Re: CHURCH INC. ....Should The Church Of Christ be a Corporation?
Posted Aug 13, 2002 6:12 PM
The 501c3 Tax Exemption
Taking a License to Preach
Is your church government licensed and approved? The incorporation
of the local Christian assembly and application for the 501c3 tax exemption
is indeed the proof of such apostasy.
The Ecclesia vs the Corporation
<dl>
<dt> ecclesia</dt>
L. ecclesia, Gr. ekklesia 1577, ek-klay-see'-ah;
from a comp. of Grk 1537 and a der. of Grk 2564; a calling out, i.e. (concr.)
a popular meeting, espec. a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or
Chr. community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):-assembly,
church.
Strong's Greek Dictionary of the Bible</dl>
The word the bible uses to describe the church is the ecclesia (assembly)
of believers. This assembly has existed since Adam, and will continue until
our lord Christ returns to judge the quick and the dead. The ecclesia
is created by Christ alone...
<blockquote>For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed
to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these
He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. -Romans
8:29-30</blockquote>
<blockquote>But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him
who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were
not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy
but now have obtained mercy. -1 Peter 2:9-10</blockquote>
Christ alone is the head of the church...
<blockquote>...which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the
dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above
all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that
is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He
put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things
to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in
all. -Eph 1:20-23</blockquote>
The organized (visible) church has not, however, always been synonymous
with this assembly. Religious leadership, seeking to retain or increase
their ecclesiastical authority, has throughout the ages often subjected
the organized church to the whims of political entities. Each time this
has happened it has been necessary for the assembly of believers to separate
from the established church.
Incorporated Churches?
A corporation is the creation of government, and subject to any and all
decrees which it's creator ordains.
<dl>
<dt> corporation</dt>
An artificial person or legal entity created by or under
the authority of the laws of a state. An association of persons created
by statute as a legal entity.
Blacks Law Dictionary, 6th Ed.</dl>
When a church incorporates it submits a charter to the state, which the
state has the power to approve or deny. The corporate church becomes subject
to the state and the state now assumes authority to review the actions
of the church and all corporate officers. Does your church designate the
pastor as the president of the corporation? Is there a Board of Directors?
Do you hold Business Meetings to discuss corporate finances?
Since the state is the creator of your corporate church, to whom
are these corporate officers legally responsible?
<blockquote>The officers of a charitable organization are accountable to
the court and subject to removal by the court, or by the state board of
charities. They are bound by the ordinary strict rules concerning the authority
of a fiduciary; and persons dealing with them must at their peril, take
notice of the powers granted the corporation by it's articles of incorporation. [11 C.J. Charities s103]</blockquote>
Increasingly the properties of corporate churches are being seized by government
agents, and the officers of corporate churches are being prosecuted, simply
because they have taken politically incorrect (but biblically consistent)
stands.
Can a Christian serve two masters? Are the privileges offered
by the state to the corporate church worth the price?
<blockquote>No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate
the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise
the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. -Luke 16:13</blockquote>
Government Restrictions on the Corporate Church
TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
<dl>
<dt>
<tt>Sec. 501. Exemption from tax on corporations, certain trusts,
etc.</tt></dt>
<tt>(c) List of exempt organizations</tt>
<dl>
<tt>(3) Corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation,
organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific,
testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster
national or international amateur sports competition (but only if no part
of its activities involve the provision of athletic facilities or equipment),
or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the
net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder
or individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying
on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation (except
as otherwise provided in subsection (h)), and which does not participate
in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements),
any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate
for public office.</tt>
Perhaps this is why the organized church today is silent concerning the
actions of our current Antichrist Occupational Government. Perhaps if we
had a real church, and real preachers like those who took to the pulpits
of the American colonies to preach the Law to the oppressor and Liberty
to the people in the 1700's, thirty-five million innocent babies would
not have been sacrificed in the last 20 years.
The judgment of the Almighty has already begun on the Harlot Church
and the Beast she serves. Who then, will YOU serve?
<blockquote>After these things I saw another angel coming down from
heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his
glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great
is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison
for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For
all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication,
the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants
of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury." And
I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people,
lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her
sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities." -Rev
18:1-5</blockquote>
This document is provided by Gospel
Plow for the purpose of educating the remnant.
This web site is not part of or approved by any Church!
...........................THE BOOK
What Happened At the Madison Church of Christ?
There are thousands of churches being taken over across America.
This book is only about one of those churches. It's about the Madison
Church Of Christ. By studying the methods used here along with the resource
references you might be able to inoculate your church. At the very least
you will recognize the signs early on.
Many of the current members of the Madison Church of Christ still don't
know what happened.
Some never will know! This book is for them as well.
Madison Church of Christ was a 60 year old church. At one time it was
one of the largest churches in the US, and the largest Church of Christ.
It thrived for many years on the vision of it's elders and those of
it's ministers. Those visions undoubtably came from the the inspired word
of Jesus Christ.
At sometime in the last 10 years there was a deliberate plan by a majority
of the elders to take the Madison Church of Christ into a more worldly
realm.
They used secrecy, covert planning, and outside sources to scheme and
to change the format and direction of the Madison Church of Christ.
The Elders knew that the membership would never approve such a plan.
Using the tools of the "Community Church Movement"(consultants, books,
seminars, meetings,planters,seeders) they slowly started initiating change
so it was never noticed by the members until it was too late.....
At the heart of the plan was the fact that old members were going to
be driven off so new techniques could be used to go out and reach the unchurched
through new "Contemporary Holy Entertainment" methods developed by the
"Community Church Movement"
Old members had to be kept on board long enough to get their plans ready,
or the funds would not be there to pay for the new building. So by the
plans very nature, it had to be secret.
The church had no plan in effect to renew or approve elders. There was
never any need. The elders had always been "as approved by God". 10 of the last
15 elders would begin to shed some doubt on that.
The Elders did not even need a majority at first, because some of the
elders went along unwittingly.
This edition starts shortly after some of the members begin to smell
something strange in January 2001. Later editions may go back and fill
in some of the timeline.
To even start to understand whats happening here, you must read the
background materials in the first of the book.
This is only the first edition, and not the end. New editions will be
printed as needed. To keep abreast of current changes, please visit our
web site; http://www.concernedmembers.com/madison
Here is the list of players;
5 Godly Elders
10 Not so Godly Elders
120 "Deacons" (allegiance unknown)
2,800 - 4,000 church "members"
2 "teners" (people who have publicly confessed to have broken all ten
commandments)
Unknown number of "sinners" (This is what the 10 elders call us.)
Unknown number of "demons" (Flying everywhere, to many to count)