The Dilemma?

 "How can one who pursues the corruptible things of the world and thinks that from these things he can comprehend the truth of divine nature not become a fool as he makes use of the artifices of sophistry?" Six Days of Creation 1.3.9. - Ambrose

They ·traded [exchanged] the truth of God for ·a lie and worshiped and served ·the creation [or the creature; or created things] instead of the Creator, who ·should be praised [or is blessed] forever. Amen.  . - Rom. 1:25

I'll begin this blog with a dilemma that John, a professor of theology and culture I'm acquainted with shared yesterday. He helps to train ministers and prepare them for ministry; not in the USA alone, but especially in Europe and Africa.

His story of the dilemma facing believers in Rwanda should help open your eyes on the deceit and dangers of the state and going to them for their nonprofit tax exemptions and privileges which include licensing, as I've been warning the past couple of blog posts as well as over the years.

Last week I mentioned how a 501c3 nonprofit tax exempt corporation is by law an artificial, fictitious person, a legal entity. Also that a 501c3 derives it's existence and all of it's powers, and privileges from it's sovereign, the state, who grants it's existence upon compliance with specified conditions. 

We know that man was created in the image of God and was granted certain "unalienable rights" that are protected by the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights. Our Founding Fathers totally understood that the "Church" is under the sovereign and sole jurisdiction of the Lord Jesus Christ and that civil authorities should not dare attempt to encroach upon that authority. It was so important to clarify and authenticate their respect for the "Church," the very first sentence of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution reads:

"Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

"...or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black stated, "The establishment clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither the State nor the Federal Government can set up a church." - Emerson vs. Board of Education, 1947. (Church In Chains, pgs 35-36).

Remember that the "church" of the Lord Jesus Christ is tax immune. Why would anyone of a sound mind choose to go to the government and submit to them and their policies and regulations to form a tax exempted corporation? Where do we see Paul using this approach in the book of Acts? 

It's also good that I remind you what an "accredited" minister is. In order to be an "accredited" or "licensed" minister, one obviously needs to attend an "accredited" religious institution of instruction. Accreditation provides further assurance that certain programs adequately prepare students for "licensure" requirements. Such an institution has the government's stamp of approval. "Accredited" or "licensed" ministers are responsible for conducting the worship ceremonies in Christian congregations. Such individuals are typically recognized by the state as being qualified to carry out marriages, baptisms, funerals, and other rituals that may have legal implications as well as religious significance. I'm sure you've heard ministers say at a wedding, "by the power granted to me by God and the state of..." Without such state licensing a minister has no authority to grant a marriage union that the state will accept. Therefore a "licensed" minister is a state emissary. Little wonder many ministers today are covid vaccine emissaries spouting the state's "politically correct" mantra. Remember, you can't serve two masters (Mt. 6:24) Jesus said, "If you are not with Me you are against Me." (Mt. 12:30) Who are you serving? Christ or the state? You cannot serve both! (Dt. 11:16) 

With this backdrop, it should help you with the current dilemma in Rwanda. [NOTE, in the following all italicized comments in the brackets are mine.]

This is just unbearable.

Many of you know, I started a school in Rwanda which, due to government mandates on churches and theological schools, was forced to close. To even petition the government to open legally, a school must have large amounts of land, a full raft of Ph.Ds., complete buildings, all staff, computer rooms, library, and more. Obviously, the government knows this is nearly impossible, which makes this an empty gesture.

For pastors, they must have “accredited” BA degrees. If they do not, they must leave the pastorate. But most can’t afford such education.

When we tried to negotiate with the government to be an extension school, we were told the only way our degrees could be recognized was that we had to build or buy a campus in Rwanda, align all teaching with government curriculum, in essence, have everything an actual school would have, then I must return to America, students must gather at the campus, and I must teach the classes we already taught for 4 years at the new campus, via distance learning. Does no one in Rwanda understand that the purpose of online education is to avoid a campus?

Now that the 4-year “grace period” for pastors to get an accredited degree is closing, the government has stepped in, removed about 3000 pastors and replaced them with school teachers, etc., with no theological training at all. What improvement is that? And it only goes to show the real motive. [Ah! What could the god of this world, Satan's, motives be? He is a liar and a deceiver. (Jn. 8:44; Rev. 12:9) A master of division and chaos. (Jam. 3:14-15;) A kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation (Mt. 12:25)].

