Reforming the State-Church: Solutions For the Church Inc. 501c3 Problem

Written by Peter Kershaw © 2000


More and more people are becoming acquainted with at least some ofrepparttar perils associated with organizing a church or ministry as a "tax-exempt religious organization." Notrepparttar 126836 least of these perils isrepparttar 126837 obvious answer torepparttar 126838 question asked by Attorney Charles Crismier, "Have we become so dependent onrepparttar 126839 government and its perks that we have been seduced from God and His power?" (Lifegate 4/2000, p. 5). Most typically, this is done by incorporating and receiving an IRS 501c3 tax-exempt recognition letter. In Virginia, incorporation for churches has never been permitted, asrepparttar 126840 state constitution expressly prohibits it. Nevertheless, most churches in Virginia are still subordinated torepparttar 126841 State, rather than Jesus Christ, because ofrepparttar 126842 manner in which they have elected to be "legally" organized and established.

Other writers have also exposed certain problems, both legally and theologically, associated with organizing a church as a corporation and/or a 501c3. Understanding that these are indeed perilous decisions for churches is important. But is it always helpful? Not unless one is able to act onrepparttar 126843 information provided. Asrepparttar 126844 old adage goes, "Knowingrepparttar 126845 problem is halfrepparttar 126846 solution." But as this author is only too keenly aware (having heard it from so many pastors and ministers), "It does no good to talk about problems, if you don't have a remedy for them." Agreed.

Is it viable and is it doable to organize a church as nothing more, and nothing less than, a church ? The answer is: Yes! Absolutely! History shows us. Most of America's churches were once called "free-churches," and they were established by common right of those Christian men who organized them, underrepparttar 126847 exclusive headship and sovereignty of Jesus Christ, autonomous fromrepparttar 126848 State. The fact is that prior torepparttar 126849 turn ofrepparttar 126850 twentieth century,repparttar 126851 vast majority of churches were not able to organize as corporations. Unlike today, where we can easily apply for "articles of incorporation" with our secretary of state's office, a hundred years ago, one had to petition their state legislature for a corporate charter.

Although most states never went as far as Virginia in amending their state constitutions to prohibitrepparttar 126852 incorporation of churches, nevertheless, all state legislatures recognized thatrepparttar 126853 incorporation of any church was a violation ofrepparttar 126854 First Amendment's prohibition of State establishment of religion. Therefore,repparttar 126855 grant of corporate charters to churches was once quite rare. That all began to change in 1898 withrepparttar 126856 "liberalization of incorporation law" in New Jersey. Other northeastern states soon thereafter also "liberalized."

It's important to recognize that incorporation for churches in America is of relatively recent origin (althoughrepparttar 126857 corporation itself is quite ancient, originating in Rome by at least 250 B.C.). It's also important to recognize that an incorporated church is a State-Church. Our forefathers recognized it. The Virginia legislature recognized it in 1802 when they amended their Constitution. President James Madison recognized it in 1811 when he vetoed a bill to incorporaterepparttar 126858 Protestant Episcopal Church. Tragically, many Christians today are gravely ignorant of not only God's Word, they know little of law or history. Asrepparttar 126859 philosopher, George Santayana put it, "He who learns nothing fromrepparttar 126860 past is condemned to repeat it."

While many who will read this know that America's settlers came to her shores to establish religious liberty, what many today fail to recognize is that religious liberty necessitates establishing churches separate and apart fromrepparttar 126861 license and sanction of civil government. More than any other element of society, it was America's colonial clergy who were responsible for leadingrepparttar 126862 cause of independency, and this because ofrepparttar 126863 king's attempted imposition of licenses to preach and publishrepparttar 126864 tenants ofrepparttar 126865 Christian faith. Yet today,repparttar 126866 State routinely licenses churches. It would be fallacious to blamerepparttar 126867 State, asserting fraud or State coercion. Rather, it isrepparttar 126868 clergy which has voluntarily sought State permission to be that which is already lawful. They unwittingly organize that which our forefathers abominated, government licensed State-Churches.

