“And HE is the Head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have preeminence.”
Colossians 1:18

In a previous article titled “Lordship Church vs. 501(C) 3 Nonprofit Organization”, I mentioned that attached to 501(C)3 licensure there are “RESTRICTIONS that prevent it (the organization) from practicing and spreading the Gospel unencumbered as Yeshua (Jesus) instructs us to do.

In that article I also suggest to the reader that if they are attending a 501(C)3 “church”, they should discuss the matter with the organization’s leadership. There have only been a few times that I have heard of anyone actually following that recommendation but the result has always been the same: The “pastor” will usually reply with something like “it doesn’t stop me from doing anything”.  But unfortunately, regardless of how well meaning they may be,  those “Pastors” are either compromising, dishonest, in denial, or ignorant on the matter. See the referenced article for more about that.

The purpose of this article is to help the reader see that the repercussions of compromising the “Body of Christ” are real: They have both natural AND eternal consequences. After all:

“The Messiah loves His church, and gave Himself for it”
Ephesians 5:25

An attorney’s legal view of the 501(c) 3

Barbara Ketay, a lawyer who is well versed on the subject, wrote the following:
“O.K. Pastors, Evangelists, Missionaries, Deacons, Trustees, Elders… listen up! Let’s stop all the hocus-pocus, the illusions, the scams, the fairy-tales and the outright lies regarding what the 501(c)(3) incorporated “church” is and is not. For a change, let’s deal with facts. For those of you who don’t understand “facts,” in the legal arena, facts are used and are supported by documented evidence which would be admissible in a legitimate court of law. Facts are not hyperbole! [i.e. exaggeration]”

Ketay goes on to list legal facts about what a 501(c) 3 church corporation is by lawful state definition:

• The creator of a corporation is the State.
• The State is the sole authority and sovereign head over the corporation.
• The corporation is subject to the laws of the State which limits its powers.
• The corporation has no constitutionally protected rights.
• The corporation is an artificial person.
• The corporation submits to a State Charter declaring it is a creature of the State.
• The corporation is created for the benefit of the public.
• The corporation is a State franchise.
• The corporation is a privilege granted by the State.

-Barbara Ketay, “The 501(c)(3) Incorporated Church: The Real Truth,” Biblical Law Center, retrieved July 23, 2012, [http://www.gracealoneca.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/the_real_truth_of_501c3.pdf]

Legal Encumberments placed upon 501(c)3 “Churches”

If you are part of an organization that calls itself a “church”, rather than being under the authority of the God of the Bible it is probably, actually a 501(c) 3 state sponsored corporation. Relatively speaking, in the United States, there are VERY few “churches” that aren’t 501(C) 3 state sponsored corporations. That means your “church” is actually a corporation under state authority rather than God’s authority. That means that, within the parameters of the law, just as we saw above, the state can and does regulate what the corporation is, does and says, regardless of what it is called. 

Most “churches” and American “pastors” are content with various legal mandates including having their speech restricted. So for them, it IS true that being a 501(C) 3 state regulated organization doesn’t restrict them. So in that regard, for the time being, the state allows the “church” to do most of the things it wants. 

In accordance with the list above, following are some practical applications of a 501(c) 3 covenant that an organization makes with the state.  Though technically incorrect, for our purposes here the word church can be synonymous with ministry or mission.

• People can take the initiative but it is the state that actually creates the corporation.
• The State is the ultimate authority and sovereign head over your organization (church).
• Your organization (church) is subject to the laws of the State which limits its powers.
• Your organization (church) has limited constitutionally protected rights.
• Your organization (church) is an entity; an artificial person.
• Your organization (church) submits to a State Charter declaring it is a creature of the State.
• Your organization (church) is created for the benefit of the public.
• Your organization (church) is a State franchise.
• Your organization (church) is a privilege granted by the State.

A Real World example of spiritual encumberments that limit 501(c)3 “Church” Corporations

As you can see, all 501(c) 3 state sponsored “religious corporations” must comply with a myriad of restrictions that they bring upon themselves as they place themselves under the authority of the licensor.

Following is an example of restrictions in action.

Here is an excerpt from the video above:
Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver: “We are going to, first of all, equip them with the information they (“pastors”) need to know about what they can say, and what they cannot say in the church that would violate their 501(C)3 status with the IRS. In fact, we’re going to have the IRS administrator there, we’re going to have the attorney general… there, we’re going to have the lawyer organizations from around the country, the ACLU, all giving ministers guidance on what they can and cannot do.”