Here’s the note I received from one former student, and I have verified this.

“The problem is that, Rwanda Government Board in charge of religions has suspended all the pastors in our Church (more than 3000 pastors) and has hired others who have never done theology except for a secular diploma, thus the Executive Committee, the Board of directors, [Do these sound biblical or worldly to you? Hmm] the provincial pastors, the parishioners are in the street today, those who are 60 are retired [Where does "retiring from the ministry" come from? The Bible or the world? Certainly not the Bible!], the others are volunteer pastors in the churches. This is how the signs of Jesus' return are visible.”

Few are more aware of the abuses happening in third world churches than this writer. However, what governments like this fail to see is that the Body of Christ is not under the jurisdictional authority of the state. [No. What the Body of Christ fails to see is that it is not to submit itself to the state's jurisdictional authority by seeking to be under the state's jurisdictional authority through a section 501c3 tax exempt status and all the privileges granted to them for doing so. If the Body of Christ doesn't seek the state's privileges, then the state would have no authority over them.]

Church buildings, etc., must follow building codes, etc. and the state has an obvious role there. But to dictate church governance, training, to decide what is a “cult,” is out of line.

NT writers faced the same, exact, and I mean exact, problems. But they didn’t ask Caesar to step in. [Exactly! They didn't go to Caesar to be their sovereign. They knew that Jesus, our Sovereign's kingdom is not of this world with it's methods, practices and contracts] They wrote better theology, trained men properly (without government accreditation!), [Bingo! Yet, today in the USA, every minister is "accredited" to be an agent of the state, through an "accredited" nonprofit religious institution that was granted it's existence by it's sovereign, the state] warned people of wolves out for money, and more. Everything was handled according to the authority Christ established in His churches.

The church of Rwanda is now under the control of a sovereign state [So are most in the USA, because they, in their ignorance, have submitted the affairs of Christ to another head or sovereign by becoming a 501c3 nonprofit corporation]. So, the government will be the watchdog for corruption in the churches? Who is watching the watchdog? [Exactly! Why did you reject Christ as your Sovereign and Chief Shepard for a worldly government ruled by worldly methods as your sovereign and watchdog?]  No, we have never heard of corruption in African governments, have we?

Pardon the long diatribe. I can write a lot more.

Be blessed.

Oh the heartache when one puts themselves under the jurisdictional authority of the state, especially when they weren't under it to begin with, but sought them out to receive their privileges to make money! 

In comparison, in China, there are five government-sanctioned [approved, registered] religions – Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism, and Catholicism – and a government-affiliated association monitors and supervises the activities of each of these faiths. Only state-sanctioned [approved, registered] churches in China are allowed to distribute Bibles.

Protestant churches are required to register and operate under the government's China Christian Council (CCC), the umbrella organization that monitors Protestant churches in China together with the Three-Self Patriotic Movement.

Many Protestant Christians [the underground "church", which ironically the state-sanctioned "churches" in the USA pray for and give money to], however, refuse to work with the CCC/TSPM, arguing that God is the head of the church and not the government. Surely the state-sanctioned, approved, nonprofit "churches" need to heed Paul's words: "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (Eph. 5:14-17) https://www.christianpost.com/news/china-s-gov-t-approved-church-reaches-out-to-house-churches.html

Looking back to the 16th and 17th century in England we see the battle between the Protestants and Puratins verses the Church of England, a.k.a, the Anglican Communnion or Church. Of the Church of England it was noted that it "has none of the marks of a true church" and that "it was a state church from that beginning." (Baptist Succession, p. 364) Also, that "the Church of England, indeed, is manifestly a secular kingdom. For it is established by human laws, and acknowledges a political head." (Defense of the Baptists, p. 174) It is this very state church and it's political head that brought the Pilgrims to Plynoth Rock to escape the bondage of that worldly system to worship God in spirit and in truth. 

Any intimate association with people of the world will eventually destroy the separateness and holiness of God's people. Notice again what it means to be state approved - "to register and operate under the government". Yes, that is what it means to be a nonprofit organization. The state owns you, not Christ! You are in bondage and servitude to the worldly state instead of Jesus Christ. Let that sink in for a moment. 

