History Of 501c3
Government Licensing Of Churches
By David J. Stewart | July 2012
It is
impossible to have religious freedom in any
nation where churches are licensed to the government!
Chuck Baldwin 501c3 Government Takeover of the Church
| Pastor Chuck
Baldwin Discusses 501c3 Churches with Alex Jones
This great Christian Republic that we live in was formed 225 years ago in
1776 by god‑fearing men who put all, including their homes, families, and
lives on the line. What we seldom hear today, and what has been conveniently
(or should I say deliberately) left out of the history books, is that much
of the impetus for achieving our independence and freedoms was the result of
the preaching and teaching of the clergy of that time. They were "fired up"
with the Word of God, and spoke out on anything and everything that was in
conflict with that word.
What a contrast to today, when the preachers
are silent, when the churches have made a pact with the devil (the state),
when they have played the role of Judas and sold out our God for "thirty
pieces of silver." Prior to 1954, there was no such thing as a 501(c)(3)
church. All donations, contributions, gifts, etc. given to churches were
automatically tax‑deductible under the old English common law, known as the
"Law of Charities." Then in 1954, Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson (D‑Texas)
sponsored legislation which brought churches under the new 501(c)(3) section
of the Internal Revenue code.
As a part of this legislation, churches would
incorporate, and having that status, they could not be sued in a legal
action. This was promoted as a "benefit" to the churches. The churches never
bothered to look to the Scriptures and previous law to find out that
churches could not be sued. They relied instead on advice from lawyers and
the "legal profession" who recommended acceptance of this new "benefit." And
why not? Anything involving more "legality" does nothing more than advance
the status, importance, need, and employment of this questionable
profession. It is a fact, that today most all of the "churches" who have
been sued in a court action have been "incorporated churches."
I guess that back in 1954, the rational of the
churches was that if everyone else was doing it, why should Christians not
be involved. The whole concept of limited liability was the bait to get
churches incorporated and like a fish, they were hooked! Corporations,
under law, can sue and be sued! By submitting an application (and a
substantial fee) to the IRS for tax exempt status, the "church" is
requesting and accepting a government license to allow them to operate,
within the parameters and statutes of government regulation.
In other words, the church has become
subservient to the government. Today, it is estimated that fully 90% of the
"churches" in this nation are 501(c)(3) government sponsored churches, while
only 10% are free‑churches. The following materials were obtained from the
Christian Bible Study web site in Melbourne, Florida, and reflect the
requirements with which a church must comply to receive tax‑exempt status
from the IRS. Instead of being a minister of God, serving the Almighty,
these preachers have betrayed our Savior and the entire Christian theology,
to become instead ministers of the government. And this is not to say that
we are anti‑government. We feel that the government has its place and the
ministry of God has its place, and the government is and should be
subservient to God.
Fortunately, any and all ministries located or
headquartered in the Commonwealth of Virginia can not meet the first
criteria, that of being incorporated. Virginia is the only state that does
not permit or allow churches to incorporate. Some ministries and churches
that wished to incorporate, have gone outside of Virginia, to other states
(such as Delaware) for incorporation. This prohibition in Virginia dates
back to the year 1802, when the Anglican Church (renamed as the Episcopal
Church), went to the Virginia legislature seeking incorporation. The
legislature found such to be a violation of the First Amendment relative to
the establishment of state‑endorsed churches, and they moved to amend the
state constitution to forever prohibit church incorporation in Virginia.
In spite of what some misinformed or uninformed
churches and preachers may claim, Jesus Christ CAN NOT be the head of a
501(c)(3) church because at law, the "sovereign" to the corporation is the
state! And "sovereign" means the supreme authority over legal as well as
theological matters. The corporation has put the church into a non‑entity
status. The request and acceptance of the 501(c)(3) status establishes a
covenant (a binding agreement and contract) between the government and the
church.