A Real World Example of how being a corporation under the state’s authority can call a “church” into question.

In the following video you will hear a Vietnamese man who came to America as one of the original “boat people”. He followed the protocol he was given and became the “Pastor” of a mainstream “christian” “church”.

The Houston, Texas “churches” in this video did what most other organizations in America, that call themselves a “church”, have done: They compromised their relationship and standing with the Most High and entered into covenant with the state by becoming a state sponsored corporation 501(c) 3. In so doing these “churches” unnecessarily placed themselves under the jurisdiction, authority, mandates, and restrictions of the state.

In this case the Houston Mayor took advantage of their acquiescence. She utilized her lawful authority and took action against these and other Houston Pastors. Granted, some of what she sought after was extreme: But what happened clearly demonstrates the consequences of a “church” placing itself under state authority.

In the Houston, Texas case, after a lot of time, protesting, posturing, flag waving, money, and other resources were spent by Christian supporters from all over the country, the mayor withdrew her subpoena. 

But what about next time? What will happen when the state chooses to exercise their lawful authority, in an exaggerated manner, over a state licensed corporation that calls itself a “church” and has sufficient support to accomplish their objective? How much time and expense will be required to fight it and, even then, will it work? Will the corporation presidents (“pastors”), board of directors (“elders”), and even the parishioners be penalized and sanctioned by the state for noncompliance as they are in other countries? 

The reality is 501(C)3 state corporations that call themselves “churches” are pressed on a routine basis across the country as they struggle to embrace the best of both worlds and walk the line of compromise. Because of this, it’s only a matter of time before funds and other resources are over taxed, dried up, and these state corporations that call themselves “churches” are no longer able to walk the fence of compromise.

Where all of this can lead

“Those Who Do Not Learn History Are Doomed To Repeat It.”

Attributed to Philosopher George Santayana

In nazi germany, prior to World War 2, nazi leader adolph hitler was an extremely demonized agent of the devil. Once in office, one of the first things hitler did was garner the support of state sanctioned “churches”.

In the beginning it was either submit and comply with the state or he would put them out of business. All but a very few complied and became even greater agents for the state and part of what led to MASSIVE DESTRUCTION, PAIN, SUFFERING, and the extermination of millions.

Here is what German pastor Hermann Gruner said about hitler:
“The time is fulfilled for the German people of hitler. It is because of hitler that Christ, God the helper and Redeemer, has become effective among us. … Hitler is the way of the Spirit and the will of God for the German people to enter the Church of Christ.”

Another state sanctioned german pastor put it more succinctly: “Christ has come to us through Adolph Hitler.”

There were a FEW German Pastors who refused to comply with hitler: Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 – 1945) was one. Everyone who aligns with the Messiah should be familiar with him . Following is something that HE said:

Not long ago a group of Christians moved from Russia to the state of Oregon and became U.S. Citizens. They wanted to start a church and so they sought the advice of an attorney.  What did the attorney tell them to do?  The same thing they were forced to do in Russia; register their church with the government.  They declined and began a Lordship Church under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. They had already been down that road and they had no intention of going there again.

In America, a “Church Under Christ” is not antigovernmental

Once again it is important to stress that in America, a Free Church, Lordship Church, Church under the Messiah (all synonymous) is absolutely NOT “antigovernment”: In fact we strongly SUPPORT godly government. A “Church under Christ” purposes to be exactly what the founders of America set forth under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. See the article referenced at the beginning of this article for more on that.

Conclusion

So if the compromises that are mentioned in this article are acceptable to you, the “Pastor” of your “church”, and /or the “elders (board of directors)”, then simply continue doing what you are doing. But remember, “you can’t serve both God and mammon”.

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one,
and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Matthew 6:24

On the other hand, if you would rather be a part of, and support a church that looks to Jesus / Yeshua as it’s head, then you might want to reconsider.  But remember, the decisions that you make today have eternal consequences. Would you rather hear “get away from me I never knew you” or “Well done my good and faithful servant“?

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve Yahweh,
choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the
flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell:
but as for me and MY house, we will serve Yahweh.”

Joshua 24:15

” Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”
First Amendment to the American Constitution

Parson Rayphe
Chosen Glory