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[[File:Church2.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Is you Church established by Christ?]]
: Do the thousands of Churches and [[denominations]] claiming to be Christian actually demonstrate or reflect the teachings of Christ and the [[Charitable practices]] of the [[early Church]]?
: Why are they in conflict with one another and are they also in conflict with Christ?
: There was an early [[Christian conflict]] with the [[world]] but today the [[modern Church]] seems ''conformed to the [[world]]''<Ref>[[Romans 12]]:2 And be not conformed to this [[world]]: but be ye transformed by the [[repent|renewing of your mind]], that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.</Ref> and often in [[Christian conflict|conflict]] with ''will of God'' and what Christ said to do and not do.
== Church defined ==


Congress does not define what a Church is, but the legal dictionary does consistently.
Congress does not define what a Church is, but the legal dictionary does consistently.


“Church. In its most general sense, the religious society founded and established by Jesus Christ, to receive, preserve, and propagate his doctrines and ordinances.”
“[[Church]]. In its most general sense, the [[Religion|religious]] society founded and established by Jesus Christ, to receive, preserve, and propagate His doctrines and ordinances.”


“A body or community of Christians, united under one form of government by the profession of one faith, and the observance of the same rituals and ceremonies.”<Ref>Black’s Law Dictionary 3rd ed. Page 325. also 4th, 5th 6th Ed.</Ref>
“A body or community of Christians, united under one form of government by the profession of one faith, and the observance of the same rituals and ceremonies.”<Ref>Black’s Law Dictionary 3rd ed. Page 325. also 4th, 5th 6th Ed.</Ref>


Is your Church “established by Jesus Christ and united under one government to receive, preserve, and propagate his doctrines and ordinances”?
Is your Church “established by Jesus Christ and united under one government to receive, preserve, and propagate [[Doctrines of Jesus|His doctrines]] and ordinances”?


What are his doctrines?
== Church Doctrines ==


Most Church Doctrines include very few of Christ's Doctrines or even His specific instructions.
What are [[Doctrines of Jesus|His doctrines]]?


They have removed much of what Christ said and replaced it with what Paul said, or rather what people think Paul said. Paul was expounding on what Christ said having already preached gospel to men and women who were doing and living according to the pattern of the doctrines of Christ.
Most Church Doctrines include very few of Christ's actual Doctrines or even His specific instructions and certainly not what he [[commanded]].


*  Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.  
They have removed much of what Christ said and replaced it with what Paul said, or rather what people think Paul said. Paul was expounding on what Christ said having already preached '''the gospel of Christ''' first to men and women who were doing and living according to the pattern of the [[Doctrines of Jesus|doctrines of Christ]].


*  Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
*  [[Romans 1]]:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your [[faith]] is spoken of throughout the whole [[world]]. ([[Mark 14]]:9 fulfilled<Ref>Romans 1:8  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.</Ref>)


*  1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
*  [[Romans 1]]:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to [[Whosoever believeth|every one that believeth]]; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.<Ref>[[Romans 1]]:17  For therein is the [[righteousness]] of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by [[faith]].
: [[John 3]]:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.... 24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.... 29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
: [[Romans 10]]:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
: 1 John 5:17  All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
: [[James 2]]:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? ...
22  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?... 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.</Ref>


*  Ephesians 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. {trusted: or, hoped}
*  [[Ephesians 1]]:12 That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. {trusted: or, hoped}<Ref>[[Ephesians 1]]:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being [[predestine|predestinated]] according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13  In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,</Ref>


1 Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
* [[1 Timothy 1]]:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.


Christ preached a way to govern ourselves according to His Holy Spirit and appointed that government to His disciples to be like Him.
Christ preached [[The Way|a way to govern ourselves]] according to His Holy Spirit and [[appoint]]ed that government to His [[disciples]] as His "[[little flock]]" to be [[separate]] and to serve like Him.<Ref>
: Galatians 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
: [[Luke 22]]:27  For whether [is] greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? [is] not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
: John 12:26  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will [my] Father honour.</Ref>


*  2 Timothy 4:22 The Lord Jesus Christ [be] with thy spirit. Grace [be] with you. Amen.  
*  [[2 Timothy 4]]:22 The Lord Jesus Christ [be] with thy spirit. Grace [be] with you. Amen.  


The modern Church really needs to reexamine its doctrines  and mission in comparison to Christ in the context o His doctrines and the activities and apparent mission of the early Church.  
The [[modern Church]] really needs to reexamine its doctrines  and mission in comparison to Christ in the context of His doctrines and the activities and apparent mission of the [[early Church]].  


