
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]