor, or is it better not to do so?

In summary (and one more ethical question)…

This article is about reasons why churches and ministries should employ affiliate marketing, especially when it will benefit their audience.

Often, our own circumstances and point of reference clouds our judgment. For example, while we may not take a few moments to consider an opportunity to distribute ten Bibles to the persecuted church, without any cost or effort on our part, those who are persecuted for their faith wouldn’t think twice about such an opportunity.

Affiliate marketing will give churches and ministries an opportunity to do more of what God has called them to do, which is to spread the gospel and to help the persecuted and the poor.

The needs are just too great to not use any legitimate opportunity.

Here’s the fourth ethical question…

Whatever your emphasis, focus, policy, or vision as a church or ministry, if you have a free, simple, easy, and legitimate opportunity to reach and help more people in need, should you do so?

For more information about affiliate marketing and the products that will undoubtedly encourage your audience in their faith and walk with Jesus, click this link.

In Christ Alone,

Mr. Jan Blonk

P.S. While this article is in relation to churches and ministries, it’s also applicable to Christian media outlets and Christians who have a large audience. Through affiliate marketing, you can easily and freely make a significant difference for others. Will you do so?