In recent months, there have been several
instances where the government has stripped the tax‑exempt status from
churches and demanded back taxes for violation of this covenant. And those
pastors who "claim" that they can go into their pulpits and say anything
they wish, contrary to "public policy," do so at their own peril. They have
made a contract with the government, which they are in violation of, and
they are in fact lawbreakers and civil criminals, for which they and their
church can he held liable and responsible. And we wonder with more than
325,000 churches in this land, why we are seeing such deterioration of
ethics and morality. The churches are silent and ineffective. The ministers
have sold out Christ, again, for their "30 pieces of silver."
The Ten Commandments is under attack by the
judicial system (in several geographic areas) as it is not considered public
policy. The churches say, come to Christ, accept His grace and He will
protect you, and then, these very same churches ignore their own words and
turn to the state for protection. What must our heavenly Father think of
these false preachers and churches?
It is
impossible to have religious freedom in any
nation where churches are licensed to the government!
PASTORS MUST BE ORDAINED BY THE IRS
(by
Dr. Greg J. Dixon)
The
most prominent and successful certified public accountant firm in the nation
today, that specializes in keeping churches out of trouble with the Internal
Revenue Service, is now boldly saying to the pastors of America that they
not only have to be "ordained by God, but also the IRS."
They also say that the IRS is dictating terms
to the churches by declaring in clear and no uncertain terms that, "The
government doesn't want your Bible, they want your checkbook!" In seminars
all over the US, Chitwood and Chitwood of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is
repeating this startling announcement to pastors and church leaders. Without
so much as a blush, Michael Chitwood, the main speaker, says, besides the
above quotes, "Pastor, if you don't get your house in order, get ready, you
are going to have a jail ministry" as he practically screams out to those
present as to what pastors and church leaders must do to avoid jail time and
the confiscation of church property by the federal government.
Besides giving the pastor his job description,
which is based on the Roman Catholic model of worship and polity, the IRS is
demanding many other things that are clearly designed to make the IRS
Commissioner the new head of the churches in America Some of these demands
are as follows: The church must collect a Federal ID (Social Security)
number from visiting evangelists, missionaries, preachers and singers before
they invite them to the pulpit. They must give a Form 1099 to any minister
who receives up to $600 in a years time, which includes missionary support.
If the ID is not received, the church leaders must withhold a jeopardy
assessment of 39% on the spot and send it to the IRS.
They must agree to the IRS definition of
benevolence. They cannot deal in cash at any level, but must deposit all
offerings into a checking account and write checks for every purpose. This
means, of course, that the church, in order to conduct its ministry, has to
have an Employer Identification Number which must be provided by the IRS by
filing Form SS‑4 which a true New Testament church could never do and remain
obedient to her Lord. In fact, church leaders would have to misrepresent the
church as a religious organization rather than a N.T. Church to do so. Other
things that pastors and church leaders are required to do are to be an
informer against their members and also to preach only IRS prescribed
sermons. Also, all fund raising material must be submitted to the IRS for
their approval.
The job description for pastors is a list of
nine specific sacerdotal duties which again is a Roman Catholic definition
meaning sacred. The Catholic church teaches that these sacraments, when
administered by a priest, are essential to ones salvation. This is totally
opposite to the Bible definition which states that baptism and communion are
memorials of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and that they follow salvation.
The nine duties are: baptisms, weddings,
serving the Eucharist (the Catholic sacrament of communion), teaching ,
spiritual counseling, christenings or baby dedications, administration of
church affairs and the regular conducting of worship services. If the pastor
does a substantial number of these things, he will receive very lucrative
tax breaks. This is in clear violation of the scriptures concerning the
doctrine of the Nicolaitanes which the Lord Jesus said that He hates (Rev.
2:6, 2:15). It is the setting up of a privileged class of clergy with
benefits from the state that lay members do not receive. Others who minister
to the church in the area of music, youth, children, education and other
areas of responsibility don't qualify.
This is consistent with what officials of the
IRS told Attorney David Gibbs of the Christian Law Association (CLA) in 1984
when they said that their definition of church is "once per week adult
worship." They said that they did not consider such ministries as Sunday
school, Christian school, busses, youth camp, vacation Bible school, nursing
home, etc., to fall within their definition of the word "church". This
Gibbs/IRS meeting took place in Washington, DC at the time that the so
called champion of Christian liberty was hammering out a compromise with the
Dole Committee (Sen. Bob Dole‑R‑Kansas) in the US Senate to bring the
churches into compliance with the FICA tax (social security) laws.
