Page 1 of 2

501c3 church incorporation?

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 3:52 pm
by scott
Is your church a 501c3 church?
We are instructed to “Come out of Her My People”. To be “ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:, and to be separate.
How can a church, whose head is supposed to be our Holy Savior, make an agreement with an entity that rejects our God?
Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

“A corporation is a creature of the state. It is presumed to be incorporated for the benefit of the public. It receives certain special privileges and franchises and holds them subject to the laws of the state and the limitation of its charter. Its powers are limited by law. It can make no contract not authorized by its charter. Its rights to act as a corporation are only preserved to it so long as it obeys the laws of its creation. There is a reserved right in the legislature to investigate its contracts and ascertain if it has exceeded its powers.”
Wilson v. U.S. 382,31 Sup. Ct. 538,55L. Ed. 771, Ann. Cas. 1912A,558,

Why would any church want to be “a creature of the state”? Why would a church want to limit its powers to the arbitrary laws of man? There are several reasons, one being, if a church wants to borrow money, the bank is going to be sure that their investment is protected, has good income (tithing records) to make sure they can afford their payments, has good insurance, and is generally a sound business investment, which is basically what most churches have become today, an incorporated business.
Another reason is, the church wants to have its creator’s (the state’s) blessing, and retain its non profit status, so members can deduct their tithes off their tax returns.
When a church obtains a 501c3 corporate status, it’s by permission granted by the state. It will then begin to bear the fruit of being yoked with unbelievers.

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Corporation: An artificial being created by law and composed of individuals who subsist as a body politic under a special denomination with the capacity of perpetual succession and of acting with the scope of its character as a natural person.” Bouvier’s Law Dictionary

The mere fact that churches go to the same agency; the same office; the same people; and ask for the same permit; obtain the same license; receive the same privileges as any other religious organization (satanic churches, gay churches, muslin churches and many other anti-Christ religious organizations), should be startling to say the least.
Preachers now stand at their pulpits and have become so politically correct, that they can’t speak out against abortion, adultery, filthy programs and movies that their flocks are filling their minds with. They can’t speak out against the so-called ‘alternative’ lifestyles, and they won’t speak out against all the false religions that now exist in this so-called one nation under God. A lot of this is because, as quoted in the Supreme Court case at the beginning of this article, “Its rights to act as a corporation are only preserved to it so long as it obeys the laws of its creation.”
If I haven’t caught your attention yet, how about the fact that a small town church near Tulsa, Oklahoma put out a news bulletin that read in part:

“Dear Member and Worker at First Baptist Church,
…. Based on legal counsel we have received, and the repeated urging of our insurance carrier, and because we believe it is wise to do so, we will be requiring that all who work with children will undergo appropriated background screening.
On April 14,1999 our church at its regularly scheduled conference adopted the policy and procedures that require from this date forward that all persons wishing to work with youth, children and preschoolers within our church must undergo back ground screening by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. ….. Joyfully serving, ….”
Now don’t get me wrong. I am all for making sure that our children are safe, but since when do insurance companies and lawyers decide what is wise for the church of God. Is it since the churches have become corporations? Obviously, insurance companies and lawyers are lacking some kind of wisdom, if they recommend the state to oversee the safety of our children. The state? The state that takes prayer out of schools? The state that has made it legal to kill babies? The state that legalizes alternative lifestyles? The state that wants separation of religion and state? If anybody has a track record of not being able to accomplish goals they set out to do, it’s government, whether state or federal.

A number of years ago we had a family band and played at a local church. They gave us $200.00 and a request for a federal tax number. I shared with them about in Revelation where it speaks of not being able to buy and sell without a number. We didn't get anything.

I know that no matter what I say, or how hard I try to explain the harm done to churches by incorporating, most people are going to refuse to hear. But at least I can say, I tried.

scott A lawful Christian

Re: 501c3 church incorporation?

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 5:05 pm
by iamfreeru2
Brother scott, thanks for sharing. A number of years ago I attened a "First Baptist Church" when it too started background checks for those dealing with children because "it is the law". And the organized incorporated "churches" claim to be under the lordship of Yeshua? Yeah, right!! ROFL!

http://hushmoney.org/501c3-facts.htm
501c3 Church Facts

Most churches in America have organized as "501c3 tax-exempt religious organizations." This is a fairly recent trend that has only been going on for about fifty years. Churches were only added to section 501c3 of the tax code in 1954. We can thank Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson for that. Johnson was no ally of the church. As part of his political agenda, Johnson had it in mind to silence the church and eliminate the significant influence the church had always had on shaping "public policy."