Is it doing the work of His appointed government or has it relinquished its responsibilities to the governments of the world that have been established by men for the personal benefit of men?  
Is it doing the work of His [[appoint]]ed government or has it relinquished its responsibilities to the governments of the world that have been established by men for the personal benefit of men?  


The Church is actually a creation of Christ. Have men recreated the Church? Is the modern churches preserving, and propagating His doctrines and ordinances or their own?  
The Church is actually a creation of Christ. Have men recreated the Church? Is the modern churches preserving, and propagating His doctrines and ordinances or their own?  
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{{#ev:youtube|EMxTbD3s3s8|320|right|Religion, NN Video Series:9-10 4:27}}
{{#ev:youtube|EMxTbD3s3s8|320|right|Religion, NN Video Series:9-10 4:27}}


== Church vs [[Religion|Religious Organization]] ==


[http://www.hisholychurch.org/news/articles/ThatWordnwv.php Religion] use to mean the performance of your duty to God and your fellow man.
[http://www.hisholychurch.org/news/articles/ThatWordnwv.php Religion] use to mean the performance of your duty to God and your fellow man.


The term ''religious organization'' is not treated the same as the term Church in modern law.  An '''organization''' seeking to meet the '''religious''' purposes test has become something other than a Church. The purpose and mission of the Church was religious. The Church is a ''religious organization'' but it is not an entity of the State but is established by Christ which makes it excluded and separate from the state.
Specifically as an institution the [[Church]] does not include the [[Congregations|congregations]] of the people except in the ''most general sense''.
 
The life blood of the Church flows from the heart and mind of the elders of the congregations and also from the minister they choose. The kingdom of God manifests itself in the actions of the faithful but resides as a spirit of intent with those hearts and minds. If the Holy Spirit of Christ does not dwell in you then you will not feel a need to gather to serve as Christ came to serve.
 
The Church is [[Church legally defined|legally defined]] as "one form of government".
[[File:Pentecost.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Pentecost]] was a time to organize congregations through a [[charitable practices|Charitable]] network of ministers in patterns of [[tens]] turning [[free assemblies]] into a [[Kingdom of God]] at hand.]]
The Church is "[[Body of Christ|established by Jesus Christ]]".
 
Its purpose includes "to receive, preserve, and propagate His doctrines and ordinances.”
 
The [[Church]] is not of the [[World|world]].
 
The term ''[[Religion|religious]] organization'' is not treated the same as the term Church in modern law.  An '''organization''' seeking to meet the '''[[Religion|religious]]''' purposes test has become something other than a Church. The purpose and mission of the Church was [[Religion|religious]]. The Church is a ''[[Religion|religious]] organization'' but it is not an entity of the State but is established by Christ which makes it excluded and separate from the state.


But when men began to alter the purposes of the Church they stop being the Church "founded and established by Jesus Christ".
But when men began to alter the purposes of the Church they stop being the Church "founded and established by Jesus Christ".
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Department of Revenue and the I.R.S. state:
Department of Revenue and the I.R.S. state:


“In order to determine whether recognition of exemption should appropriately be extended to an organization seeking to meet the religious purposes test of section 501c(3), the Internal Revenue Service maintains two basic guidelines:
“In order to determine whether recognition of exemption should appropriately be extended to an organization seeking to meet the [[Religion|religious]] purposes test of section 501c(3), the Internal Revenue Service maintains two basic guidelines:


#) That the particular religious beliefs of the organization are truly and sincerely held, and
#) That the particular [[Religion|religious]] beliefs of the organization are truly and sincerely held, and
#) That the practices and rituals associated with the organization’s religious belief or creed are not illegal or contrary to clearly defined public policy.”<Ref>Department of the Treasury, I.R.S., Pub. 557 Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization. Chapt. 3 Page 14.</Ref>
#) That the practices and rituals associated with the organization’s [[Religion|religious]] belief or creed are not illegal or contrary to clearly defined public policy.”<Ref>Department of the Treasury, I.R.S., Pub. 557 Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization. Chapt. 3 Page 14.</Ref>


On the same page of that publication, we see phrases like, “If you are organized to operate a home for the aged, the following information must be submitted:” Or if you are a scientific organization, “You must show…” etc. But for religious organizations, there are only ‘two basic guidelines’ which are merely ‘maintained’ by the Internal Revenue Service. These mere guidelines are maintained only ‘to determine whether recognition of exemption should appropriately be extended to an organization seeking to meet the religious purposes test.’
On the same page of that publication, we see phrases like, “If you are organized to operate a home for the aged, the following information must be submitted:” Or if you are a scientific organization, “You must show…” etc. But for [[Religion|religious]] organizations, there are only ‘two basic guidelines’ which are merely ‘maintained’ by the Internal Revenue Service. These mere guidelines are maintained only ‘to determine whether recognition of exemption should appropriately be extended to an organization seeking to meet the religious purposes test.’


