- Why PDCM is NOT 501(c)(3)

Why we are not 501 (c)(3)

 

Before you read this please understand that we are not speaking badly or condemning those who are 501(c)(3) incorporated. Also please understand that we (PDCM) are the Church of God; His Body. Please keep in mind when reading this that the Church is not a physical building, but the worldwide body of believers in Christ.

 

Here at PDCM, we have made the choice not to incorporate. Why? Simply…we believe the Scriptures do not support it.

 

We do not believe that the Government should have any authority over us (the Church) or His work. We are not an organization or a religious organization. Eph. 5:30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. We (the Church) are a living organism with a living head and body.

 

We are not an educational institution, athletic club, library club, fraternity,or any other type of  orgzation which have exclusively a charitable purpose.

 

We are a ministry or religious institution ordained and established by Jesus Christ Himself, and Christ has never delegated His authority to the civil jurisdiction to rule in our  affairs – the affairs of His Church (His body).

 

The purpose of the Church is not “charity,” nor is it’s purpose exclusively charitable. Again the  Church is not a physical building, but the worldwide body of believers in Christ. Charity is one of our functions (and charity should be a function of every Church/believer), but it is certainly not our only purpose. Offering worship to God, evangelism to the lost, and the fellowship and equipping of the saints are among our (the Church’s) exclusive purposes.

 

By bring us into voluntary compliance by forming a 501( C )(3) corporation, thus places us under the authority of the state.

 

 

Let’s take it to the Scriptures

 

The Lord is Sovereign over us (His Church): Jesus is our Head, not man. Paul compares the special relationship of Christ and His Church to the God giving relationship of man and wife. The relationship with Jesus and His Church belongs to Him alone. He is the Head of the Church and as such He governs it with His Laws, Principles and Directions. He is our King and is Sovereign over His Church. To become a corporation in effect divorces the us (the Church) from Christ. We also commit idolatry by putting something before Him.

 

Eph 5:23 “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”

 

Christ is our (the Church) Saviour; not the state.

 

5:24 “Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”

 

We (the Church) are subject to Christ not the state.

 

25 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”

 

Christ has purchased us (the Church) with His own blood. The State can give nothing for  us (the Church) and should give nothing to us (the Church).

 

5:26 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word”

5:27 “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.”

 

The Church should be holy and without blemish, to mingle the Church with the state/worldly system is to bring spot and wrinkle to the Church (us) because of what the state/world does and says. Thay say that homosexuality, abortion, adultery and many other things are acceptable, they pass laws making them that way. This goes against God and we don’t want to be partakers of that. Even if there was a law requiring us (the Church) to incorporate we would not be bound to do so. In doing so we would be removing the Lordship of Jesus and giving it to the state.

 

5:28 “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”

5:29 “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:”

 

The Lord nourishes and cherishes us (the Church). Throughout history the state has tried to destroy the Church. It still does through legislation trying to control all aspects of the free and corporate Church (how we operate and what we are allowed to preach).

 

5:30 “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”

 

We (the Church) are a living organism with a living head and body. Therefore we (the Church) are not a “religious organization”.

 

5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

 

We (the Church) are to be joined unto Christ. In Matthew Jesus used the word cleave. We are not to be joined to Christ and the state.

 

5:32 “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”

 

He speaks of the relationship that we (the Church) is supposed to have with Christ. One that is supposed to be holy and true. One, that’s with each other without interference.

 

Eph 1:20-22 “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.”

 

Christ is to be all things to us (the Church). He is in charge and the Head of the church not the state.

 

1:23 “Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.”

 

There are more Scriptures that would support that Jesus is the sole authority over the church. We know this and believe this. I challenge you my brothers and sisters to find them. Study them, to see if the Truth is being brought forth.

 

Conclusion:

 

• The government is not suppose to have constitutional authority over us (the Church). 

• The government is not allowed to violate the First Amendment protection that the constitution provides. In fact the government may not infringe on any of our constitutional rights at all. They have found a way around this of course. To hold out an unbiblical advantage hoping we (the Church) will take the bait and bring the us (the Church) into voluntary compliance by forming a 501( C )(3) corporation, thus placing the church under the authority of the state. Jesus spoke of the Church as a “body” with Himself as the “head” of His Church, and we as various “members of the body.” The Church is, therefore, not an “organization” (a “legal entity”) but a living, breathing “organism.”

 

Are we breaking the law of the land?

 

No.

 

Based on our constitutional right (“Congress shall make no law regarding an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” – U.S. Constitution, First Amendment) and understanding of Scripture the word “church” is not meant to refer to any physical building, but refers to the worldwide body of believers in Christ. The word “church” (ecclesia in Greek – called out ones) does not refer to any organization, no matter it’s name or legal status. We (the Church)  was created by and is the body of Christ. We belong to Him and we are subject to Him and His Laws. The source of our power is supposed to be the Holy Spirit; it’s authority to function is solely from God.