Although Johnson proffered this as a "favor" to churches, the favor also came with strings attached (more like shackles). One need not look far to see the devastating effects 501c3 acceptance has had to the church, and the consequent restrictions placed upon any 501c3 church. 501c3 churches are prohibited from addressing, in any tangible way, the vital issues of the day.

For a 501c3 church to openly speak out, or organize in opposition to, anything that the government declares "legal," even if it is immoral (e.g. abortion, homosexuality, etc.), that church will jeopardize its tax exempt status. The 501c3 has had a "chilling effect" upon the free speech rights of the church. LBJ was a shrewd and cunning politician who seemed to well-appreciate how easily many of the clergy would sell out.

Did the church ever need to seek permission from the government to be exempt from taxes? Were churches prior to 1954 taxable? No, churches have never been taxable. To be taxable a church would first need to be under the jurisdiction, and therefore under the taxing authority, of the government. The First Amendment clearly places the church outside the jurisdiction of the civil government: "Congress shall make NO LAW respecting an establishment of religion, nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

Religion cannot be free if you have to pay the government, through taxation, to exercise it. Since churches aren't taxable in the first place, why do so many of them go to the IRS and seek permission to be tax-exempt? It occurs out of:

Ignorance ("We didn't know any better")
Bandwagon logic ("Everyone else is doing it")
Professional advice (many attorneys and CPAs recommend it)

Does the law require, or even encourage, a church to organize as a 501c3? To answer that question let's turn to what the IRS itself has to say.

Churches Need Not Apply

In order to be considered for tax-exempt status by the IRS an organization must fill out and submit IRS Form 1023 and 1024. However, note what the IRS says regarding churches and church ministries, in Publication 557:

Some organizations are not required to file Form 1023. These include:

Churches, interchurch organizations of local units of a church, conventions or associations of churches, or integrated auxiliaries of a church, such as a men’s or women’s organization, religious school, mission society, or youth group. These organizations are exempt automatically if they meet the requirements of section 501(c)(3).

Churches Are “Automatically Tax-Exempt”

According to IRS Code § 508(c)(1)(A):

Special rules with respect to section 501(c)(3) organizations.

(a) New organizations must notify secretary that they are applying for recognition of section 501(c)(3) status.
(c) Exceptions.

(1) Mandatory exceptions. Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to—

(A) churches, their integrated auxiliaries, and conventions or associations of churches.

This is referred to as the "mandatory exception" rule. Thus, we see from the IRS’ own publications, and the tax code, that it is completely unnecessary for any church to apply for tax-exempt status. In the IRS’ own words a church “is automatically tax-exempt.”

Churches Are “Automatically Tax-Deductible”

And what about tax-deductibility? Doesn’t a church still need to become a 501c3 so that contributions to it can be taken as a tax deduction? The answer is no! According to IRS Publication 526:

Organizations That Qualify To Receive Deductible Contributions

You can deduct your contributions only if you make them to a qualified organization. To become a qualified organization, most organizations other than churches and governments, as described below, must apply to the IRS.

In the IRS’ own words a church “is automatically tax-deductible.”
Churches Have a Mandatory Exception To Filing Tax Returns

Not only is it completely unnecessary for any church to seek 501c3 status, to do so becomes a grant of jurisdiction to the IRS by any church that obtains that State favor. In the words of Steve Nestor, IRS Sr. Revenue Officer (ret.):

"I am not the only IRS employee who’s wondered why churches go to the government and seek permission to be exempted from a tax they didn’t owe to begin with, and to seek a tax deductible status that they’ve always had anyway. Many of us have marveled at how church leaders want to be regulated and controlled by an agency of government that most Americans have prayed would just get out of their lives. Churches are in an amazingly unique position, but they don’t seem to know or appreciate the implications of what it would mean to be free of government control."

from the Forward of In Caesar's Grip, by Peter Kershaw

Re: 501c3 church incorporation?

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 10:31 pm
by iamfreeru2
I would like to also point out that most people that sit in the pews of the "incoporated religious organizations" ("churches") do not know what tithing is. Most believe it is at least 10% of their "income" and used to build large buildings for large programs, and so that pastors can have large salaries. Nothing could be further from the truth. People blindly sit listening to these apostate pastors teaching false doctrine instead of doing what they should be doing. Acts 17:11 "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." And people wonder why their "churches" are falling apart. Can we say they might be under the judgment of YHWH?

Re: 501c3 church incorporation?

Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 2:08 am
by editor
My understanding of the word "tithe" is that it means the same as "tenth". This brings into question, "a tenth of..." what? Do you have any further insight on this? Some Scripture references?