This was the deal that would eventually cause
the raid and seizure of the Baptist Temple 17 years later. It's too bad that
Gibbs didn't sound the alarm at that time and call the Bible believing
pastors together for a summit meeting to map out a strategy that could have
possibly saved our churches and ministries. The unregistered church pastors
tried, but unfortunately our words fell on deaf ears. The so called "big"
preachers were too busy receiving their tax deductible gifts and building
their empires to be concerned over the future of God's work. Now the enemies
of Christ have sprung the trap and it is too late.
These requirements should be intolerable enough
by just the fact that the IRS would even dare to suggest duties for pastors,
but to impose under the penalty of imprisonment and confiscation of property
the same responsibilities of Roman Catholic priests is nothing short of
naked tyranny. Obviously, the inquisition has returned and the pastors and
churches of America are not even aware that it has arrived. The raid and
seizure of the property of the Baptist Temple is the direct result of the
pastors and church refusing to bow down to this new wave of Catholic terror
that has come upon our land. The issue in the Baptist Temple case isn't
taxes as the IRS, with the help of the media,
has led the people of Indianapolis and nation to believe.
The issue is very simple. Will the churches of
America bow down to the IRS in violation of the first commandment, "Thou
shalt have no other gods before me," or will they bow down to the Lord
Jesus Christ? Our Lord said, "No man can serve two masters: for either he
will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and
despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24). The purge
is now on as we hear of churches and ministries being closed on a regular
basis. But there is still no evidence that the pastors have awakened from
their stupor.
The benevolent requirements for churches are
beyond atrocious. They are five in number: food, clothing, housing, medical
emergencies and utilities. The church cannot help with transportation or
auto repairs and a myriad of other things that churches have historically
done on a regular basis. The church cannot make loans to the pastor,
members, or others which churches have always done. Obviously, they want to
make sure that the money lenders get their profits even from the poor.
Can you imagine the government of the US
limiting a church as to its duties in regarding charitable activity? There
is no subject in the Bible that is nearer to the heart of God than charity.
According to the apostle James, it is the test of pure religion (James
1:27). Paul the Apostle declares that charity is of higher value even than
preaching and sacrifice (I Cor. 13:1‑3). For the churches to debase such a
high and noble service to Christ by submitting its administration to the
wicked IRS is beyond belief.
How will the preachers of America give an
account of caving into this coercion by an abusive Bush administration who
is continuing with the policies of those before him? How will church leaders
face the Lord Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ when He asks them why
they violated His clear commands concerning alms giving? He said, "Take heed
that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have
no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine
alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the
synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men, Verily I say
unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left
hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and
thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."
But now the churches are required to get the
permission of the IRS before helping someone other than in the manner and
purpose that they approve. Then records will have to be kept for the IRS so
that the publicans can make sure that the church is in fact following their
guidelines. And, of course, they expect church leaders to report this alms
giving to the IRS so that they can even gouge the poor for more tribute. And
all of this so the churches can keep their tax exemption and the people can
get their precious tax deductions for their tithes and gifts. As James
Dobson's organization said when challenged, "It's just good stewardship."
Thievery, good stewardship? How sad.
It may be that the churches have now gone too
far. When they begin building their dynasties on the backs of the poor our
Lord, no doubt, will be swift in His removal of their candlestick. He said
to the church at Ephesus, "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen,
and repent, and do the first works: or else I will come unto thee quickly,
and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent."
(Revelation 2:5)
It is
impossible to have religious freedom in any
nation where churches are licensed to the government!
All Churches Now Required to Join IRS
Super Church
Two
other developments concerning IRS control of churches has risen recently
that should literally send shock waves through the religious community.
First, while the churches are arguing doctrinal positions among themselves,
and won't even spit on each other for the most part, the IRS has now
developed its own super church. Independent Baptists in particular pride
themselves in their anti‑ecumenism. No fundamentalist preacher worth his
salt would be caught dead at the local church federation meeting where he
has to rub shoulders with a charismatic or liberal preacher. However, they
don't think twice about paying a large fee to go to a Chitwood or CLA
seminar and sit next to one of these religious outcasts to learn how to be a
good IRS approved church and pastor.
