Maybe you think the above title is some kind of prophecy. It is the present reality. Yes, things could get worse. They can also get better. Will the church pursue a change in legal status?
The majority of today's U.S. churches are legally and organizationally bound to a head other than Christ. Churches that incorporate and establish a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the IRS are bound to certain rules that are secular in origin. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, I know full well the restrictions, requirements, limitations and administrative obligations of such an organization. Even just an incorporation establishes a legal entity that can be sued and is subject to the civil code of state federal laws. These matters are of great importance, and Christian Lawyer, Jerald Finney has something to say about it.
Finney asserts that contemporary churches have done a wicked act in the sight of God by wilfully submitting to a secular heads, the state and federal governments. That is not to say the church is not accountable to criminal law.
Jerald Finney and Steven Reeves were our guests on the first Political Hope Radio Show aired on July 27, 2008. Join us this Sunday, Nov 23, as we reflect on that show, and add to the discussion of challenges facing the New Testament churches in the U.S.
The majority of today's U.S. churches are legally and organizationally bound to a head other than Christ. Churches that incorporate and establish a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the IRS are bound to certain rules that are secular in origin. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, I know full well the restrictions, requirements, limitations and administrative obligations of such an organization. Even just an incorporation establishes a legal entity that can be sued and is subject to the civil code of state federal laws. These matters are of great importance, and Christian Lawyer, Jerald Finney has something to say about it.
“When a New Testament church does anything contrary to Scripture which gives even partial claim of sovereignty over that church to the state, that church has committed a wicked act which subjects her to another head, thereby greatly displeasing the Lord. That church has betrayed the Lord” – Jerald Finney, God Betrayed: The Separation of Church and State: The Biblical Principles and the American Application
Finney asserts that contemporary churches have done a wicked act in the sight of God by wilfully submitting to a secular heads, the state and federal governments. That is not to say the church is not accountable to criminal law.Jerald Finney and Steven Reeves were our guests on the first Political Hope Radio Show aired on July 27, 2008. Join us this Sunday, Nov 23, as we reflect on that show, and add to the discussion of challenges facing the New Testament churches in the U.S.
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3 comments:
Does God respect government authority?
Romans 13:1-7
New American Standard Version
vs1 "Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
vs2 Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
vs3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; vs4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.
vs5 Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience sake." vs6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. vs7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
Important Note: Romans 13:1-7 was written during the time of Roman government rule. The Roman government had recently put Jesus Christ to death by crucifixion. Further the Roman government was not a democracy, was known for the viciousness of it's soldiers and was by no means pro-Christian. In spite of all this God said what he did in the above verses of the book of Romans.
Does God respect government authority?
It is clear that there is no authority except from God, and that God establishes government for His purpose (vs1).
Application
Citizens are clearly commanded to be in subjection to governing authorities according to Romans 13.
Government has a rightful authority from God that we must submit to, unless the government orders us to do something that is in opposition to God's law. In those circumstances Acts 4:19,20 teaches us to obey God before man. Acts 4:19,20 - But Peter and John answered and said to them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard. In these verses, the apostles Peter and John had been commanded by the government to no longer speak or teach about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peter and John knew it was against God's law to not speak about Jesus Christ, so they did not submit to the government authority.
http://www.pofci.org/romans13.htm
Thanks for your comment George.
The concern over government authority has to do with its limits and its proper domain. I agree it is established by God, but it also have different domains and responsibilties.
Does the state government have authority over the church? What about the family? Does the government have the authority to tell you how to discipline your children, or to tell the church which topics they can/cannot preach on?
I assert that "we the people" have allowed the U.S. federal government to take too much authority thereby invading the governmental domains of self, family, and church.
To understand Ro. 13, one must understand both the immediate and overall biblical context. I go into this in every aspect in God Betrayed, esp., Sec. III, Ch. 6. In short, Ro. 13, in both its immediate context and the overall context of the Bible teaches that God gives jurisdiction to Gentile civil government only over matters relating to man's relationship to man, not over matters relating to man's relationship to God. If Ro. 13 means that churches and individual believers are to submit themselves to civil government in all matters, Ro. 13 would be inconsistent within the immediate and overall context of the Bible.
God is the supreme authority, the highest power. He has limited the authority of Gentile civil government as revealed in His Word.
Regardless, in America, no church is required by any civil law to become a legal entity. This is because of the First Amendment which recognizes the biblical principle of separation of church and state. God wants both churches and civil government choose to be under Him, but neither to be under the other.
Nonetheless, many people just assume, contrary to the law, that church and state should be united in America, that civil law requires it, and that because of Ro. 13 and the assumed civil law requirement, churches should incorporate and get 501c3 status or become a legal entity in some other way. For a church and Gentile civil government to unite violates many biblical principles.
Even should civil law require a church to incorporate and get 501c3or to entangle herself with the civil government in any way, a church should not obey that law. "We should obey God rather than men" applies in that situation. The Bible makes clear that God desires His churches to remain pure spiritual entities under Him.
By the way, 501c3 is unconstitutional in that it clearly violates the First Amendment. 501c3 is a law "respecting an establishment of religion and preventing the free exercise thereof." However, getting 501c3 status is not mandatory for churches. It is just an invitation. I am sure that Satan gets much more pleasure from this than should the civil government attempt to force churches to disobey God and get incorporated and assume 501c3 status. The overwhelming majority of churches have submitted themselves to Satan's seduction.
Most Christians, including most pastors, have refused to take the time to study this issue. They can go to God Betrayed to analyze the issues. I challenge anyone to do so and show me where I have misinterpreted Scripture. If anyone can show me where I am wrong, I will admit it. Although I was not wrong about the issue of separation of church and state, I had to admit I had been wrong about a lot of issues after I began to do the research for the book.
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