I'm sure you are familiar with Jacob and Esau. In Genesis 25 verses 29 and following is the story of Esau despising his birthright for temporary benefit. In similar fashion, those who have succumbed to the government for the tax exempt benefits are no different than Esau. They have given up their eternal inheritance for temporary benefits. What did God say of Esau? That He hated him (Rom. 9:13). Hebrews 12:15-17 gives more details on Esau's condition. Calls him a fornicator, which often in Scripture refers to spiritual fornication against God. It also calls Esau a profane person. In other words, unhallowed, or ungodly. Not hard to see how "Christians" who have prostituted themselves to the government for temporary earthly gains, can be likened unto Esau. As Peter said, they are blind, being short-sighted (2 P. 1:9). Again in Hebrews 12 they were told to be diligent that they would not fail to receive God's grace like Esau did. If you have rejected your eternal birthright in Christ for the covering of the government to receive temporary earthly privileges, do you honestly think God loves you when He hated Esau who despised his birthright, whom Scripture calls a spiritual fornicator and ungodly person? Are you likewise short-sighted like others who have given themselves over to the state for nonprofit corporation privileges and benefits? As the Lord sent out His messengers to warn His people who had gone astray to repent and return to Him (2 Chr. 36:15-16), Even so He chastises you and calls you to repentance because He loves you (Heb. 12:6; Rev. 3:19). Yet if you refuse. He will vomit you out of His mouth! (Rev. 3:16)

With all these things in mind let's turn to Scripture to learn from it's examples. (1 Cor. 10:11; 2 Tim. 3:16-17)

In Ezra 4:1-6, the enemies of Judah claimed to worship and sacrifice to the Lord as they did. However they retained their own gods as well and did not accept the written Word of God as the fundamental authority for His people. This is syncretism - a union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties, as in politics or religion. A congregation that goes to a state sovereign to grant them a right to exist, they hand over their identity in Christ, their Creator, to identify with their new creator and sovereign, the state. 

Scripture warns that Satan will seek to distort God's message and bring spiritual ruin to God's holy people through offers of cooperation from false believers who are not loyal to God's revealed Word.

In 2 Kings chapter 17 The Israelites served the gods of other societies around them, thinking that they would provide a better life, such as greater prosperity, fertility, health, pleasure, well-being, contentment, and security. Therefore they adopted the customs and lifestyles of the world. 

For this reason Paul calls greed idolatry (Col. 3:5). Jesus Himself states that the pursuit of prosperity and wealth as a major goal in life is incompatible with serving Him. (Mt. 6:24; Eph. 5:5)

Israel too eagerly accepted the lifestyles and standards of those who were not God's people. Although separation from the nations was one of God's fundamental requirements, they adopted worldly customs from the surrounding nations. Conforming to the world's way of living and doing business is one of the greatest dangers that God's people always face. 

In Luke 16:1-15, the point of Jesus' illustration is that the worldly are earthly-minded enough to promote their own interest and welfare. Note that all the characters in this parable are unjust, unscrupulous, and corrupt.

As the Pharisees in their self-righteousness, regarded riches as a blessing from God for their faithful observance of the law, so do those of Caesar's nonprofit "churches" view their prosperity, their buildings, programs, multitudes, etc as a blessing from God for their faithfulness to Him, ignorantly forgetting the god of this world, whom they serve, has provided this worldly prosperity and security for them. (Lk. 4:5-8) 

 5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

 8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Are you only serving God, or your sovereign state? By whose authority are you governed? You can only serve one as Joshua charged the Israelites before his death:

 14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. - Jos. 24:14-15

Remember, you cannot serve God and mammon. (Mt. 6:24)  Are you like the toes in Nebuchadnezzar's dream that  were "iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay?" (Dan. 2:43) That image alone should help you see the futility of being mixed, or mingled with the world.

 

Amos 3:3 enlightens us that two cannot walk together except they are in agreement. In other words, two cannot have continual union, communion, fellowship, or partnership unless they are in agreement. Thus, the agreement with Caesar, the government, through their nonprofit tax exempt status. Also remember that God's assembly is already tax immune. There's no reason to submit to the state except that it be for worldly gains!