{{#ev:youtube|KsXUOHKh3pg|320|right|The Church, in His Salvation, is the Solution
{{#ev:youtube|KsXUOHKh3pg|320|right|The Church, in His Salvation, is the Solution
Summary of the Nimrod to Now Video Series:10-10 7:53
Summary of the Nimrod to Now Video Series:10-10 7:53
Gods plan verses man's plan. Summing up... the Gospel of the Kingdom...}}
Gods plan verses man's plan. Summing up... the Gospel of the Kingdom...}}
== Church links ==


Ecclesia, Ekklesia. or Church<Br>
Ecclesia, Ekklesia. or Church<Br>
http://www.hisholychurch.org/ekklesia.php
http://www.hisholychurch.org/ekklesia.php


The Coercive and Non-Coercive Churches<Br>
'''The Coercive and Non-Coercive Churches'''<Br>
Concerning what the "Church" is or should be and what it is not.<Br>
Concerning what the "Church" is or should be and what it is not.<Br>
http://www.hisholychurch.org/sermon/coercivechurch.php
http://www.hisholychurch.org/sermon/coercivechurch.php


* Audio On the Coercive Church<Br>
* '''Audio On the Coercive Church'''<Br>
The Coercive Church BlogTalkRadio 29:10<Br>
The Coercive Church BlogTalkRadio 29:10<Br>
http://www.hisholychurch.net/audio/10-10-3TS-412548CC.mp3 <Br>
http://www.hisholychurch.net/audio/10-10-3TS-412548CC.mp3 <Br>
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http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCl12-3Church.php
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCl12-3Church.php


* The Separate Church<Br>
* T'''he Separate Church'''<Br>
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCl12-4Separate.php  
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCl12-4Separate.php  


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http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/THL/churchstate.php
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/THL/churchstate.php


Separation of Church and State<Br>
'''Separation of Church and State'''<Br>
From the book The Higher Liberty, Sec. 20<Br>
From the book The Higher Liberty, Sec. 20<Br>
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/THL/separation.php
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/THL/separation.php


A Kingdom not of this world<Br>
'''A Kingdom not of this world'''<Br>
From the book The Higher Liberty, Sec. 22<Br>
From the book The Higher Liberty, Sec. 22<Br>
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/THL/notoftheworld.php
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/THL/notoftheworld.php


The Apostolic Church<Br>
'''The Apostolic Church'''<Br>
From the book The Higher Liberty, Sec. 68<Br>
From the book The Higher Liberty, Sec. 68<Br>
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/THL/apostolic.php  
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/THL/apostolic.php  


Christian Welfare<Br>
'''Christian Welfare'''<Br>
From the book The Higher Liberty, Sec. 71<Br>
From the book The Higher Liberty, Sec. 71<Br>
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/THL/welfare.php  
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/THL/welfare.php  


Are Christians Idiots?<Br>
'''Are Christians Idiots?'''<Br>
Were the apostles unlearned, uneducated and unlettered?<Br>
Were the apostles unlearned, uneducated and unlettered?<Br>
http://www.hisholychurch.org/news/articles/idiots.php
http://www.hisholychurch.org/news/articles/idiots.php


Christianity Derailed<Br>
'''Christianity Derailed'''<Br>
Has the Church lost it way and taken the people with it?<Br>
Has the Church lost it way and taken the people with it?<Br>
http://www.hisholychurch.org/news/articles/christderailed.php<Br>
http://www.hisholychurch.org/news/articles/christderailed.php<Br>
Appeared first on NewsWithViews 3-2-11  
Appeared first on NewsWithViews 3-2-11  


== Church exempt ==


Taxes
"Piety is no defense to the assessments of the tax collector." Scripture Press Foundation v. United States, 285 F.2d 800, 904 (1961), cert denied 368 U.S. 985.
"Piety is no defense to the assessments of the tax collector." Scripture Press Foundation v. United States, 285 F.2d 800, 904 (1961), cert denied 368 U.S. 985.