Of even more recent origin is 501c3 status for churches. Churches did not all of a sudden become tax-exempt and tax deductible in 1954 when they were at that time granted that "privilege" by Congress, and added to IRC section 501c3. The fact is that churches have always been treated as non-taxable (a vastly superior status to tax-exempt) and tax-deductible, by virtue of a centuries-old portion of English Common Law known as "the Law of Charities." The 501c3 is merely a reflection (or an admission) ofrepparttar 126869 Law of Charities. The obvious question then is: Why do churches seek permission fromrepparttar 126870 IRS for a status that evenrepparttar 126871 IRS acknowledges they already have? It's certainly not due to malicious intent onrepparttar 126872 part ofrepparttar 126873 clergy. Clearly, it is rooted in ignorance. Ignorance (particularly of law) makes them easy prey for Caesar's emissaries --the so-called "licensed professionals," who have created a multi-billion dollar government compliance industry, withrepparttar 126874 church as a lucrative clientele.

The Angel Metatron

Written by Judi Singleton


Metatron (Other variations on his name are; Metatetron, Merraton, and Metaraon.) In researchingrepparttar angel Metatron I foundrepparttar 126835 tales were very different. I found at least two separate versions exist. The first version states he came into being when God createdrepparttar 126836 world.The second claims that he was first a human named Enoch and eventually was transformed into a fiery angel. Metatron was considered byrepparttar 126837 Kabbalists to be atrepparttar 126838 crown ofrepparttar 126839 Kabbalah, or Tree of Existence asrepparttar 126840 Angel ofrepparttar 126841 Lord. In this role he was siad to have givenrepparttar 126842 Kabbalah to humankind. He was considered to be closest torepparttar 126843 throne of God. Metatron is also known asrepparttar 126844 first and last ofrepparttar 126845 Archangels and is variously called that Chancellor of Heaven,repparttar 126846 Angel ofrepparttar 126847 Covenant andrepparttar 126848 King of Angels. He was consideredrepparttar 126849 most powerful of angels. Inrepparttar 126850 second version ofrepparttar 126851 story he was Enoch who had been taken up by God and given a coronet, 72 wings and innumberable eyes. His flesh was transformed into flame, his sinews into fire, his bones into embers. He was surrounded by storm, whirlwinds, thunder and lightning. His size is extraordinary, as wide and long asrepparttar 126852 Earth itself. Metatron has also been identified asrepparttar 126853 Liberating Angel andrepparttar 126854 one who wrestled with Jacob;repparttar 126855 one who stayed Abraham's hand from sacrificing his son Isaac; andrepparttar 126856 one who ledrepparttar 126857 Hebrews throughrepparttar 126858 forty years inrepparttar 126859 wilderness. He has also been credited withrepparttar 126860 authorship of Psalms 37:25.

Enoch had been a scribe, and as Metatron he continued his functions, becomingrepparttar 126861 heavenly scribe who resides inrepparttar 126862 7th Heaven and transcibes all heavenly and earthly events. He may be shown with a pen in his hand, recordingrepparttar 126863 deeds of our life in a book, rather as many people describerepparttar 126864 Akashic Records.

He was to be seated atrepparttar 126865 entrance ofrepparttar 126866 seventh (highest) heaven upon a magnificent throne and all who approachedrepparttar 126867 throne of God should first approach him, for he was henceforthrepparttar 126868 prince of wisdom andrepparttar 126869 prince of understanding. The Lord turned him into a burning, living flame, his sinews likerepparttar 126870 hottest of fire, his eyes like torches, and his fleshrepparttar 126871 very essence of heat.

Sitting next to God, Enoch was instructed in wisdom, and using his skills as a scribe, prepared three hundred and sixty-six books. When he learned everything, a most significant thing happened. God revealed to him great secrets -- some of which are even kept secret fromrepparttar 126872 angels! These includedrepparttar 126873 secrets of Creation,repparttar 126874 duration of timerepparttar 126875 world will survive, and what will happen after its demise. Atrepparttar 126876 end of these discussions, Enoch returned to earth for a limited time, to instruct everyone, including his sons, in all he learned. After thirty days,repparttar 126877 angels returned him to Heaven. Metatron's primary area of control is chanelling. This may not seem obvious, but what is his primary role? Channelingrepparttar 126878 orders of God to those who cannot face God's presence. Thus, Metatron is good to call on for advice on and can help unblock energy that is stuck. Also, when one is having difficulty believing that they can reach and feelrepparttar 126879 energy of God, Metatron is an excellent angel to call upon for assistance in bringingrepparttar 126880 energy of God into your life. Metatron helps us communicate wirh God and brings God's presence to us and to open up our hearts in order to better recieve this guidence.

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