Jesus rejected this temptation because He knew His kingdom is not of this world (Jn. 18:36-37). He refused to seek a kingdom for Himself by the worldly methods of compromise with the world and it's earthly power and prestige, or pandering according to it's political maneuvering, designs, methods or blueprints, and worldly popularity, honor and glory. We are not to be ignorant of the devil's schemes. (2 Cor. 2:11)

Speaking of ignorance, doesn't your "church" give you paperwork at the beginning of the year for tax purposes to show your sovereign, the state, how faithful you were in paying taxes to a local state entity ("church")? Whatever happened to, "But when thou doest alms (charity), let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms (charity) may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly." (Mt. 6:3-4) Your "extra" on your tax return for charitable deeds from your sovereign, the state, will be your only reward (Mt. 6:1-2)

I also like what former IRS commissioner Roscoe Edgar said:

"The IRS for many years has had the right to examine church records, because churches have been collecting taxes for many years for the government; the churches therefore hold in trust that which belongs to the government. We have a right to examine church records to see if the churches are handling funds properly."

Well, how about that! I am quite sure the former commissioner knows what he's talking about. So, if your sovereign is the state, what Roscoe Edgar said makes perfect sense. You are no longer governed by Christ as Head, but rather by the state as your head. The Rwanda dilemma should be making more sense by now. That also reminds me of something else. Why is it that so many "church" buildings are used for government elections? Could it be that they have a license from the government to conduct business? Hmm.

Either Christ is covering you as your Head, or the state is. Again, the Body of Christ doesn't have two heads! Yet alas, if you sought out the state to grant you existence in compliance with specified conditions according to the section 501c3 tax codes to obtain it's privileges, then you have set up another sovereign over you than Christ. Don't be deceived! It's not God's will. You have rebelled against Him! "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly..." (Ps. 1:1)

1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

 2 That walk to go down into Egypt [a type of the world], and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! - Is. 30:1-2

 4 They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off. - Hos. 8:4

Idolatry may seem like a sin that modern people need not worry about. But idolatry means more than bowing down to idols; it is trusting and relying on anything other than God. It is counting on your own power or someone else's to make your way. You are not depending on your Creator God but rather on something that was created, temporal and changeable. If we say we worship and serve God but put our trust in bank accounts, political leaders, the state, homes, businesses, or organizations, then we serve idols. Do you trust God more than you trust what human hands have made? (LASB)

Last week we saw that friendship, or partnership with the world is hostility towards God (Jam. 4:4). Carnal thoughts and purposes lead to death. Why? Because it is hostile towards God. In fact, such a one can not please God. Whereas spiritual thoughts and purposes lead to life and peace. (Rom. 8:5-8) Enoch walked with God (Gen. 5:24) and had a testimony that he pleased God (Heb, 11:5). Can two walk together except they be agreed? Who are you walking with? Either you wholly follow God (Jos. 14:8, 9, 14) or you don't. You can only serve one!

Have you built your foundation on the apostles and prophets or on the methods, and precepts of man? Or have you mixed them together as a 501c3? Are you like the Israelites who had entered into a close relationship with unbelievers, adopting many of their ways; and as a result they became as worthless as a half-baked bread? (Hos. 7:8) We must not enter into a partnership with the world, for we will adopt their ways and attitudes and identity, thereby turning to sin and away from God. 

Peter (in 2 P. 2:1-3) told us to beware of false teachers who would craftily smuggle among them eternally destructive (vs. 1-3; 3:7, 16) teachings that deviate from the truth of God's Word, causing the renouncing and rejecting of their Sovereign Lord (their Head) Who bought them with His own blood (Ac. 20:28), bringing upon themselves swift judgment and unfortunately many would follow after their destructive ways. Therefore the world mocks and scoffs Christ because of these Christians who do not follow the Sovereign Lord they claim.

In essence, these people will profess to be Christians but deny Christ’s Sovereignty and Lordship over their lives, refusing to live as obedient servants to Christ and His Word, choosing rather to follow the lusts of the world and it's god, the devil, by joining and selling themselves to another sovereign head, the state, for financial gain in the form of a nonprofit corporation. Don't be fooled. Denying the Sovereignty and Lordship of Christ while claiming to be His "church", doesn't make it true. Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. (Jn. 14:6) If you have denied Him as Head, you have also denied the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE.

Peter said that it is by means of covetousness (which is idolatry -Col. 3:5) that they will make gain of you. Seeking out worldly benefits and privileges through the state's tax exempt status and conforming itself according to it's worldly organization and functions would be considered covetousness. 

Just because something is popular or commonly promoted and accepted in the Christian arena doesn't mean that it's according to truth as revealed in God's Word.

