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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R48n0QTkyEc
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.Revelation 3:15-16
Thirty Ways The IRS Tries To Control Preachers and Churches in America
(As inspired from the list with the same name, by Dr. Greg Dixon)
If your church has a “tax exemption” granted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). then you must examine it
to determine if it is worthy in the eyes of God. Review this and then, decide if you do need to make a change in the church you are supporting.
1). The church must have a “distinct legal existence:” According to IRS publication #557 that legal existence would date from incorporation, pg. 3. Therefore, a church must be incorporated or it cannot be called a church.
2). The church must admit that it exists by a privilege granted by the IRS (tax‑exempt), rather than by RIGHT, as granted by God through the Holy Scriptures (non‑taxable); the latter of which is recognized and guaranteed autonomy by the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, 1st Amendment. The church must thereby recognize another as Head, the State, as opposed to the true Head, which is God.
3). The church must have a “recognized creed and form of worship.” The IRS must approve (recognize) the creed (belief) and form (manner) of worship.
4). The church must have a “definite and distinct ecclesiastical government.” That is, the church must be ruled in the form of a hierarchy or hierarchical (as is found in many so‑called main stream churches –e.g., Catholic, Methodist. etc.), and not individually ruled by the local church’s ministry (pastor/leader) and/or congregation (as in Baptist, Christian‑Israel, James Lloyd or Christian Media Ministries or some other autonomous‑type of church/ministry/movement).
5). The church must have a “formal code of doctrine and discipline,” as in some churches who have established “doctrines” or “traditions of men,” as opposed to those Christians whose churches/groups/ministries have established their faith, practices and doctrines solely from the Holy Scriptures. Unfortunately, many of the 501(c)3 churches have established doctrine/traditions that are not in accordance with the WORD of God.
6). The church must have a “distinct religious history” that is denominational – e.g. Catholic, as opposed to being “autonomous” or serving its congregation as an “independently acting, Bible‑oriented, body of believers.”
7). The church must be structured as an “organization.” Again, this is modeled after the Catholic church‑type organization, not the autonomous‑type of church – e.g. Baptist.
8). The church must be an “organization of ordained ministers.” The local Baptist church approves its own ministers, many of whom could be laymen, such as Charles Haddon Spurgeon and the late G. B. Vick – men “ordained of God,” as opposed to men that are ordained and licensed by institutions, state or religious.
9). The church must have these ordained ministers who are “selected after completing prescribed courses of study”. Again, Catholic‑style, not Baptist. Like the Apostles, who had only “been with Jesus” (taught and ordained by him to serve His kingdom), local autonomous churches many times approve pastors who have not received any formalized institutional religious training – but are ordained of God because of their Faith, Practice, Study, and Example.
10). The church must have “established places of worship.” Many churches, ministries, groups have no permanent address or facility (place of worship ‑ some meet in parks or other scenic places, some have only radio facilities) for a variety of reasons (because they are circuit preachers, because of persecution, because of their type of ministry, etc., they move from place to place or have no congregation meeting facility per se).
11). The church must submit to the IRS by paying a “user fee” (tribute) for tax‑exempt status. This is contrary to the Scriptures, the U.S. Constitution and all the State Constitutions.
12). The church must be engaged in activities that further “exclusively Public purposes, rather than Private interests.” The true church of Christ exists for the Personal and Private interest of Christ and His Elect, and not the State.
13). The church must answer to the IRS as to its “daily activities.”
14). The IRS dictates its control over all financial activities of the church – including sources of income, donors of $100.00 or more, and expenditures.
15). The church may not use cash, or it will be suspected of “money laundering.” All books and records must be made available for IRS inspection at all times.
16). The church must serve the IRS in the capacity of “informer” – by reporting a history of who serves in the various jobs within the church – e.g. Pastors, associates, counselors, directors, teachers, office/clerical/maintenance personnel.
17). The church must inform the IRS who it is that receives charitable help from the church.
18). The church must inform the IRS about “love gifts and offerings” in excess of $600.00 given to evangelists and missionaries, by filing a Form 1099 on each recipient, including on those who are regularly supported.
19). The church must use only IRS approved methods of fund raising.
20). The pastor of the church must not preach against the U.S. tax system, or say anything against the practices and tactics of the IRS.
21). The pastor of the church must answer to the IRS and give unlimited submission to the civil magistrate pertaining to all laws – federal, state and local, including “Public Policy.”
22). The pastor of the church must advocate, promote, and actively encourage race mixing (interracial marriage), which is in violation of the “kind after kind” standard established by God at the creation, if the church has an educational ministry.
23). The pastor of the church cannot influence legislation concerning the licensing of church ministries.
24). The pastor of the church cannot promote or engage in any political activity that opposes pornography.
25). The pastor of the church cannot actively support legislation that declares that children belong to their parents as opposed to the authority of the state.
26). The pastor of the church cannot actively support legislation that opposes a state’s lottery or other “legalized” gambling pursuits.
27). The pastor of the church cannot advocate support of the concept that the U.S. or state Constitutions are the Supreme Law of the Land or the various states, respectively.
28). The pastor of the church cannot actively participate in any activity that is in opposition to the public school system.
29). The pastor of the church can make no public declaration that the church congregation is to obey God and not the government, even if the government’s stand is in violation of God’s laws, commandments, statutes, and judgments.
30). The pastor of the church cannot oppose laws that are in support of or legalize “sodomy” – which is in direct conflict with the Word of God.http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils%20in%20Government/Police%20State/501c3_unbiblical.htm
Prayer
Most Precious Lord
Please keep the feet of Your chosen leaders
Grounded in Your Truth
Rather than running blindly toward entanglement with the world
Please open hearts, eyes and ears to discerning
The many ways the enemy tries to manipulate what is said in Your house
To Your children
Anything that stifles Your Word, Lord
Is not of You..We desperately need the full, unfiltered Truth of our Living God
Let no man nor government determine what is proclaimed from the pulpit
You ALONE are our Authority
Please allow the Holy Spirit to speak through those who are willing to be used to proclaim God’s perfect Word
We are not called to seek anyone’s permission to proclaim Your Word
Please forgive us for forfeiting rights
Yielding to the whims of man
Rather than conforming to Your Will
To the point where speech is restricted
Concerning ourselves more with manmade contract rather than a sacred covenant
What have we become? How does that honor You when we dare not speak out against those things that are sinful for fear of losing earthly benefits?
We cannot be a servant to You
And a slave to anyone or anything
The world is watching, Lord
What do they see? Do they notice Christians speaking out boldly or hiding timidly, afraid of the consequences a wicked world may impose?
Fill us, please, with boldness and courage rather than fear and intimidation
You are with us always!
You provide a way, Father
Please give our hearts peace
Knowing You will work all things out for those who love You
And are called according to Your purpose
You tell us, Father, that we will have trials
Please let us accept hardship, Father
Especially if it comes at the cost of diluting the Word
In the Name of Jesus,
AMEN
Songs
“Open The Eyes Of My Heart”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wutmEjdbedE
“Go Tell It On The Mountain
“https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EWWKdUZARY
“How He Loves Us”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxTOsQ3LDE4
Credits: FATHER, JESUS, HOLY SPIRIT, SCRIPTURES
Encouraging words of family and friends
Word of God
Ability to share Scripture
Google, YouTube, various sources cited above
Stories from God’s word, experiences of my own, family and friends