It is now a fact that in order to get and keep
the tax‑ exempt status a church must agree that all religions are equal. The
new Application for Recognition of Exemption Form 1023 Schedule A for
Churches (Rev. September 1998) demands a declaration to this effect with the
following words at point #3: "Does the organization require prospective
members to renounce other religious beliefs or their membership in other
churches or religious orders to become members? Yes__ No. If "Yes,"
describe."
It doesn't take much intelligence to figure out
where they are going with this. In order to be considered a legal church
(tax exempt) in America, the church or religious organization will have to
declare that all religions are equal. They will also have to declare that
they do not believe that their doctrinal position only results in converts
to their faith having eternal life.
They must renounce this narrow inclusivist
position. Maybe we now know why Billy Graham, Robert Schuller, Pat
Robertson, and other TV preachers have been making such fuzzy remarks about
adherents of other religions, though sincere, going to heaven without
receiving Christ.
In that tax exemption is government subsidy,
according to the Supreme Court in the Bob Jones University case, it is now
clear that the US government will not support any religion that clings to
the narrow minded belief that salvation is in Jesus Christ alone.
Remember? "Come Shekels, Come Shackles." The
world church isn't coming; it is already here, and the preachers don't have
a clue as they go merrily along hand in hand with the Great Harlot to the
wedding with the anti‑Christ. (Revelation 17).
It is
impossible to have religious freedom in any
nation where churches are licensed to the government!
U.S. Government Through the IRS
Outlaws Preaching on Second Coming
of Christ
One
of the reasons the IRS gave to Texe Marr's Living Truth Ministries for
removing their tax exempt status is as follows: "Much of the material you
disseminate promises to address possible conspiracies or threats, either
from individuals, groups or various agencies, against Christianity, freedom
or other rights. This is evident from a review of your newsletters and order
forms. The titles and promotional materials are designed to sensationalize
and grab the readers attention. They usually imply that the works will
expose certain prominent groups, individuals, politicians or government
agencies as being part of or linked to some threat or conspiracy." One of
the titles that the IRS gave as an example included "Bible Prophecy and The
Conspiracy."
Any grade school child in Sunday School knows
that you can't teach or write on Bible prophecy without dealing with the
second coming of Jesus Christ. But just as the Russian pastors under
communism were forbidden to speak on this subject, we are now coming to the
same place in our beloved land.
It is obvious that if one believes in the
literal return of the Lord Jesus Christ that they will be considered a
domestic terrorist. In that the Lord Jesus will destroy wicked government
upon His return in great glory and break the back of Gentile world rule,
this message isn't popular with the in‑for‑hells and the high‑heeled‑belles
that run our country today.
Of course, they don't believe that He is
coming, but they believe that we who do will be involved in what they call
self‑fulfilled prophecies and try to hasten His coming by blowing up
everything in sight. Further evidence of this type of anti‑Christ thinking
surfaced recently when a brochure put out by the FBI in Phoenix, Arizona,
named "potential domestic terrorists" that law enforcement should be aware
of. One of those groups is "Doomsday/Cult‑Type."
Obviously, this would include all Bible
believing preachers and churches in America. We not only believe that there
will be a literal doomsday, we believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will bring
the doom when He comes (Revelation 6:12‑17). It won't do any good to claim
that your church is not a "cult". The IRS definition fits the average Bible
believing church to a tee.
Many have asked if we can actually show them
this in the law. Our answer is no, we can't because you won't find a
specific law that says that you can't preach on the Second Coming of Jesus
Christ in America today. That's because they don't have to write a law to
gain the same effect. All Congress has to do is to give an outlaw agency
like the IRS a carte blanche privilege of making up their own so‑called laws
as they go along.
