The 501C3 tax exempted churches are a controlled group of corporations
I believe that there are many bible believing Christians that attend their church faithfully never realizing that their church is a corporation, which was incorporated so that it's members could take advantage of the tax-exemption for the money they've tithed, a little carrot, encouraging church growth. The fact is, the U.S. government has made this provision for any non-profit organization to include churches, to gain political control. The intention for the political control is to silence any organization that might want to influence their political agenda to especially include any religious organization that might want to take a political stand for God's righteousness. When you closely look at the tax code listed below, you will soon realize that churches along with any other tax exempt organization are strictly forbidden in taking a political stand in influencing legislation or in supporting any political candidate. Please pay close attention to this tax-exemption trade-off and consider the outcome it has accomplished, in silencing the righteousness of God in the laws of our land.
Black's Law Dictionary:
Corporation: An artificial person or legal entity created by or under the authority of a state. The law treats the corporation itself as a person which can sue and be sued.
Controlled Group: A controlled group of corporations is required to share a lower-level corporate tax rates and various other tax benefits among the members of the group
Tax laws listed in Title 26 of the IRS tax code:
List of Exempt Organizations Sec. 501 (c) 3
1. Corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes etc..
Sec 504 (a) (2)
2. To disqualify for the exemption described in 501 (c) (3)
A. By reason of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation, or
B. By reason of participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office,
To begin with, this may not be of concern to most but for me, I see a huge problem with any church that has voluntarily exchanged their right to take a political stand in exchange for the profitable gain realized in their tax write off. And I most sincerely believe that those that have and are contributing to this evil agreement, may very well be held accountable, before God, for the "falling away" of a once, Christian based nation. The truth is, the church did not have to incorporate to have a tax exemption. Church members already had that. Even today, if a group started a church, but did not incorporate their church, denying the 501C3 tax exemption, the members that contributed to that church, would still get tax credit for their financial contributions. Anyway, I would like to share some of my spiritual concerns based on biblical principals. Lets begin with, the church as it is defined in the bible is a body of believers that are disciplined followers of Christ, serving God.
The bible states that Jesus, and no other, is the governing authority over His church.
Col 1:18 (NKJV) And He (speaking of Jesus) is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
The children of God will know that the biblical church of the bible is not recognized by the world. It is a spiritual kingdom where God is the ruler and His people are being controlled by His Holy Spirit. The church as described in the bible are a body of individuals that have committed their lives to serving God through Christ and are accountable for their actions and yes, they can sue, and they can be sued.
However the biblical church, as described in Scripture, can not be sued because the world does not hear them, nor does the world recognize that form of spiritual government. That is why the US government requires the churches of today, if they want to take advantage of the tax exemption, to incorporate, so it can be recognized and controlled under the law of government. And then the burden of accountability in most cases is transferred from the members of the church to the church corporation, providing a corporate shield for those in leadership. Please take this to heart, the church as described in the bible can not sue or be sued, but the incorporated churches of today can do both, sue and be sued. Here is another thing to consider, the biblical church had no legal identity or physical address, however the corporate church of today, when it became incorporated, became an artificial person or legal entity created by or under the authority of a state and has a physical postal address. Also consider this, the bible says that God has appointed these gifts to the biblical church. Does anyone really believe that God would appoint these gifts to a church that has voluntarily replaced God's sovereignty over the church with the US government? For some, this is hard to accept but regardless it is fact. Think about it and read the following scripture and then think about who you've seen that has worked healing and miracles within their incorporated church.
1 Cor 12:27-28 (NKJV) Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
1 Cor 12:3-11 (NKJV) ...no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills
Seriously, I've not found any of these gifts functioning as God intended in any of the incorporated churches of today. Back in 1954, Senator Lyndon B. Johnson was given the credit for getting religious organizations such as churches added to the 501C3 tax exemption tax code and to me, and others, it's very obvious that this action was taken in order to silence the church and eliminate the significant influence the church had always had on shaping "public policy." back and prior to 1954. Back then life in the US was based upon Christian principals but today, the US is now turning it's back more than ever, on God and I think we will all suffer the consequences.
I know many would make claim that their church is not under the authority of the government but the truth is, if they still have their tax exemption, that in itself is proof of submitting first to the laws of the government. Consider this, if an incorporate church with a 501C3 tax exemption is found doing either (A.) or (B.) as described in the tax code, that is grounds for that church to lose it's tax-exempt status. So if their church still has it's tax exemption, it's only because they have complied with the tax law of not supporting any legislation or supporting any candidate for public office. They can allow candidates to come in and speak, but they have to allow the other parties the same and can not support one over the other for if they do, they are in violation of the tax code regulations. The truth is, any church that is incorporated, that organization falls under the authority of the government. If a pastor of an incorporated church having the 501C3 exemption, decided to support a political candidate or legislation because of their Christian values, and chose to do so from the pulpit, That action could cost his church their tax exemption and also cost him membership of many that only give because it's "deductable". Now consider who is this pastor submitting to, concerning this issue, God or government.
Acts 5:29(NKJV) But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.
By the way, what happened to Jesus having the preeminence in all things, especially in the church. Well, maybe that got flushed when the church became incorporated.
What a trade off, silencing the children of God in manifesting God's righteousness through the political process for the sake of the money saved in a tax break. Just consider that the devil also offered Jesus many materialistic deals which Jesus turned down and then after 40 days of temptations, the devil left, seeking for a more opportune time. According to Scripture, the childrn of God are to be politically responsible. In the political process, the righteousness of God can be exposed to the world by those that are living by faith, in Christ. There should be no political silence when the church comes together. Those that understand the gospel of Christ, live by faith, submitting to the convictions that are Spirituallyrevealed through God's Holy Spirit, living obediently to the righteousness of God, in love.
Satan and his schemes has influenced many into believing that there are two things that are to be silenced when in the presence of others and that is politics and religion. The bible commands quite the opposite from the children of God. Those are the two most important things that should not be publically silenced. The children of God are to speak and live their faith publically, being a light to the world, and their righteous political stand should not be denied nor hidden by the influence of their tax-exempt corporate church. The bible states:
1 Timothy 6:10. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. It is clear that the tax-exempt status was pursued because of the love for money which is the root of all kinds of evil.
Here's another thing, the incorporated church is required to keep records of your gifting for the IRS. But listen to the following words of Jesus. Does it sound like Jesus would want us to publicize our gifting for a tax benefit?
Matt 6:3-4 (NKJV) But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
Through the gospel of Christ, the children of God are to manifest God's righteousness in all that they do to include fulfilling their political responsibilities of speaking and voting the righteousness of God! Because of the tax-exempt limitations, many have been silenced for the sake of money. This is why the corporate church, in my opinion, is so responsible for the wickedness that has become the law of our land, laws that are in total opposition to the will of God. I cannot see this not being brought up on that Day of Judgment for those that have chosen to be spiritually and politically silenced.
Anyway, what I have written is my personal opinion based on biblical precepts. There is an organization, that I found on line Heal our Land Ministries, that has done a lot of research on the 501C3 tax exemption and the effect it has had on the moral decay of America. And for those that have ears to hear, you may want to go view their website. They have a lot to say about this and offer a solution to those that are convicted to do so.