Free Speech, Free Church, & Free School

not controlled but free

 

This freedom should apply to all speech, all educational institutions, and all religions.

World religious freedom exists in a continuum from martyr to slave. To a lesser extent this applies to all schools worldwide. Lesser because the propaganda value of educating the young shrinks the public school continuum to degrees of slavery.

 

All governments know their future depends on indoctrinating children in government's vision of the proper "team spirit." There has not been a large government that has ignored this public schooling power source for centuries.

 

If you are in America you may be thinking the title 'free church' is redundant since the Constitution guarantees government will not interfere with religion. The first amendment is actually where you will find that American government is limited regarding religion.

 

The Bill of Rights is a document written expressly to control government. People are born with their rights - governments steal them. The American founding fathers rightfully feared government and wanted it under the people's thumb - not the traditional opposite.

 

Unfortunately congress, who is supposed to create the few federal laws in areas not addressed by States, has created a plethora of agencies making rules and regulations with the effect of laws. A large number of these rules and regulations can impact the church.

 

The IRS, that behemoth agency that considers all citizens guilty until they prove themselves innocent, has taken away a church's tax free status for saying things in the pulpit that some politicians dislike. This has muzzled many churches who now fear loss of their tax free status.

 

It appears to be ok for politicians to grab votes by speaking at a church about politics using religious rhetoric; but against IRS rules for a church leader to make political pronouncements.

 

At the state level there can be even more interference with local churches. Most American churches have incorporated, and are now controlled by their state's corporate law. As corporations they must have board members, file regular reports, have state mandated meetings and votes, etc. If you have seen a divided church, it is frequently over legal governance issues, the result of rendering unto Caesar that which belongs to God.

 

A church that ends up in court is frequently there due to their legal status. Christians should be in prayer meetings, seeking God's will and asking for his assistance. Instead they end up in a secular court arguing law before a secular judge. A local church must choose to subjugate themselves to government to be in this position.

 

How does a church get under the thumb of government? By filing for tax free status they became a nonprofit organization, not a church, at least in IRS eyes.

 

By becoming a corporation a church must follow all statutes, regulations, and forms required by state government. Instead of a Biblically defined leadership, they end up with governing boards and employees. Their actions are then defined by statute rather than God.

 

As Christians we need to always be free to follow Jesus Christ. First pray and decide; is it God's will? If so, there is only the choice to follow God or not follow God. It is to everyone's benefit to follow God, he loves us and is smarter and wiser than we are.

 

We can not let a bribe of a tax deduction be our decision criteria. God is more than big enough to sustain or grow a ministry he values without deductible contributions. If God does not want to sustain the ministry, let it die.

 

If your church is not incorporated or is not proclaimed tax free by the IRS with their 501c3 edict is there a problem for contributors? According to Free the 501c3 Church and ecclesia.org there is no problem. The direct quote from the second site:

According to the Internal Revenue Code, "a church, its integrated auxiliaries, and conventions and associations of the church are excluded from taxation." United States Code, Title 26, § 508(c)(1)(A).

Section 508(c) of the Internal Revenue Code provides that churches are not required to apply for recognition of Section 501(c)(3) status in order to be exempt from federal taxation or to receive tax deductible contributions. Churches are automatically exempt from Federal income tax, and contributions to churches are deductible by donors under section 170.

Only if Churches put themselves under law, will they be controlled by law.

 

The founding fathers looked at the monarchy ruled Church of England and wanted to eliminate problems created in both government and religion by subservience of church to state.

 

Separation of church and state is to protect religion from government interference; and to protect the people from a government that would use religion to gain power. Separation was not instituted to limit the churches.

 

We believe that scripture teaches that the head of the Christian Church is Jesus Christ. At Junior Partner Ministries, at Bastiat Free University, and at our partner charities Jesus Christ is the authority to which we answer.

 

You must chose you this day whom you will serve.And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey. Joshua 24:24

 

Junior Partner Ministries is not and will not be incorporated. We will follow Jesus Christ. We will not file for an IRS ruling of 501c3 status. God's Church is not exempt from taxes, it is outside of tax.

 

By the provisions of the First Amendment to the Constitution: "Congress shall make no law regarding an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

 

The Church is therefore immune to government limitations; unless a local church willingly subjects itself to government control, and thereby surrenders Christ's headship.

 

Jesus is Lord!

 

God is our service ministries' source, not any man made government; and not even you my friend. If the government closes our assembly doors we will still praise God, and follow him. To see how our model, the early church, handled government orders read Acts chapters 3 & 4.

 

If we get no tax benefit; well and good. Junior Partner Ministries is a free Church and has equally free auxiliaries such as the university and partner charities. God is able to supply all our needs, exceedingly, abundantly, above all we can ask or think.

 

We think those who contribute to our church and live in America are safe taking their deductions if they wish. Regardless of man's rules and how they change, we will not trade God's unlimited eternal provision for man's limited promise.

 

Ask God's Holy Spirit where and how He would have you contribute, and then follow His leading. If you are to give to us, give joyfully. If you can not give joyfully, don't give. God will provide for us from some other quarter. Jesus Christ is our source.

 

As Christians our home is heaven, we are ambassadors here on Earth - and not ruled by any worldly government.

 

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