Line 136: Line 171:
10. Established places of worship
10. Established places of worship


11. Regular congregations
11. Regular [[congregations]]


12. Regular worship services
12. Regular worship services
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No single factor is controlling,<Ref>It should be noted, however, that in the 1993 (for Fiscal Year 1994) IRS Exempt Organizations Continuing Professional Education Technical Instruction Program Textbook, in Defining "Church" -- The Concept of a Congregation, the position is taken that an organization must have a congregation (usually including participation in mutual ceremonies, observances and celebrations important to the religion) in order to be considered a church." Therefore, although having a congregation may not be sufficient to determine that the organization is a church, not having a congregation is likely to be considered by the IRS to be sufficient to determine that the organization is not a church.</Ref> and having all fourteen is not necessary. While there is no "legal" requirement that a church have any of these particular characteristics (instituting such a requirement would likely violate the First Amendment as establishing a particular "form" of religion), the IRS is unlikely to recognize an organization as being a church without it having a number of these characteristics. In Publication 557, the IRS states: Because beliefs and practices vary so widely, there is no single definition of the word "church" for tax purposes.
No single factor is controlling,<Ref>It should be noted, however, that in the 1993 (for Fiscal Year 1994) IRS Exempt Organizations Continuing Professional Education Technical Instruction Program Textbook, in Defining "Church" -- The Concept of a Congregation, the position is taken that an organization must have a congregation (usually including participation in mutual ceremonies, observances and celebrations important to the religion) in order to be considered a church." Therefore, although having a congregation may not be sufficient to determine that the organization is a church, not having a congregation is likely to be considered by the IRS to be sufficient to determine that the organization is not a church.</Ref> and having all fourteen is not necessary. While there is no "legal" requirement that a church have any of these particular characteristics (instituting such a requirement would likely violate the First Amendment as establishing a particular "form" of religion), the IRS is unlikely to recognize an organization as being a church without it having a number of these characteristics. In Publication 557, the IRS states: Because beliefs and practices vary so widely, there is no single definition of the word "church" for tax purposes.


'''Religious Orders'''.
{{Template:Ministers}}


Religious orders are considered to be a special type of entity. Most are Roman Catholic but there are some well established Protestant order and eastern, Buddhist and even Jewish orders. Many of these orders are made up of people who have devoted their entire lives to communal worship and service. The members of the order express their commitment by such things as vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
{{Template:Network}}


# Religious orders are "personal" in the sense that their ecclesiastical jurisdiction does not depend upon geographical nor territorial boundaries.
{{Template:Monks}}
# Religious orders carry on a variety of activities, all of which are, for one reason or another, characterized as "religious".
# Religious orders often operate various institutions, such as schools and religious "retreat" centers, and may have a specific religious "mission" or "purpose" apart from the individuals who are called out of the world, into the order.
# A church is regarded as the ''body of believers'' separate and apart from the people who attend.
# A religious order should also be apart from the people or individuals served by the order. Many religious orders are not entrenched in the mission of Jesus Christ which is to serve the people who attend to it and it to them and therefore this is a critical distinction.


The Internal Revenue Service issued Rev. Proc. 91-20 in 1991 to provide guidelines for determining who may be considered to be a religious order. As stated therein, the defining characteristics are:
{{Template:CORE}}


# The organization is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Code.
{{Template:Religion}}
# The members of the organization vow to live under a strict set of rules requiring moral and spiritual self-sacrifice and dedication to the goals of the organization at the expense of their material well-being.
#  The members of the organization, after successful completion of the organization's training program and probationary period, make a long-term commitment to the organization (normally more than two years).
#  The organization is, directly or indirectly, under the control and supervision of a church or convention or association of churches, or is significantly funded by a church or convention or association of churches.
# The members of the organization normally live together as part of a community and are held to a significantly stricter level of moral and religious discipline than that required of lay church members.
# The members of the organization work or serve full-time on behalf of the religious, educational, or charitable goals of the organization.
# The members of the organization participate regularly in activities such as public or private prayer, religious study, teaching, care of the aging, missionary work, or church reform or renewal.