Thanks much for the piece by Peter Kershaw.

Re: 501c3 church incorporation?

Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 2:33 am
by scott
Below is a quote from Law and Society by Rousas John Rushdooney Page 130

“Today our society is being similarly decapitalized. The state takes about 45 percent of a man’s income, and the church claims to be the legitimate repository of the tithe and claims 10 percent or more. … As a result, what remains is usually only sufficient to maintain the family in its living expenses, not to recapitalize the family and society. Whenever and wherever church and state (or temple) reach this point, civilization begins to decapitalize and crumble. God’s ordination is a very modest head tax for the state, and a tenth of a tithe, one percent of one’s income, for the church. To go beyond this is to begin digging the grave of a civilization.”

He apparently thought a tithe was not 10% of one's income. He doesn't go into any explanation how he comes up with that. Income, state ?

Re: 501c3 church incorporation?

Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 11:51 am
by iamfreeru2
The tithe has alway been about increase from the field, not "income" as in everything that comes in. Pastors today will tell you if you make $1.000.00 per week, $100.00 of that is to be the tithe. This is a lie straight from the pit. I have posted the law of tithing for your edification from both the KJV and the NASB. The tithe was a tenth of the produce/increase as an offering to the Lord.
Deuteronomy 14:22-29 KJV
The Law of the Tithe
22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. 23 And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. 24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee: 25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose: 26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: [1] and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household, 27 And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee. 28 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: 29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
Deuteronomy 14:22-29 NASB
22 “You shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year. 23 You shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. 24 If the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where the Lord your God chooses to set His name is too far away from you when the Lord your God blesses you, 25 then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses. 26 You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household. 27 Also you shall not neglect the Levite who is in your town, for he has no portion or inheritance among you. 28 “At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town. 29 The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
"Tithe" means a tenth or 10 percent. The Old Testament law required that a tenth of all produce, flocks, and cattle be given to support the Levites (the priestly class in ancient Israel). In turn, the Levites were to give a tenth of that for support of the high priest (Leviticus 27:30-33, Numbers 18:21-28).
Leviticus 27:30-33 KJV

30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord. 31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. 32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord. 33 He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.

Numbers 18:21-28 KJV

21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. 22 Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die. 23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.24 But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance. 25 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe. 27 And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress. 28 Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the Lord of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the Lord'S heave offering to Aaron the priest.

Re: 501c3 church incorporation?

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 6:55 pm
by Thomas Jeffrey
This a excellent post regarding church incorporation. Great message to share.

Great quotes from Peter Kershaw and Rushdooney on the taxes.

Okay, I get that a tithe is a tenth of our increase, but how do we, who are not growing crops or raising livestock, determine what our increase is?

Would it be considered an increase every time I do work and get paid in cash?

What are your thoughts?

Re: 501c3 church incorporation?

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 7:19 pm
by iamfreeru2
Thomas Jeffrey wrote:This a excellent post regarding church incorporation. Great message to share.

Great quotes from Peter Kershaw and Rushdooney on the taxes.

Okay, I get that a tithe is a tenth of our increase, but how do we, who are not growing crops or raising livestock, determine what our increase is?

Would it be considered an increase every time I do work and get paid in cash?

What are your thoughts?
When one offers his labor in exchange for FRNs is that considered increase? Are FRNs (cash) money or debt? Does YHWH want debt instruments as a tithe? Does He even need our "money"? What was the tithe used for? To whom does the "money" we use really belong too? Does YHWH even want us involved in commercial Babylon? Just some questions for you to ponder.

Re: 501c3 church incorporation?

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:31 pm
by Thomas Jeffrey
Great points to bring up. I hadn't thought about it in the sense of FRN's being debt.

Another good point you touched on is: The tithe went to the Levites, those who had no land and took care of the temple. If there is no Levitical priesthood, who would the tithe go to today?

I can certainly agree with offering support for ministry, and I do, but do you think that would fall under the "grain offering" or "peace offering"? Those were voluntary offerings and I don't see any tithes mentioned in the New Testament after the Gospel books. So after the resurrection, I see no mention of tithing.

Re: 501c3 church incorporation?

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 10:54 pm
by scott
Brothers in Christ,
I have learned that I am not going to tell anyone how or how much to tithe any more than I am going to tell them how and when they need to keep the Sabbath day.
For any one to do either based on anything other than how Christ is leading you in the matter immediately turns into a type of Phariseeism.
With Christ being your Savior, He will give you wisdom in how much or how little to tithe and be well pleased.
Scott