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

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...

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

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

Christ alone is the head of the church...

...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

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.

corporation

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.

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?

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]

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?

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

Richard Hoskins, in the Hoskins Report 6/98 outlined 29 IRS regulations pertaining to 501(c)(3) churches:

1. Church must be incorporated.

2. Church must have a "recognized" creed and IRS approved form of worship. (Who does the approving and accepts the "form" is not covered in the regulations)

3. The church must have a definite and distinct ecclesiastical hierarchical government. (?)

4. The church must have an IRS approved formal "code" of doctrine and discipline. (Type and what discipline are not identified in IRS regs)

5. It must be a denomination with a distinct religious history. (?)

6. Must have "ordained" ministers. (?)

7. Ministers must have been educated in state accredited colleges. (More opportunity for PC indoctrination of ministers)

8. Must be neutral on political issues. (Helps explain why churches never preach against the sins and blasphemies of government officials, despite blatant violations of the Law of God)

9. Must have a "tax exempt" status issued by the IRS.

10. Must pay a fee to the IRS for this "tax exempt" status.

11. Must be engaged in furthering exclusively public purposes. (?)  Goals of the state... NOT of the Gospel of Christ

12. The church cannot bar its services to the public. (?)

13. The pastor must answer to the IRS as to the daily activities of the church.

14. The IRS must be privy to all financial transactions, including sources, donors, and expenditures.

15. Books and records must always be available.

16. The Pastor must inform the IRS of the names of all donors.

17. Gifts to missionaries and evangelists exceeding $600 requires filing form 1099.

18. The church may use only IRS approved methods of fund raising.

19. The Pastor will be called to account by the IRS over any stand taken against the tax system. 501(c)(3) requires church pastors to preach on taxpaying. (Ever notice how pastors preach a sermon about 'rendering unto Caesar' on the Sunday before April 15th?)

20. Must submit names of all church workers, down to and including maintenance people.

21. Must give unlimited submission to civil magistrates pertaining to all laws - federal, state and local - including public policy. (Judeo-Christian clergy are more obedient to man's government than to the Royal Law of God)

22. The church must advocate and promote racial integration.

23. Must not publicly oppose licensing of churches.

24. May not engage in political activities opposing pornography. (Now you can see why there are no sermons on this)

25. May not support legislation saying that children belong to parents and not the state.

26. May not form a political action committee or actively support legislation opposing lotteries and gambling.

27. May not advocate support of the U.S. or State constitutions as the supreme law of the land. (Helps explain why our Judeo-Christian pastors do not speak out)

28. May not participate in opposing the school system. (As they may find that God has been removed)

29. May not publicly declare that the church is to obey God rather then man's government.

"We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29

For the sake of having integrity in all that is shared in this and the larger version of this release; it has been important to utilize resources that are easily accessible and in the public realm.  Frankly; if I do not keep to this practice then this release has about the same value as other unsubstantiated 'conspiracy theories.'  

I bring this subject up again because while the above list in the "Hoskins Report" is definitely cause for concern; it does represent the author's interpretation. of I.R.S. regulations.  While I do agree with these conclusions; integrity demands that I point out that the above list is Richard Hoskins' opinion. 

What I have done to address this is to spend several hours reviewing I.R.S. tax code as it relates to non-profit corporations.  While I have found vague language that supports Richard Hoskins' conclusions; I have included a link with a page of text from the I.R.S. publication 1828 titled "TAX GUIDE FOR CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS"

To review these pages: CLICK HERE  

Question: Why are we registering or seeking to obtain recognition of tax-exempt status from the IRS when under the the tax code we just read; churches are NOT REQUIRED to do so?

NOTE: Understand the reason for sharing this particular information is not to be hyper-critical of the church... but to offer a stern warning in the clearest language... THE CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES IS EVEN NOW UNDER THE SCRUTINY OF A GOVERNMENT THAT INCREASINGLY HOLDS TO ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIEWS; PASSING LAWS THAT ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THE CORE VALUES OF OUR FAITH.