As with the fourteen points concerning a church, the absence of one or more of these items (with the exception of the first item) is not necessarily determinative.
==Footnotes==
<references />


The legislative history of IRC Section 170 pertaining to the deductibility of contributions, clearly indicates that the term "church" was intended to include religious orders.<Ref>S. Rep. No. 1622, 83d Congress, 2nd Session at p. 30 (1954).</Ref>


[[Category:Articles]]


[[Category:Topics]]


==Footnotes==
[[Category:Words]]
<references />

Latest revision as of 19:24, 1 June 2023

Is you Church established by Christ?
Do the thousands of Churches and denominations claiming to be Christian actually demonstrate or reflect the teachings of Christ and the Charitable practices of the early Church?
Why are they in conflict with one another and are they also in conflict with Christ?
There was an early Christian conflict with the world but today the modern Church seems conformed to the world[1] and often in conflict with will of God and what Christ said to do and not do.

Church defined

Congress does not define what a Church is, but the legal dictionary does consistently.

“Church. In its most general sense, the religious society founded and established by Jesus Christ, to receive, preserve, and propagate His doctrines and ordinances.”

“A body or community of Christians, united under one form of government by the profession of one faith, and the observance of the same rituals and ceremonies.”[2]

Is your Church “established by Jesus Christ and united under one government to receive, preserve, and propagate His doctrines and ordinances”?

Church Doctrines

What are His doctrines?

Most Church Doctrines include very few of Christ's actual Doctrines or even His specific instructions and certainly not what he commanded.

They have removed much of what Christ said and replaced it with what Paul said, or rather what people think Paul said. Paul was expounding on what Christ said having already preached the gospel of Christ first to men and women who were doing and living according to the pattern of the doctrines of Christ.

  • Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. (Mark 14:9 fulfilled[3])
  • Ephesians 1:12 That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. {trusted: or, hoped}[5]
  • 1 Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Christ preached a way to govern ourselves according to His Holy Spirit and appointed that government to His disciples as His "little flock" to be separate and to serve like Him.[6]

  • 2 Timothy 4:22 The Lord Jesus Christ [be] with thy spirit. Grace [be] with you. Amen.

The modern Church really needs to reexamine its doctrines and mission in comparison to Christ in the context of His doctrines and the activities and apparent mission of the early Church.

Is it doing the work of His appointed government or has it relinquished its responsibilities to the governments of the world that have been established by men for the personal benefit of men?

The Church is actually a creation of Christ. Have men recreated the Church? Is the modern churches preserving, and propagating His doctrines and ordinances or their own?

Doctrines_of_Jesus

Load video
YouTube
Religion, NN Video Series:9-10 4:27


Church vs Religious Organization

Religion use to mean the performance of your duty to God and your fellow man.

Specifically as an institution the Church does not include the congregations of the people except in the most general sense.

The life blood of the Church flows from the heart and mind of the elders of the congregations and also from the minister they choose. The kingdom of God manifests itself in the actions of the faithful but resides as a spirit of intent with those hearts and minds. If the Holy Spirit of Christ does not dwell in you then you will not feel a need to gather to serve as Christ came to serve.

The Church is legally defined as "one form of government".

Pentecost was a time to organize congregations through a Charitable network of ministers in patterns of tens turning free assemblies into a Kingdom of God at hand.

The Church is "established by Jesus Christ".

Its purpose includes "to receive, preserve, and propagate His doctrines and ordinances.”

The Church is not of the world.

The term religious organization is not treated the same as the term Church in modern law. An organization seeking to meet the religious purposes test has become something other than a Church. The purpose and mission of the Church was religious. The Church is a religious organization but it is not an entity of the State but is established by Christ which makes it excluded and separate from the state.

But when men began to alter the purposes of the Church they stop being the Church "founded and established by Jesus Christ".

Department of Revenue and the I.R.S. state:

“In order to determine whether recognition of exemption should appropriately be extended to an organization seeking to meet the religious purposes test of section 501c(3), the Internal Revenue Service maintains two basic guidelines:

  1. ) That the particular religious beliefs of the organization are truly and sincerely held, and
  2. ) That the practices and rituals associated with the organization’s religious belief or creed are not illegal or contrary to clearly defined public policy.”[7]

On the same page of that publication, we see phrases like, “If you are organized to operate a home for the aged, the following information must be submitted:” Or if you are a scientific organization, “You must show…” etc. But for religious organizations, there are only ‘two basic guidelines’ which are merely ‘maintained’ by the Internal Revenue Service. These mere guidelines are maintained only ‘to determine whether recognition of exemption should appropriately be extended to an organization seeking to meet the religious purposes test.’

Load video
YouTube
The Church, in His Salvation, is the Solution

Summary of the Nimrod to Now Video Series:10-10 7:53 Gods plan verses man's plan. Summing up... the Gospel of the Kingdom...