Before you drop another penny into the "offering plate", evaluate it carefully. As shown earlier, you are only giving to Caesar what belongs to Caesar - taxes. Where do you see this nonprofit tax exempt corporation practiced or even hinted at in the Scriptures? Remember, God never changes! (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8; Jam. 1:17) If it's not in the Bible, it's not of God, but rather a creation of man! Be a noble Berean (Ac. 17:11). Search the Scriptures diligently that you may show yourself worthy of God, correctly and accurately allocating and apportioning and dividing the Word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15), and see if you can find anything about His congregation functioning as a tax exempt corporation. You need to be honest with yourself before God, as you lone will have to answer to Him. Where is the Scriptural backing behind your serving a sovereign state head for earthly benefits and privileges? The apostles didn't do this to promote the gospel? Therefore how can you be abiding in the apostle's teachings if you have rejected them to practice the world's ways of doing business?  While you're searching the Scriptures on this, it wouldn't hurt to search giving as taught and practiced by the apostles in the NT. More than likely you have been deceived by your teachers who are making gain of you. Also the tithe was given to support the Levitical priesthood (Num. 18:21, etc). None of the tithe went to build or maintain the tabernacle or temple. Free will giving did this (Ex. 36:1-6; 2 Chr. 24:1-11, etc). Therefore, if your congregation practices tithing and it's goes to anyone or anything (like paying property bills, property upkeep, etc), other than those in the Lord's service, it is unscriptural; a corrupt teaching of man and not in obedience to the Word of God! Be diligent and search the Scriptures! Come out of the pseudo-Christian system! I should probably write some blogs on this soon.

I've tried to reveal in a different light how a congregation's partnership with the state through a tax exempt nonprofit is like iron mixed with clay; like oil and water; like light and darkness; like righteousness with unrighteousness; like bitter and sweet; or like good and evil. God's kingdom and Satan's kingdom do not mix. Either you are in one or the other. Either Jesus is your Sovereign, or Satan, the god of this world is your sovereign. You can not have more than one head as Alan Smith's piece below shows.

On a hotel-provided shower cap in a box: “Fits one head.”

Some of those warning labels conjure up some humorous images. Like the last one -- can you imagine trying to fit a shower cap onto two heads at once? Ridiculous, huh?

Almost as ridiculous as taking the body of Christ and suggesting it has more than one head. There is one body (Eph. 4:4), and it has only one head. Fortunately, that head is no earthly person or group of people. It is none other than the Son of God himself.

Talk about hitting the nail on the head! Either your Head is Christ, or you've rejected Him and played the harlot, and have made a person, or group of people, the state, your head. Remember Rwanda? Sound like you? If so, what are you going to do? Think Rwanda couldn't happen here? Think again! Babylon in the OT didn't see their destruction (Dan. 5), neither will the Great Whore, Mystery Babylon (Rev. 17 & 18) see theirs.

Do you consider it a lite thing to make an alliance with the state to receive their nonprofit privileges? The same state that does wickedly in the shedding of innocent blood through abortion. The same state that does wickedly in condoning and promoting and approving same sex marriages and furthering the LGBTQ+ lifestyle. John the Baptist reproved king Herod for his incest and was put in prison. (Mt. 14) John exposed sin in the government like we are supposed to do (Eph. 5:11). John didn't hop in bed with Herod through some wicked alliance, but continued to separate himself unto God and remain pure. 

God through His prophet Jehu castigated Jehoshaphat because of his imprudent and incongruous league with wicked Israel and their king Ahab as an unholy alliance that would be conducive neither to the honor and comfort of his house nor to the best interests of his kingdom. Therefore God's wrath was upon him. (2 Chr. 19-20) God does not change (Mal. 3:6; Jam. 1:17). Do you honestly think that the Lord is pleased with your unholy alliance with the wicked state for financial privileges? What do you think nonprofit tax exemption benefits are about?

Remember, God is putting you to the test to see whether you love Him with all of your heart, or whether you be reprobate (Dt. 13; Jer. 6:30; Rom. 1:28; 2 Tim. 3:8; Tit. 1:16). Have you left your first love, though you remain zealous for truth? If so, repent, and do the first works; or else He will come quickly, and will extinguish your light. (Rev. 2:1-7)

As the saying goes: "Most people don't really want the truth. They just want constant reassurance that what they believe is truth." It is high time to come out so that you do not partake of the wrath of God that is to come because of their sins! (Gen. 19:12-17; Num. 16:26-27; 2 Chr. 19:2; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; Rev. 18:4-5)