The churches agreed to this when they signed
their tax‑ exempt contract. They said that they would obey all laws,
federal, state and local, presently and in the future. But they apparently
didn't read the fine print. The new churches filing for tax exemption must
agree to the following: "The Corporation or organization shall have no power
to take any action that would be required for a tax exemption under Internal
Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) and related regulations, rulings, and
procedures." It is now the "procedure" of the IRS to refuse tax exempt
status to those churches that will not agree that all religions are equal
and who refuse to join through tax exemption, the world church. Also,
preaching on Christ's coming is taboo.
For those churches which are foolish enough to
believe that Sec. 508 of the IRS code allows an automatic exemption for
churches, need to read it again. It doesn't say "exemption," it says,
"...churches have a mandatory exception." The exception is from filing a
Form 1023 to make application for not for profit status. Here is the kicker.
Churches have to abide by the same rules that those that do file for this
privilege. And if they do not, the IRS can, and most assuredly will, remove
their tax exemption. The only thing missing is the annual Form 990 that
other religious organizations have to file. When this is required, the
churches will be under total control of the IRS with no wiggle room.
In the Baptist Temple court case, the church
learned that a New Testament Church does not legally exist in the US today
because there are no longer any First Amendment protections left. The genius
of the First Amendment and various religious freedom clauses of the fifty
states is that, for the first time in history, a N. T. Church could exist
legally without having in the words of the IRS a "distinct legal existence."
Now even a New Testament Church will be assigned by force the legal status of an
association and will be expected to meet the same standards that the not for
profits have to meet. But, they still won't have their God given right of a
non‑taxable status. This status is in contrast to an exempt status which is
a privilege not a right.
It is
impossible to have religious freedom in any
nation where churches are licensed to the government!
IRS Agent Says That Churches are
Trapped
The evidence as to what we are saying, though
denied by most preachers, was made clear on January 24 this year in Tampa,
Florida. IRS agent Melvin Blough testified in federal court that "once a
church obtains the status of 501(c)(3) under the IRC they are trapped. The
only way to be removed from a 501(c)(3) status is if the IRS chooses to
remove the exemption. So if you dissolve the corporation and continue on as
ABC church, an unincorporated church, you're still trapped in their web and
under their control." He further testified that a church is automatically
exempt under federal law without a 501(c)(3) designation.
He also stated under oath that churches request
the status just to get the governments stamp of approval. Even though Blough
used the word "exemption" rather than "exception," he is essentially correct
in his assessment of the plight of the churches of America. It is obvious
that, regardless, the result is the same.
Also a more complete study by: CHUCK KUHLER,
Pastor, Virginia Christian Israelites.
It is
impossible to have religious freedom in any
nation where churches are licensed to the government!
Church 501c3 State
Licensing Is Unbiblical
by
Pastor Chuck Baldwin
By accepting 501c3 status, America’s churches have effectively become
state-licensed or state-sanctioned organizations. In much the same way that
churches in Communist China risk vindictive state sanctions for not
complying with state control, so, too, churches in the United States risk
vindictive IRS sanctions for not complying with state control.
What is more than interesting is the comparison between the churches in
China and the churches in America. In China, Christianity is growing
exponentially. In fact, there are now more Christians in China than there
are communists. Please carefully read this report:
“Though the Chinese
Communist Party is the largest explicitly atheist organization in the
world, with 85 million official members, it is now overshadowed by an
estimated 100 million Christians in China. It is no wonder Beijing is
nervous and authorities are cracking down on Christian groups.
“Christianity is growing so fast in China that some predict that it will
be the most Christian nation in the world in only another 15 years. By
far, the greatest growth is coming outside the official state-sanctioned
churches, which are rightly considered subservient to the Communist
Party. Numbers are increasing, rather, in unofficial Protestant ‘house
churches’ and in the underground Catholic church.” Source: Breitbart.com
Did you get that? Let me repeat it: “By
far, the greatest growth is coming OUTSIDE [emphasis added] the official
state-sanctioned churches, which are rightly considered subservient to the
Communist Party [state]. Numbers are increasing, rather, in UNOFFICIAL
[emphasis added] Protestant ‘house churches’ and in the UNDERGROUND
[emphasis added] Catholic church.”