Church links

Ecclesia, Ekklesia. or Church
http://www.hisholychurch.org/ekklesia.php

The Coercive and Non-Coercive Churches
Concerning what the "Church" is or should be and what it is not.
http://www.hisholychurch.org/sermon/coercivechurch.php

  • Audio On the Coercive Church

The Coercive Church BlogTalkRadio 29:10
http://www.hisholychurch.net/audio/10-10-3TS-412548CC.mp3

  • The Coercive Church TalkShoeQandA 48:43

http://www.hisholychurch.net/audio/10-10-3show_1295668CC.mp3

The Church from the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCl12-3Church.php

  • The Separate Church

http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCl12-4Separate.php

Church and State
From the book The Higher Liberty, Sec. 18
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/THL/churchstate.php

Separation of Church and State
From the book The Higher Liberty, Sec. 20
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/THL/separation.php

A Kingdom not of this world
From the book The Higher Liberty, Sec. 22
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/THL/notoftheworld.php

The Apostolic Church
From the book The Higher Liberty, Sec. 68
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/THL/apostolic.php

Christian Welfare
From the book The Higher Liberty, Sec. 71
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/THL/welfare.php

Are Christians Idiots?
Were the apostles unlearned, uneducated and unlettered?
http://www.hisholychurch.org/news/articles/idiots.php

Christianity Derailed
Has the Church lost it way and taken the people with it?
http://www.hisholychurch.org/news/articles/christderailed.php
Appeared first on NewsWithViews 3-2-11

Church exempt

"Piety is no defense to the assessments of the tax collector." Scripture Press Foundation v. United States, 285 F.2d 800, 904 (1961), cert denied 368 U.S. 985.

"Religious organizations are not exempt from complying with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, or applicable state laws. However, there are a number of specific provisions of law, beginning with the United States Constitution and continuing through the Internal Revenue Code, that treat religious organizations, especially those that can be classified as a "church", differently."[8]

There is no precise definition in the Internal Revenue Code of what constitutes a church.[9] A case decided in 1980 sets forth fourteen factors that the IRS has found relevant in making its inquiry into the definition:[10]

1. A distinct legal existence

2. A recognized creed and form of worship

3. A definite and distinct ecclesiastical government

4. A formal code of doctrine and discipline

5. A distinct religious history

6. A membership not associated with any other church or denomination

7. An organization of ordained ministers

8. Ordained ministers selected after completing prescribed studies

9. A literature of its own

10. Established places of worship

11. Regular congregations

12. Regular worship services

13. Sunday schools for religious instruction of the young

14. Schools for the preparation of ministers.

No single factor is controlling,[11] and having all fourteen is not necessary. While there is no "legal" requirement that a church have any of these particular characteristics (instituting such a requirement would likely violate the First Amendment as establishing a particular "form" of religion), the IRS is unlikely to recognize an organization as being a church without it having a number of these characteristics. In Publication 557, the IRS states: Because beliefs and practices vary so widely, there is no single definition of the word "church" for tax purposes.

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Footnotes

  1. ↑ Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
  2. ↑ Black’s Law Dictionary 3rd ed. Page 325. also 4th, 5th 6th Ed.
  3. ↑ Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
  4. ↑ Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
    John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
    19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.... 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.... 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
    Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
    1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
    James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
    20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? ... 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?... 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
  5. ↑ Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
  6. ↑
    Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
    Luke 22:27 For whether [is] greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? [is] not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
    John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will [my] Father honour.
  7. ↑ Department of the Treasury, I.R.S., Pub. 557 Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization. Chapt. 3 Page 14.
  8. ↑ BASIC TAX ASPECTS FOR RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, by Lisa A. Runquist, Revised January, 2001
  9. ↑ See Whelan, "Church in the Internal Revenue Code", 45 Fordham L Rev. 885 (1977).
  10. ↑ American Guidance Foundation, Inc. v United States 490 F.Supp 304 (1980).
  11. ↑ It should be noted, however, that in the 1993 (for Fiscal Year 1994) IRS Exempt Organizations Continuing Professional Education Technical Instruction Program Textbook, in Defining "Church" -- The Concept of a Congregation, the position is taken that an organization must have a congregation (usually including participation in mutual ceremonies, observances and celebrations important to the religion) in order to be considered a church." Therefore, although having a congregation may not be sufficient to determine that the organization is a church, not having a congregation is likely to be considered by the IRS to be sufficient to determine that the organization is not a church.
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