JESUS CHRIST WARNS US WHEN HE SAYS "COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE, LEST YOU SHARE IN HER SINS, AND LEST YOU RECEIVE OF HER PLAGUES...

WE MUST UNDERSTAND; THE CHURCH IN CHINA INITIALLY WENT UNDERGROUND OR WERE THROWN IN JAIL BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO REGISTER THEIR CHURCHES WITH THE GOVERNMENT.  IN REALITY THE CHURCH IN THIS COUNTRY IS ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH HISTORY AND WILL SUFFER THE SAME FATE AS CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE BECAUSE WE ARE BLINDLY DOING WHAT CHURCHES IN CHINA REFUSED TO DO!

WHAT?... ARE WE CRAZY?  NO... IT'S JUST THAT THE CHURCH IN CHINA KNEW THAT THEIR GOVERNMENT WAS HOSTILE TO CHRISTIANITY... 

'THE WRITING' AS THE SAYING GOES... 'IS ON THE WALL'  CAN YOU NOT SEE A THREAT COMING FROM A LEGAL SYSTEM THAT IS CONTINUALLY STRIPPING THE SYMBOLS OF CHRISTIANITY FROM SOCIETY?... (Ten Commandments, Nativity Scenes)

DO YOU NOT SEE THE POSSIBILITY THAT IN AMERICA WE COULD ONE DAY WITNESS  ALL FORMS OF CHRISTIANITY THAT ARE NOT OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT BEING PRONOUNCED ILLEGAL?  (THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPEN IN CHINA)

DO YOU HONESTLY THINK THE INCORPORATED CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IN THIS COUNTRY THAT ARE  REGISTERED WITH A GOVERNMENT THAT IS POSSIBLY ONE OF THE SEVEN HEADS OF THE END-TIMES BEAST...  DO YOU BELIEVE THESE CHURCHES WILL ESCAPE PERSECUTION ONCE THE TRAP OF SATAN IS FULLY ENGAGED? 

OR IS IT ONLY THE CHURCH IN CHINA, OR AFRICA THAT MUST FACE PERSECUTION... 

THIS LEADS TO ANOTHER POINT... 

THE PRE-TRIBULATION DOCTRINE TAUGHT IN AMERICAN CHURCHES DOESN'T WORK IN CHINA OR AFRICA, AND PRODUCED TRAGIC RESULTS IN WW II EUROPE AS WELL:  CLICK HERE

WHILE THE SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE SUPPORTING A 'RAPTURE' IS PLENTIFUL; THE SCRIPTURAL VIEWPOINT SUPPORTING A PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE IS THIN AT BEST...  MAYBE... JUST MAYBE IF THE PRE TRIBULATION DOCTRINE IS FALSE... THEN IT HAS BEEN PROPAGATED  FOR ONE VERY DARK PURPOSE... TO CATCH THE BODY OF CHRIST IN THIS COUNTRY UNAWARE; COUNTING ON A PRE-TRIBULATION ESCAPE AS WE CONTINUE TO OPERATE UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYES OF AN INCREASINGLY ANTI-CHRISTIAN GOVERNMENT.

AM I IMPLYING OR ADVOCATING ACTION AGAINST OUR GOVERNMENT? 

ABSOLUTELY NOT...

I AM SIMPLY EXERCISING MY RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH; POINTING OUT OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT AS AMERICANS TO ASSEMBLE, GATHER & DISTRIBUTE RESOURCES AS NEEDED, WORSHIP AND PRAY.  FUNCTIONING UNDER THE HEADSHIP AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST ALONE.

I BELIEVE IT IS WISDOM TO EXIST AS A CHURCH WITHOUT REGISTERING WITH A GOVERNMENT THAT IS  OPERATING IN WAYS THAT IS ADOPTING  POSITIONS THAT ARE PROGRESSIVELY IN DIRECT OPPOSITION TO WHAT I BELIEVE AS A CHRISTIAN.