But what do we see happening in the United States? Christianity is waning
BIG TIME. On the whole, churches are in steep decline. For the most part,
only the entertainment-oriented, circus variety churches are growing. The
numbers of Americans professing Christianity in general and expressing
loyalty to a specific church or denomination are at historic lows. And the
trend for 2015 and beyond is more of the same.
The difference is, in China, Christians understand that to be loyal to
Christ, they MUST NOT SUBMIT to state-sanction or license. And they are
willing to defy Beijing authorities in order to be faithful to that
conviction. However, in America, pastors and churches insist that they MUST
SUBMIT to state control—even using Romans 13 to justify this preposterous
position. Bottom line: state-sanctioned churches in America are withering,
while non-state-sanctioned churches in China are mushrooming. There is no
doubt that the trend in both countries will continue into and beyond 2015.
The above is from my column dated January 1, 2015. The column is entitled,
"Where Will 2015 Take Us?" And the above is only a small sample of what's in
the column. I hope you will read it and share it.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Read the column here:
http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/…/…/Where-Will-2015-Take-Us.aspx
END
Note
by webservant of Jesus-is-Savior.com - The 501c3 organization is a state
matter, which has nothing to do with the church itself. A legitimate church
may operate under the umbrella of a 501c3 organization, if they so choose,
but being a 501c3 organization does not validate a biblical “church” (a
church is a called out gathering of born-again believers). State-run
churches are wrong! I am against state-licensing of the churches. I love and
support Pastor Steven Anderson. I have posted an article that he wrote below
about 501c3 licensing for you to read. I agree in part with what he says,
but I also want to point out a couple things that I have a problem with.
First, Pastor Anderson's church
is NOT 501c3, which I think is the way to go. However, he criticizes others
as "false accusers" for criticizing churches that are 501c3 licensed. That
seems hypocritical to me.
Second, a major problem in
America today is that pastors and churches are selling-out to the New World
Order. They are buying into the Devil's counterfeit Bible versions. They are
buying into the counterfeit present-day fraud of manmade Israel. They are
buying into the deception of
accepting the agenda of the ungodly perverse LGBTQ community. They are
being deceived on many levels, buying into the heresy of Lordship Salvation,
and turning from sins to be saved. Pastor Anderson thankfully preaches
against all these woeful evils, yet he falls short when it comes to 501c3
licensing. Respectfully, Brother Anderson downplays the issue as a mere
matter of paperwork, but is it? You decide dear reader. My humble opinion is
that state licensing of churches is a step toward
state-run churches like we see in China today. It is a disturbing trend.
The average Sunday morning
church service today is nothing more than a Christian happy hour!
Pastor Charles Lawson Hypocritically Says Sodomites Should
Die, But
Also Says Local Pastor and Sheriff Grayson Fritts Can't Say That!
Preachers are running scared of the media and the government. In a healthy
society, the government fears the people who empower them. Our U.S.
government has grown so big that they are no longer accountable to the
people, and it is now open-season on We The People! The Bible foretold of
these "perilous times" as we near the end times (Matthew 24; 2nd Timothy
3:12). I love Brother Anderson and am not criticizing him. I value his
opinion and wanted to share his views with you, to follow...
~by David J. Stewart
*
* *
* *
* *
501c3 Tax Status and
False Accusers
by Pastor Steven L. Anderson
Faithful Word Baptist Church is not 501c3, but I am sick and tired of good
men of God being falsely accused and railed on for something that is not
mentioned in the Bible and doesn't matter. The legalities of running a
church (or of running a business for that matter) are very complicated, and
pastors are just trying to do the best they can to figure out all this
complicated paperwork and run their church legally.
Contrary to what you will read on the internet, there is nothing about 501c3
status that hinders pastors from preaching any part of the Bible. Are there
pastors that are afraid to preach some parts of the Bible? Of course.
However, it is because they are cowards, not because of some paper on file
with the IRS.
501c3 is just a certification that a church is really a church, and that 95%
of its activities are religious, educational, and charitable, as opposed to
political. A church that is 501c3 certified can influence politics, but they
are only allowed to spend 5% or less of their money and resources on trying
to influence elections. Why in the world would any man of God want to even
spend that much time on it?! I personally don't even vote, let alone try and
spend more than 5% of God's time and money trying to influence our country's
fake elections between two candidates that are both of Satan.
