Dear Mr Finney,I do volunteer work at the ____________ Pregnancy Resource Center in _________________. ____________________________ Church has started this center a couple of years ago and they are now looking into separating from under the church which is a 501c3 and become independent and more on there own. They want to form a board to oversee this organization and to receive state tax revenue and tax credits with Arizona. To do that we are told to become a 501C3. My question to you is do we have to do that to get the tax benefits that the state of Arizona has to offer? I do not want to become a 501C3. So I’m searching other avenues to see how we can go about this and get the best benefits we can. I truly believe we need to give it to God and let Him provide for all our needs. I think we have lost our dependence on God and look to the government to much for support.
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I did want to do my research and look at all of our options before hand.
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Thank you for your expertise and support.
Sincerely,
______________________
My Reply
Dear Ms. ______________________________________,
Thanks for your inquiry. Because I love the Lord and love you, I must answer your inquiry honestly.
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This ministry helps churches organize under Christ alone according to New Testament principles. An incorporated 501c3 or 508c1A church such as ______________________ is not a church under Christ alone and therefore violates New Testament church doctrine. God ordained his churches to do His spiritual work. He ordained no other organization. He makes clear His Word that His churches are under Him and Him alone, under His authority and His authority alone. They are to organize and operate in all matters according to New Testament principles. An incorporated 501c3 church is under the authority of both the state and federal government for many purposes.
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All ministry, in the Bible sense, is to be out of a local, autonomous, New Testament church under Christ: For example, the book of Ephesians presents the local church under Christ as a spiritual body. I suggest a reading of Ephesians 4. I present here a few verses out of that chapter:
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Ephesians 4:11-16: “11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” [Red bold emphasis added]
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See the following for a study of the Book of Ephesians and other New Testament books regarding the doctrine of the church: Bible Studies: The Doctrine of the Church.
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I explain all the Bible principles, historical facts, and legal considerations in my online essays, articles, and books.
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New Testament guidelines for churches do not apply either to other types of organizations or to churches who have willfully or ignorantly become legal entities (corporations, charitable trusts, business trusts, unincorporated associations, 501c3 or 508c1A tax exempt organizations, etc.). Of course, people and organizations can do temporal good outside the parameters of a church. However, this ministry is not called, nor does it have the time and resources, to work outside its calling. In the past I have devoted a lot of free help and time to Christian sidewalk counselors who have been falsely accused of crimes as a result of their efforts on behalf of the unborn and legal research on behalf of that cause. See Murdering Unborn Babies, and resources linked to on that.
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All my services for the cause of the unborn (and the cause of individual fathers and mothers, the fight for the primary institution ordained by God) were a gift to my Lord. I was encumbered with no rules to impede my efforts.
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A good question for you is this: “Why are you concerned with a worldly organization staying outside 501c3?” Obviously, God’s provisions are not sufficient for what you wish to do, so you wish to obtain state help without complying with state rules for obtaining that help. You do not wish to abide by the rule of the state that you get 501c3 status in order to get the benefits. You want the benefit without agreeing to the state requirement for 501c3 status. You want a one-way contract whereby they give you something but you do not give them what they require. The state made an offer of contract. You can accept or you can make a counter offer. A contract requires concessions from both parties to the proposed contract. If they give you the benefits for nothing, it is not a contract, it is a gift from the state.
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If you can negotiate for such a gift, then go for it. However, it is unlikely that they will agree to give you something for nothing, that they will agree to cancel the 501c3 status requirement for you.
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I am curious. Do you desire the organization to do things forbidden 501c3 organizations (e.g., to take part in political activities, to have no restrictions on lobby, to hire straight people exclusively, etc.), and to avoid all the red tape that comes with that status? Is that the reason you oppose the 501c3 status requirement?
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I hope this may be of some help to you.
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God bless you as you seek to glorify Him according to His methods. Remember, the method matters to God.
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Jerald
512-785-8445
Churches under Christ Mininstry Website: Applying God's Principles for Church Headship 