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Post by Josh on Apr 18, 2016 20:37:23 GMT -8
Thoughts?
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Post by jeremiah on Apr 25, 2016 13:58:26 GMT -8
Yes they should. It requires corporate hierarchical structure and titles/roles which must be worked against to maintain the familial brotherhood of elders. You are becoming a corporation under the dictate of the state.
We are to free servants to the state not under the dictate of the state's requirements.
Practically it might not make too much of a difference at the moment, but for sure principally it seems to be foreign to the nature of what the church is.
And it seems to only be primarily used for monetary relief.
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Post by Josh on Apr 25, 2016 19:47:01 GMT -8
So, as a church Aletheia purposefully chose not to incorporate (501c3) primarily because it would theoretically make the state an overseer and potentially legally binding censor of the church, if I remember correctly 11 years later (the law is very fuzzy on churches).
However, churches do not have to incorporate to legally receive tax-deductable donations. Many churches incorporate primarily because they are told it might protect them from lawsuits (which is highly questionable anyway).
We offer receipts for donations because, well, there is no string attached that I can see as long as your church isn't incorporated. Why not take advantage of helping people keep more of their own money if you are not beholden or muzzled in any way by the state?
Also, it is in the state's best interest to offer tax-deductions to churches that actually serve the needs of the most vulnerable in society. Unfortunately some churches have taken advantage of tax-deductions for private gain or questionable expenditure, and given a reason for "God's name to be blasphemed among the Gentiles", and we may end up losing the privilege. If that happens, well, so be it, the church will carry on.
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Post by robin on Sept 10, 2016 11:16:02 GMT -8
I agree with both of you. This is one of the reasons I support Trump. He has been willing to take a firm stance the against 501c3 designation for churches, even to the point of making it a highlighted point during his acceptance at the RNC.
Trump discusses this issue at a meeting of evangelical pastors.
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