State Churches
There are many in the Body of Christ today saying, "there is something wrong in the church today". Some even comment that it seems so business oriented, and man-pleasing. While many can go on discussing what they believe is wrong with the Church today, I have noticed the absence of what I believe is a large factor in the equation of the problems in the Church today.
Have you every heard of 501(c)3? How about non-profit organizations? What is a 501(c)3? It is a classification given by the government to all clubs, organizations, etc., that file a form with them to gain(?) benefits (like tax-exempt status). When a Church files this form(s) with the government the Church no longer is the Church of Jesus Christ, but has taken on a different form, that is, the form of a corporation (or a state church).
Looking back to Colonial America, a Baptist preacher in Massachusetts named Isaac Backus, and one in Virginia named John Leland, had significant impact on the Founding Fathers in the matters of Church and State relations. Backus was relentless in his condemnation of church corporations.
In September, 1791, the Warren Association met to consider incorporation for Baptist churches. Backus spoke against it and incoporation was voted down. They also defeated a measure to let each church decide for itself whether to incorporate or not.
In 1810, Barnes sought to force church incorporation on those Baptists who believed that incorporation was an unchristian surrender of a churches power to the State. Barnes' case failed.
John Leland, also had strong views. He believed that the "Government has no more to do with the religious opinions of men than it has with principles of mathematics."
In 1785, a bill came up in the Virginia Legislature to tax the people to pay pastors. The Hanover Presbyterians opposed the bill in a memorial.
Throughout James Madison's life he fought against taxing people to support pastors, and against church incorporation. In the debate on the infamous "Religious Assessments Bill" he noted a list of the evils that would follow assessments and church incorporation. He believed that:
- Regulation of religion is not within civil power,
- Religion needs no 'artificial props',
- History proves religious Establishments were detrimental, and
- These benefits would 'entangle the state' in determining which were Christian and which were heretical.
Moving on, under the First Amendment the church is non-taxable, not tax exempt. The separation of church and state that is widely publicized today is incorrect. The First Amendment tells us that the government is not to have any say in the doings of the church. In England they had left the state run church of the king so they could worship God in spirit and in truth.
First Amendment:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
So what happened? Incorporation was pushed by pastors because they had recourse through the artifice of a corporation to sue for wages; i.e. to use the state to collect salaries.
What is a corporation? According to Black's Law Dictionary it is "an artifical person or legal entity created by or under the authority of the laws of a state; an association of persons created by statute of a legal entity". Now when a church receives a 501(c)3 license; i.e. incorporates itself; it diminishes it's status into a "charitable organization." Government-licensed charities are subject to regulation under what is termed "public policy." This is because the religious charitable organization is a law termed as a "quasi-public corporation." [397 US 664, 25 L Ed 2d 704]
Public policy (Black's) - Community common sense and common conscience, extended and applied throughout the state to matters of public morals, health, safety, welfare, and the like; it is that general and well-settled public opinion relating to man's plain. palpable duty to his fellowmen, having due regard to all circumstances of each particular relation and situation.
Now if our religious beliefs displease the current public policy of our masters, we will be punished. One can be safe in his religious beliefs only if he reads the morning papers to keep in tune with today's public policy.
Roscoe Edgar (former IRS commissioner) said, "The IRS for many years has had the right to examine church records, because churches have been collecting taxes for many years for the government; the churches therefore hold in trust that which belongs to the government. We have a right to examine church records to see if the churches are handling funds properly."
What are church records? The money that comes into the church and where it goes? Yes! But it also includes all the affairs and operations of the church.
In September of 1997, the 104th Congress passed a bill that turns over all religious institutions of America to the IRS. Clinton signed it in July of 1997. It is called the Tax Payer Bill of Rights [HR 23337].
In March of 1999, Clinton signed a bill that gave the UN control over all religious institutions of America.
When a church incorporates, it joins itself with all the false religions of the world, for they too are incorporated and many of the nations of the world have also given control of their religious institutions over to the UN. You have heard of the ecumenical movement sweeping the world, but have you considered the ecumenical movement that I'm sharing with you.
What are the guidelines that the incorporated churches are to adhere to. Well, here are a few of them:
- You can not criticize any other faith group, cult, or religion;
- Do not discourage young women from getting an abortion, or endorse the pro-life movement;
- Do not identify homosexuality as a sin and an abomination to God;
- Do not appeal to peoples' emotions by employing an evangelization method (such as "fire and brimstone" preaching) not considered a "reasonable approach" by the IRS;
- Do not discuss or identify threats to Christianity;
- Do not highlight or otherwise bring attention to immorality of public officials or corruption in the government, or a particular bill, or act;
- Do not support home schooling;
- Do not advocate or teach any Bible doctrine that is politically or religiously incorrect, or is inconsistent with any "public policy" (abortion, gay rights, etc.) currently being enforced by the IRS.
Like I said these are just a few of the guidelines that churches are to adhere to. Moreover, the pastor is recognized by the IRS as their agent, ministering their agenda. The pastor is first responsible to the government, and secondly to the church. If the pastor or the church violates the guidelines that they agree to adhere to, they will lose their license (in the case of the pastor), or their tax-exempt status (in the churches case).
This is just an introduction to 501(c)3 and the state churches. I hope that you have gained some understanding about the churches condition, and why it is so today.
[This document was found at http://www.thewordsofeternallife.com/stch.html]
Temp: not used with permission
29 Mar 2005 13:25
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