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Title: “The IRS has succeeded in gagging Christians.”
Source:
Heal Our Land Ministries
URL Source: http://hushmoney.org/
Published: Mar 29, 2011
Author: Heal Our Land Ministries
Post Date: 2011-03-29 17:35:07 by X-15
Keywords: None
Views: 279
Comments: 19
“The federal government has proved a tremendous impediment to the ongoing work of Christians. In all the laws that they have passed against Christian schools, gagging the church, taxation, and all kinds of things that they have done, they have made it harder for the church to exercise its prerogatives and to preach the gospel. "Take the last presidential election. There were numbers of things that I knew that I was never able to say from the pulpit because if you advance the cause of one candidate or impede the cause of the other you can lose your tax exemption. That would have been disastrous not only for the church, but for our school and our seminary, everything. So you are gagged. You cannot do that. The IRS, a branch of our government, has succeeded in gagging Christians." The Free-Church Solution “Because that for His name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.” -(III John 7) A great many of the church's problems today are a direct result of the church "taking" and actively pursuing a legal status that makes it inferior to, and a subordinate of, the civil government. The two most significant ways this occurs is by incorporation (state jurisdiction) and the tax-exempt 501c3 status (federal jurisdiction). Scripture simply does not support the notion that the church is an inferior institution to the State. Nor, for that matter, is the church a superior institution to the State. God has ordained both the church and the civil government as His "ministers." The church is the minister of grace, while the State is the minister of justice. Church and State are two distinct and independent spheres of authority (jurisdictions) ordained by God. However, no church can remain separate and distinct from the civil government when it incorporates and/or accepts 501c3 status. For legal purposes an incorporated 501c3 church has subordinated itself, by contract, to the civil government. For theological purposes, that church has made a covenant with the State, a covenant which Scripture in no way supports. What is the solution to the church's current messy state of affairs? It must cease operating as an underling of the State. The solution is for the church to legally operate as it once had in America (and we might add, quite successfully so). Rather than operating as "tax-exempt nonprofit religious corporations," churches once functioned as "free-churches." Just what exactly is a free-church? A free-church operates independent of, and is in no way subordinate to, the civil government. It is the right of any church to operate free of the corrupting and compromising influence and control of the State; and it is a right guaranteed by the Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof… A free-church is not some radical-fringe concept. Rather, the free-church was one of the most influential, and certainly one of the most common, institutions in early American history. The worldview of those men who fought for America's independence embraced an uncompromising belief that the church was not an underling, a vassal, or in any way subordinate to any king, parliament, or any other civil government body. The church is the religious institution ordained and established by Jesus Christ Himself, and Christ has never delegated His authority to the civil jurisdiction to rule in the affairs of His church. A free-church is the opposite of a State-Church. The Church Of England is a State-Church system. State-Churches are well known throughout Europe, and there have been State-Churches there for many centuries. Europeans not only have a very low regard for their State-Churches and government-licensed clergy, they often hold them in open contempt, and this is reflected statistically by what is the lowest church attendance in the world. Rather than being quick to criticize the Europeans for not attending church, we should ponder whether their contempt for the State-Church system isn't well deserved. If you're ever inclined to have a church experience that is cold, empty, meaningless and downright depressing, just attend the average European church service (it's little wonder there are so many agnostics and atheists there). A State-Church is a church which is organized by the State, and/or is controlled and regulated by the State, or which exists at the pleasure of the State. Christians in Europe have, for a number of generations, grown up surrounded by nothing but State-Churches. As such, they are generally not offended by the notion that the State controls their church (they just don't bother to show up unless it's Christmas). It's simply a way of life for them which they generally do not question. Americans, on the other hand, are generally offended by the notion of the State creating or controlling their churches, or that their churches would be subordinate to the State. However, this is exactly what has occurred in recent years as a direct result of churches incorporating and seeking a 501c3 status -- they have become State-Churches. A free-church is a church that is truly separate, independent and autonomous from the State. It is established by a local body of Christian believers, or chartered or "planted" by another church body or denomination, without the permission or sanction of the State. The only "sovereign" of the free-church is the Lord Jesus Christ. A free-church cannot incorporate, it cannot seek a 501c3 status, it cannot become a tax collector for the State (withholding agent), it cannot accept government-issued tax numbers (EIN). The term "free-church" was widely used by the American colonists. It was not a term that they coined, but one which they inherited from their fathers and forebears such as the Scottish Covenanters, and the "non-conformist" English clergy, both of whom fled the persecutions of the Anglican State-Church and it's "sovereign head" the British monarchy. Even after American independence there continued to be Christians who fled the religious persecution of their State-Church systems for the freedom of religion America offered them. They too often used the term "free-church" to describe the churches they organized. Such an example of this would be the Evangelical Free Church, which was founded by a group of Scandinavians who settled in America in the mid-nineteenth century. Tragically, the Evangelical Free Church In America today has become a "Free Church" in name only. By incorporating and becoming a 501c3 they, some years ago, decided to abandon those principles that their Swedish, Danish and Norwegian forefathers endured great persecution for. Equally tragic is the demise of the so-called "Free-Church of Scotland." Were they honest it would be renamed the "State-Church of Scotland." So thoroughly has it become a State-Church that Scottish pastors receive their paychecks from the government (and it happened because the