Why don't people get fired up about something that is actually biblical?
Don't believe everything you read on the internet, folks. Just because a
church is 501c3 doesn't mean they are "controlled by the government, not a
New Testament church, controlled by the IRS, etc." Those are all lies
disseminated by cult-like churches that want to claim that they are the only
legitimate churches, and that everyone else is of the Devil. If churches are
censoring their preaching, that is a problem. Which chapter of the tax code
they fall under is not the problem.
Although 501c3 tax status is not mentioned in the Bible, here is something
that is mentioned: being a false accuser, which is a major sin. The word
"devil" literally means "false accuser." People going around saying that any
501c3 pastor is a "creature of the state, government puppet, FEMA pastor,
false teacher, IRS stooge, antichrist, etc," are false accusers who are
bearing false witness against brothers in Christ. It is amazing to me how
people have no fear of blaspheming, maligning, and falsely accusing men of
God over a paperwork issue that is not even mentioned in the Bible! If they
were actually reading their Bibles, they would be reading about how grievous
it is to be a false accuser, not about IRS issues, which God doesn't even
care about.
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." - Exodus 20:16
"Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to
be an unrighteous witness." - Exodus 23:1
"Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour." - Deuteronomy
5:20
"A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among
brethren." - Proverbs 6:19
"A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall
not escape." - Proverbs 19:5
"A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall
perish." - Proverbs 19:9
"A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh
constantly." - Proverbs 21:28
"A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a
sword, and a sharp arrow." - Proverbs 25:18
"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:" - Matthew 15:19
"He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt
not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false
witness," - Matthew 19:18
"Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not
steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and
mother." - Mark 10:19
"Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not
steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother." - Luke
18:20
"For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt
not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if
there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying,
namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." - Romans 13:9
"Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good," - 2 Timothy 3:3
"The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness,
not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;" -
Titus 2:3
"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and
strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the
accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day
and night." - Revelation 12:10
SOURCE:
http://sanderson1611.blogspot.com/2014/07/501c3-tax-status-and-false-accusers.html
Brother Lester Roloff Homes: The Attack
Against The Family
30 Ways IRS
Controls Preachers Through 501c3
Thirty Ways The IRS Tries To Control
Preachers and Churches in America (as inspired from the list with the same
name, by Dr. Greg Dixon).
If
your church has a "tax exemption" granted by the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS). then you must examine it
to determine if it is worthy in the eyes of
God. Review this and then, decide if you do need to make a change in the
church you are supporting.
1). The church must have a "distinct legal
existence:" According to IRS publication #557 that legal existence would
date from incorporation, pg. 3. Therefore, a church must be incorporated or
it cannot be called a church.
2). The church must admit that it exists by a
privilege granted by the IRS (tax‑exempt), rather than by RIGHT, as granted
by God through the Holy Scriptures (non‑taxable); the latter of which is
recognized and guaranteed autonomy by the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights,
1st Amendment. The church must thereby recognize another as Head,
the State, as opposed to the true Head, which is God.
3). The church must have a "recognized creed
and form of worship." The IRS must approve (recognize) the creed (belief)
and form (manner) of worship.
4). The church must have a "definite and
distinct ecclesiastical government." That is, the church must be ruled in
the form of a hierarchy or hierarchical (as is found in many so‑called main
stream churches –e.g., Catholic, Methodist. etc.), and not individually
ruled by the local church's ministry (pastor/leader) and/or congregation (as
in Baptist, Christian‑Israel, James Lloyd or Christian Media Ministries or
some other autonomous‑type of church/ministry/movement).
5). The church must have a "formal code of
doctrine and discipline," as in some churches who have established
"doctrines" or "traditions of men," as opposed to those Christians whose
churches/groups/ministries have established their faith, practices and
doctrines solely from the Holy Scriptures. Unfortunately, many of the
501(c)3 churches have established doctrine/traditions that are not in
accordance with the WORD of God.
