Incorporation in the State

[CWJ]

What are the ramifications of incorporation for a group of saints?

Is it in God's will that a body of believers should file under a state corporation?

Some thoughts on this?

You know that under a 501c3 filing you are placed in the same category as Satanic, Wiccan, pagan churches.......

You also are placing yourself under State jurisdiction for compliance, thereby rendering authority to something other than the Holy Spirit.

Are there any others here who see this "traditional corporate" organization as opposed to scriptural patterns for the NT saint?

Isn't the Body of Christ a living organism, not a worldly organization?

Ya know, a man wishes for a career as a pastor....goes to college....gets his religious "degree"....interviews just like in the corporate world....moves around....most likely to a larger church....

Most view this as a requirement for a pastorship...the "degree"....

Is a "one man pastorship" the pattern from scriptures

Not to cause strife, but to stimulate scriptural study and a finding out of the will of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings CWJ,

You bring up important and valid issues.

Are you saying that the 501c3 regulation should NOT be adhered to? As I understand it and the effect it has on the church is that monies acrued under this regulation are not taxable. However, that does not mean that individual's profiting from a ministry DO have to pay taxes. Is that correct? Since we are to "obey the government", we shall do as Jesus did - render unto Caeser what is Caeser's. Now when I first started paying taxes, I did not take any deductions that I may have had coming to me. I soon learned that these "deductions" were created because basically the government "overcharges", and it is up to me to show them, through deductions, why I should NOT pay the maximum amount required by law. So it is MY DUTY to claim those deductions. Isn't this what this regulation does?

As for a ministry such as pastorship, evangelist, teacher, or preacher or even deacon, I believe we have gotten so far off the Bible track, it is incredible. That piece of paper means absolutely nothing. I believe that each "body of believers" should select VERY CAREFULLY "from within that body", the members best fit to minister TO that body. Most certainly, they may receive counsel from an outside source, but ultimately it should be the Holy Spirit that unites a body to back a particular individual to lead that body. I think of all the evangelists today around the world, establishing churches where they go. Of course, for a time, they or their select ministry officials should be the head of the local body, but with the intent to bring them to a maturity so that they can govern themselves under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[BlindSeeker]

Good topic Carl,

I for one would encourage God's assemplty not to go the 501c3 route. It is basically getting a license to run a nonprofit group.

I think God's people would do better not claiming their donations and allowing their assembleing together to be free of government regulation. Then you can say whatever you wish from the pulpit . . . like the truth.

William

[Adstar]

I'd pay the taxes and be free. Give unto caesar what is caesars

All Praise The Ancient Of Days