Scottish clergy insisted upon it). He who pays the piper calls the tune. The church must cease operating as an underling, subordinate to the State, or in any way dependent upon the State for "privileges and benefits." The solution rests in the church organizing and operating as a church -- the ecclesia, not as something other than what the Lord Jesus Himself ordained and specified. Jesus spoke of the church as a “body” with Himself as the “head” of His church, and we as various “members of the body.” The church is, therefore, not an “organization” (a “legal entity”) but a living, breathing “organism.” This should not be a difficult biblical doctrine to grasp, particularly for the Pastor. Sadly, however, ever since local churches started organizing as tax-exempt non-profit corporations in the mid-twentieth century, and since the incorporated 501c3 church is now the status quo, many folks have a hard time conceiving of the church operating as just a church. For some odd reason, just being a church isn’t good enough anymore for too many Christians. The thinking today appears to be that we must somehow be smarter than Jesus and His disciples were. They refused to incorporate and that refusal resulted in their persecution (incorporation of all “spontaneous collectivities of persons” became mandatory throughout the Roman Empire by 6 A.D.). We’re told that we live in a far more complex world than the first-century church, and so the church too must inevitably become more complex and just adapt to the complexities of the modern information age. The simplicities of the organizational infrastructure (polity) of the early church are no longer adequate to address the complex world in which we live. Those who hold to such beliefs, whether in word or deed, are in reality, making a public proclamation that Jesus Christ is no longer competent to govern His own church and provide for, and protect it. The courts well-understand that “a church is not an entity recognized in law,” meaning that they have no jurisdiction over the church. However, organizing a church as a church is an especially difficult concept for attorneys to grasp. Few attorneys can comprehend that there are things and issues completely outside the purview and jurisdiction of the civil government, nor do they much care for the idea. After all, it’s hard to get many billable hours out of those churches that understand that the civil government has no jurisdiction over them. A free-church needs an attorney like a fish needs a bicycle. The legal support for the State’s lack of jurisdiction over the church in America is not only the Word of God, but the First Amendment to the Constitution for the United States: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof… No church in any nation at any point in history can lay claim to the freedoms and liberties that are guaranteed the church in America. The First Amendment is an act of God’s Providence to safeguard His church and maintain its independence from the State. The First Amendment is the highest form of real protection the church has ever known in history. The solution rests in the church abandoning the phony third-rate protections and benefits of the State and returning to those real protections and benefits that are ours in Christ Jesus.
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#1. To: All (#0)
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."
__________________________________________________________ The requirement that churches not take sides in partisan politics applies ONLY if the church claims tax exemption. A church is not required to obtain tax exemption ... in fact the majority of churches in the US are probably so threadbare that they could manage without a tax exemption.
The courts also understand that a human being is not an entity recognized in corporate law, meaning that they have no jurisdiction over sovereign human beings. The CORPORATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is a fiction. A fiction cannot contract with human beings or the "sovereign" of the free-church who is the Lord Jesus Christ. The only entity a corporation can contract with is another corporation. Hence: birth certificates, the incorporated 501c3 church, and many other devices by which they have turned living, organic, sovereign lands, peoples, tribes into 'things' they can then control. At this point laws are introduced to make criminals out of former law-abiding citizens.
I want either less corruption or more opportunity to participate in it. Ashleigh Brilliant
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The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." - Ben Franklin
Heresy!! Blasphemy!!!
__________________________________________________________ deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." - Ben Franklin
Worship the almighty IRS and see where that will get you when you die. Screw them! Speak the truth or step down from the pulpit you so-called "ministers" of Christ. There are few that will make it to heaven, cause there are few that love God enough to suffer here on Earth for doing his will. Christianity takes faith enough to die for what you believe in. But most "Christians" today don't have faith enough to even hurt a little financially for what they say they believe in, much less hurt physically and mentally.
God is always good!
You're quite right to put the word that word in quotation: they're really businessmen masquerading as preachers. We wouldn't be welcome in John Hagee's church for more than 2 seconds.
__________________________________________________________ And why do you make such an all-encompassing indictment of Christians? What do you mean? Please expand on this statement. Thanks.
Somewhere in Kenya, a village is missing its idiot.
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The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." - Ben Franklin
No. I just don't have a clue what RJ was talking about. I guess that he doesn't either.
Somewhere in Kenya, a village is missing its idiot.
Are any black pastors aware of this?
Rastus? What'n you like bestus? Are any black pastors aware of this? But certainly most white "Christian" faith is weak. They abase themselves before the idol MLK.
Rastus? What'n you like bestus? It makes more sense if you read it as "white Christian." The body of self-described Christians is becoming less and less white, but most white Christians haven't noticed yet. As Christianity darkens, it will become clearer to them which good things they ascribe to the faith actually come from themselves. It's only white churches the state gags. To the extent white "Christians" worship the idol MLK, their faith is weak. They bow to the worldly power currently wielded by the competing religion known colloquially as PC. The PC nutjob's faith in HIS religion is stronger than the white "Christian"'s. It has to be: The PC nutjob expects something in THIS world, in the not too distant future, e.g. a closing of the "achievement gap." He never closes it. If anything, the PC nutjob's efforts to close it instead widen it. This does not dissuade him. Now THAT's faith.