 

What about taxes?

 

• 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.

• Elsewhere, the IRS states: “Although a church, its integrated auxiliaries, or a convention of churches is not required to file Form 1023 to be exempt from federal income tax or to receive tax deductible contributions, such an organization may find it advantageous to obtain recognition of exemption (Tax Exempt Status for Your Organization, IRS Publication 557). Just what “advantage” is there for a church in obtaining 501(c)(3) recognition and thereby exchanging its sovereignty for a subordinate status in relation to the federal government? Most people would answer that such grants the church exemption from taxation. However, we have already seen that the federal government has never been able to tax the Church of Christ; the Church is not exempt from taxation, it is immune. The “advantage” is something else entirely: “By establishing its exemption, potential contributors are assured by the [Internal Revenue] Service that contributions will be deductible” (Tax Exempt Status for Your Organization, IRS Publication 557). The tragic irony of all this is that, according to the Internal Revenue Code, financial donations to an unregistered, unincorporated church are automatically tax-deductible (26 USC 170-B).

  

“Because that for His name’s sake they went forth taking nothing of the gentiles.” (3John 7)

 

 

Facts:

 

• Once the church has been transformed into a corporation it then becomes subject to control by federal and state governments. In truth an incorporated church is no longer a church but merely a non-profit organization.

• Once a church incorporates the new non-profit organization is subject to total control by the government (who we hire, what we can and cannot preach). If we conflict with public policy nor assault the hearer’s sense of mental well being, self-esteem, sexual orientation etc. (which we do and always will, holding up godly standards and preaching the truth)  we can be sued.

• The IRS prohibits such organizations from “carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation” (26 USC 501-C-3). This prohibition extends, not only to the endorsement of a political candidate, but also any other attempts to “influence legislation,” including taking a public stand against such government-protected abominations, such as abortion or homosexuality.

• Favors from Washington, DC have strings attached. In this case, the string is a rope that is being used to throttle our (the Church) powerful voice.

• God has ordained both the Church and the civil government as His “ministers.” The Church is the minister of grace, while the State is the minister of justice. Church and State are two distinct and independent spheres of authority (jurisdictions) ordained by God.

• We know and have been taught in our Educational Systems that federal law supercedes state law. State law supercedes county, city and town law, and so on and so forth. Guess what? We believe the law of God supercedes all of man’s law when it goes against His own (Acts 4:18-19). 

• No church can remain separate and distinct from the civil government when it incorporates and/or accepts 501(c)(3) status. For legal purposes an incorporated 501(c)(3) church has subordinated itself, by contract, to the civil government. For theological purposes, that Church has made a covenant with the State, a covenant which Scripture in no way supports and neither do we.

 

FYI:

 

What is a corporation?

 

• A corporation derives its existence and all of its power from the State. Corporate existence is a privilege granted by the sovereign upon compliance with specified conditions.

• Corporations are artificial persons created by the legislature

• Every corporation must obtain a charter from the State of Incorporation. This charter is simply permission to exist given to the corporation (by the State!) without which, its operations would be considered illegal. In addition to the charter are the articles of incorporation: “The objects or purposes for which a corporation is formed are expressly stated in its articles of incorporation, which delineate in general language the type of business activities in which the corporation proposes to engage” (Smith and Roberson’s Business Law)

 

What is a nonprofit organization?

 

A nonprofit organization (abbreviated “NPO”, also “non-profit” or “not-for-profit”) is a legally constituted organization whose primary objective is to support or to actively engage in activities of public or private interest without any commercial or monetary profit purposes. In the United States, nonprofit organizations are normally formed by incorporating in the state in which they expect to do business. The act of incorporating creates a legal entity enabling the organization to be treated as a corporation under law and to enter into business dealings, form contracts, and property as any other individual or for-profit corporation may do.

 

Again, Scripture teaches us The Church on the other hand was created by and is the body of Christ. We belong to Him and we are subject to Him and His Laws. The source of any Church’s power is supposed to be the Holy Spirit; it’s authority to function solely from God.

  

Why do Churches or ministries incorporate?

 

 

1. Some think it is a law, some out of ignorance, some for the wrong motives (to build an empire out of greed).

 

2. Some feel it gives them some benefit.

 

3. Some think it gives them prestige.

 

4. Asset protection.

 

5. Some think it’s the only way gifts are tax deductible.

 

6. Some do it because it is the status quo.

 

7. Because it has always done it that way.

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