Bein' a Berean
…outside the box but inside God's Word...
And He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's." Matthew 22:20-21
Over the past fifty or so years, there has been a trend to incorporate our congregations to obtain charitable status and to issue tax receipts for contributions and donations. Have we considered the ramifications of doing so? What exactly have we done?
"I will edify the people I've assembled to govern; and the gates of the realm of the evil spirits will not be strong enough to keep them confined." Matthew 16:18 my version
First, let’s recognize that those people Jesus called to assemble are his body of believers. He is the head, the Lord, and we are bondservants and disciples following his leadership. Was it his leadership that led churches to incorporate?
CORPORATION. An artificial person or legal entity created by or under the authority of the laws of a state or nation,…acting as a unit or single individual in matters relating to the common purpose of the association within the scope of the powers and authorities conferred upon such bodies by law.1
A corporation is a person created and given certain rights by its creator, the government. This corporate person is subject to the dictates of that creator. A church which has charitable status and gives tax receipts is a corporation and must obey the State which incorporated it.
Incorporating a congregation involves all the assets as part of a distinct legal entity “under the authority of the laws of the state or nation.” Those registered as board members can be held responsible for its debt. Any power or authority that this new corporate person has is limited to whatever it is granted by the legislature.
PRIVATE. Affecting or belonging to private individuals, as distinct from the public generally.2
When we register to become a corporation, we place private assets on the registry, where they become public holdings. The government, the protector of the public, has the obligation and authority to oversee those assets and the operation of the corporation.
Herein lies a conflict with scripture, “as Christ also is the head of the church.”3 In the process of incorporating, we have put Jesus’ congregation under the authority of government. He finds himself outside the door knocking,4 hoping to be let in.5
Paul presents a principle worthy of consideration in this matter:
Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey? (Romans 6:16)
Where before, as individuals, we had freedom of speech, now, as a corporate person/body, its speech and rights are limited by legislative acts such as the following:
"A charity may not take part in an illegal activity or a partisan political activity. A partisan political activity is one that involves direct or indirect support of, or opposition to, any political party or candidate for public office."6
If a church were to vocally and publicly support one particular political party over another, that church would be de-registration and all its assets confiscated—since, by registering, we gave it all to the government when we incorporated. Could it be that the offer of a tax receipt was designed to trick us into giving control over a sizeable portion of the population's vote in matters of government? I believe it was for exactly this reason. If an open Satanist were to run for office, no pastor would be legally permitted to advise his congregation in their vote. As a people group, we held too much sway, and those who control our government wanted to minimize our influence. If that is the case, they have succeeded.
As individuals assembling for religious reasons, we have the inalienable rights given to us by our Creator—God. As members of a corporation, we have only those rights granted to us by the corporation’s creator—the government. The University of Hawaii’s study determined that since 1900, secular governments have been responsible for the murder of 262 million people.
How, then, are we permitted to respond to issues such as sexual orientation or same-sex marriage? Remember, as a corporation, we were created “under the authority of the laws of a state or nation.” We gave up a position of influence over the government, being its creator, for one under them, for the benefit of a stupid tax receipt. We get a tax receipt from Caesar because we belong to Caesar.
If getting that receipt motivates our giving, then we have our reward—from Caesar.7
Jesus’ last letter to the churches in Revelation 3 was directed to those who assembled in Laodicea. Interestingly, this city name means “people judge/rule.” Jesus stood knocking at the door of this church, comprised of lukewarm believers, in the hope of being invited back into leadership.
Have we put Jesus out by incorporating? Should we not un-incorporate the Lord's assemblies?
1. Black’s Law Dictionary, 2nd Edition, Pg. 273
2. Ibid.
3. Ephesians 5:23 NASB
4. Revelation 3:20
5. Revelation 3:20 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
6. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/charities-giving/charities/policies-guidance/policy-statement-022-political-activities.html
7. Matthew 6:1-6