6). The church must have a "distinct religious
history" that is denominational – e.g. Catholic, as opposed to being
"autonomous" or serving its congregation as an "independently acting,
Bible‑oriented, body of believers."
7). The church must be structured as an
"organization." Again, this is modeled after the Catholic church‑type
organization, not the autonomous‑type of church – e.g. Baptist.
8). The church must be an "organization of
ordained ministers." The local Baptist church approves its own ministers,
many of whom could be laymen, such as Charles Haddon Spurgeon and the late
G. B. Vick – men "ordained of God," as opposed to men that are ordained and
licensed by institutions, state or religious.
9). The church must have these ordained
ministers who are "selected after completing prescribed courses of study".
Again, Catholic‑style, not Baptist. Like the Apostles, who had only "been
with Jesus" (taught and ordained by him to serve His kingdom), local
autonomous churches many times approve pastors who have not received any
formalized institutional religious training – but are ordained of God
because of their Faith, Practice, Study, and Example.
10). The church must have "established places
of worship." Many churches, ministries, groups have no permanent address or
facility (place of worship ‑ some meet in parks or other scenic places, some
have only radio facilities) for a variety of reasons (because they are
circuit preachers, because of persecution, because of their type of
ministry, etc., they move from place to place or have no congregation
meeting facility per se).
11). The church must submit to the IRS by
paying a "user fee" (tribute) for tax‑exempt status. This is contrary to the
Scriptures, the U.S. Constitution and all the State Constitutions.
12). The church must be engaged in activities
that further "exclusively Public purposes, rather than Private interests."
The true church of Christ exists for the Personal and Private interest of
Christ and His Elect, and not the State.
13). The church must answer to the IRS as to
its "daily activities."
14). The IRS dictates its control over all
financial activities of the church – including sources of income, donors of
$100.00 or more, and expenditures.
15). The church may not use cash, or it will be
suspected of "money laundering." All books and records must be made
available for IRS inspection at all times.
16). The church must serve the IRS in the
capacity of "informer" – by reporting a history of who serves in the various
jobs within the church – e.g. Pastors, associates, counselors, directors,
teachers, office/clerical/maintenance personnel.
17). The church must inform the IRS who it is
that receives charitable help from the church.
18). The church must inform the IRS about "love
gifts and offerings" in excess of $600.00 given to evangelists and
missionaries, by filing a Form 1099 on each recipient, including on those
who are regularly supported.
19). The church must use only IRS approved
methods of fund raising.
20). The pastor of the church must not preach
against the U.S. tax system, or say anything against the practices and
tactics of the IRS.
21). The pastor of the church must answer to
the IRS and give unlimited submission to the civil magistrate pertaining to
all laws – federal, state and local, including "Public Policy."
22). The pastor of the church must advocate,
promote, and actively encourage race mixing (interracial marriage), which is
in violation of the "kind after kind" standard established by God at the
creation, if the church has an educational ministry.
23). The pastor of the church cannot influence
legislation concerning the licensing of church ministries.
24). The pastor of the church cannot promote or
engage in any political activity that opposes pornography.
25). The pastor of the church cannot actively
support legislation that declares that children belong to their parents as
opposed to the authority of the state.
26). The pastor of the church cannot actively
support legislation that opposes a state’s lottery or other "legalized"
gambling pursuits.
27). The pastor of the church cannot advocate
support of the concept that the U.S. or state Constitutions are the Supreme
Law of the Land or the various states, respectively.
28). The pastor of the church cannot actively
participate in any activity that is in opposition to the public school
system.
29). The pastor of the church can make no
public declaration that the church congregation is to obey God and not the
government, even if the government’s stand is in violation of God’s laws,
commandments, statutes, and judgments.
30). The pastor of the church cannot oppose
laws that are in support of or legalize "sodomy" – which is in direct
conflict with the Word of God.
The Faith of the “Church”—Is It in God and
Christ Jesus, or Is It in the Government and the State?
Disturbing 501c3 Corporate Church
Report
It is
impossible to have religious freedom in any
nation where churches are licensed to the government!
Ye Must Be Born Again!
|
You Need HIS Righteousness!
