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God’s Principles for New Testament Church Organization, Application of Those Principles, and Answers to Questions From Pastors and Others

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Jerald Finney
February 16, 2024

Contents

 I. Introduction

II. Bible Principles

 III. Application of Principles

 IV. Analysis of False Reasons of Christians and Lawyers for Church Corporate, 501(c)(3) and 508(c)(1)(A) tax exempt Status or Legal Status of Any Kind. Click link to go to the full post. Here are some false reasons given for church incorporation, federal tax exempt status under Internal Revenue Code §§ 501(c)(3) or 508(c)(1)(A), or become some other kind of legal entity:

A.  To Own Property
B. The church must operate as a business
C. So that the church can go into debt
D. So that the church may enter into contracts
E. So that the church can manage their employee payroll and tax matters
F. Limited liability
G. Romans 13 and other verses require a believer and church “to obey every ordinance of ma”
H. Just follow your convictions, but it is best to incorporate your church and get federal tax exempt status
I. To be “practical” a church must incorporate and get federal tax exempt status
J. etc.

V. Answers to Questions and Comments from Pastors and Other Believers Concerning Church Organization:

I. Introduction

Most believers in America have never considered whether or not God’s Word communicates teachings, doctrines, and principles concerning Christ’s churhes which are at odds with the organization and conduct of the church they attend. They never ask, “Has my church been corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (See, 2 Corinthians 11:3).

Most have not considered whether violation of His principles is important to God or whether there are long term negative consequences for deviating from God’s church rules. Most pastors were never taught, and do not teach, New Testament Church doctrine and its application. They assume that their practices handed them by tradition are in line with God’s will. That  would be OK if, indeed, their tradition were in line with God’s Word.

Is a church, according to God, to be:

  1. a temporal worldly organization,
  2. or an organism, the body of Christ; instinct with His life, and heavenly in calling, promise, and destiny,“
  3. or a combination of the two?

How is one to know “the nature, purpose, and form of organization of local churches, and the right conduct of such gatherings?” God’s Word, mainly in the epistles of Paul, answers these questions.

As the serpent beguiled Eve, has your church been corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ?” Will you turn your back on God’s Word as regards God’s church principles?

II. Bible Principles

What are the principles and how can a church in America apply them? The essential principles are relatively easy to grasp, but some Bible study is needed to get into the deeper waters of the doctrine.

The basic principles for church organization are rather simple:

  • Christ purchased the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28).
  • He “also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
  • God gave God the Son “to be the head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:22).
  • Christ “is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).
  • A church is to be espoused to one husband, to be presented “as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).
  • God desires that a church have no relationship with any other lover, any other entity, than the Lord Jesus Christ.

In other words, God desires His churches to love and glorify Him by remaining 100% faithful  as shown by the fact that they are in relationship with no entity other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

For more thorough studies of the Bible doctrines of government, church, and relationship of church and state, see Separation of Church and State/God’s Churches, Spiritual or Legal Entities?; God Betrayed/Separation of Church and State: The Biblical Principles and the American Application; The Bible Doctrine of Government; The Bible Doctrine of the Church; The Bible Doctrine Concerning the Relationship of Church and State; 

 III. Application of Principles

Do the following methods of church organization by which a church becomes a “legal entity”  violate God’s principles:

  1. non-profit corporation organization under man’s law,
  2. federal tax exempt status under Internal Revenue Code §§ 501(c)(3) or 508(c)(1)(A),
  3. other methods of operation and organization by which a church which entangles herself with another lover by becoming a “legal entity“?

The answer to the three questions above is yes.  To understand this, one must understand the Bible principles and then make the application of those principles to a particular type of organization. For links to short answers explaining the facts about church incorporation, tax exempt status, etc. Go to Short Answers to Some Important Questions (each short answer links to additional more in depth studies.)

See the following for short answers which link to additional resources which give more in depth answers:

Sadly, Satan, through his subtilty, has beguiled  most churches  in America, as he did Eve, from the simplicity that is in Christ. Most are temporal worldly organizations who, to one degree or another name the name of Christ but keep the commandments of men as opposed to the principles of God.

In America, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution (the highest man-made law of the land) and corresponding provisions of the Constitutions of all the states allow a church the freedom, without persecution, to apply God church principles. See, Religious Liberty in America, The History and Meaning of the First Amendment, or An Abridged History of the First Amendment. Even though man’s highest laws in America regarding the relationship of church and state protect those churches who choose to honor God in the matter, most churches follow American tradition rather than God’s word in their relationship to civil government, mainly by incorporating and applying for Internal Revenue Code § 501(c)(3) status or claiming 501(c)(3) status under Internal Revenue Code § 508(c)(1)(A).

How can a church organize as did the churches in the New Testament and according to the New Testament Church doctrine? This website gives you God’s principles, the way to apply those principles, and information on many related matters. For a concise explanation of the Bible principles and application of those principles, see Simply Church: The Holy Union of Christ and His Local Church; see also, for more information and links to more resources, Bible Trust: Principles and Application.

 IV. Analysis of False Reasons of Christians and Lawyers for Church Corporate, 501(c)(3) and 508(c)(1)(A) tax exempt Status or Legal Status of Any Kind [Click link]

V. Answers to Questions and Comments Concerning Church Organization from Pastors and Others:

VI. Contact Information

JERALD C. FINNEY
BAB, HB, BBA, JD
801 Elgin St.
Amarillo, TX 79118
Phone : (512) 785-8445
E-MAIL: jeraldfinney157@gmail.com

 

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