Rastus? What'n you like bestus? It has to be: The PC nutjob expects something in THIS world, in the not too distant future, e.g. a closing of the "achievement gap." He never closes it. If anything, the PC nutjob's efforts to close it instead widen it. This does not dissuade him. Now THAT's faith. They pervert equality (equality of opportunity) and the Constitution to mean equality of outcome. That's the never-reached goal for them.
__________________________________________________________ Sure, because they're anti-white. ...and the Constitution... The preamble starts "We the people..." That's where the constitution gets its authority. If you don't know who you are in the first place, yer kinda screwed.
Rastus? What'n you like bestus? If you don't know who you are in the first place, yer kinda screwed. "We the People..." refers to the people who signed it.... ....and they weren't Christian.
"...as long as there..remain active enemies of the Christian church, we may hope to become Master of the World...the future Jewish King will never reign in the world before Christianity is overthrown - B'nai B'rith speech http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/luther.htm / http://bible.cc/psalms/83-4.htm
When the 16th Amendment was being touted about, and they were trying to pass it, the pulpits were full of ministers decrying how it was unconstitutional, and how it would destroy homes, and the prosperity of the people who kept those churches afloat in cash. Ministers were out there in force ginning up support for a movement to derail that being passed. What happened? When the furvor reached a fever pitch, the lawmakers who wanted to pass it, gave churches an exemption, as a means to silence them. Which is why churches today are basically the same thing as therapists' offices to keep the masses calmed, and cooperative. A docile populace is what is needed to keep implementing a communist agenda.
It is better to be hated for what you are, than loved for what you are not. - Tommy The Mad Artist. I went to Chernobyl, and all I got was this glow in the dark T-shirt. - Tommy The Mad Artist.
tell it to the antiChrist: Archive of Extremist Events by State: 2010 "...Event organized by the Indianapolis Baptist Temple, a member of the "unregistered church movement," which believes no church should have to follow any laws or regulations, from income tax withholding to building and fire codes..." www.adl.org/learn/Events_..._year_print.asp?Year=2010 I noticed they didn't post a calendar for this year. Maybe because people are on to them...or they disappeared all the "extremists".
"...as long as there..remain active enemies of the Christian church, we may hope to become Master of the World...the future Jewish King will never reign in the world before Christianity is overthrown - B'nai B'rith speech http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/luther.htm / http://bible.cc/psalms/83-4.htm
"This man is Jesus,” shouted one man, spilling his Guinness as Barack Obama began his inaugural address. “When will he come to Kenya to save us?"
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#2. To: X-15 (#0)
#3. To: X-15 (#0)
(Edited)
The courts well-understand that “a church is not an entity recognized in law,” meaning that they have no jurisdiction over the church
#4. To: X-15 (#0)
(Edited)
#5. To: Eric Stratton (#4)
But hey, pastors need to get F/T pay, eh. Heaven forbid that they actually do real work.
"This man is Jesus,” shouted one man, spilling his Guinness as Barack Obama began his inaugural address. “When will he come to Kenya to save us?"
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#6. To: X-15 (#5)
#7. To: X-15 (#0)
(Edited)
#8. To: RickyJ, Eric Stratton (#7)
Speak the truth or step down from the pulpit you so-called "ministers" of Christ. There are few that will make it to heaven, cause there are few that love God enough to suffer here on Earth for doing his will.
"This man is Jesus,” shouted one man, spilling his Guinness as Barack Obama began his inaugural address. “When will he come to Kenya to save us?"
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#9. To: RickyJ (#7)
But most "Christians" today don't have faith enough to even hurt a little financially for what they say they believe in, much less hurt physically and mentally.
#10. To: X-15 (#8)
#11. To: Eric Stratton (#10)
#12. To: X-15 (#0)
The federal government has proved a tremendous impediment to the ongoing work of Christians. In all the laws that they have passed against Christian schools, gagging the church, taxation, and all kinds of things that they have done, they have made it harder for the church to exercise its prerogatives and to preach the gospel.
Why I like asbestos.
#13. To: RickyJ (#7)
But most "Christians" today don't have faith enough to even hurt a little financially for what they say they believe in, much less hurt physically and mentally.
Why I like asbestos.
#14. To: Lod (#9)
Please expand on this statement.
Why I like asbestos.
#15. To: Prefrontal Vortex (#14)
The PC nutjob's faith in HIS religion is stronger than the white "Christian"'s.
"This man is Jesus,” shouted one man, spilling his Guinness as Barack Obama began his inaugural address. “When will he come to Kenya to save us?"
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#16. To: X-15 (#15)
They pervert equality (equality of opportunity)... to mean equality of outcome.
Why I like asbestos.
#17. To: Prefrontal Vortex (#16)
The preamble starts "We the people..." That's where the constitution gets its authority.
#18. To: X-15 (#0)
#19. To: Shoonra (#2)
A church is not required to obtain tax exemption ...
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