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Originally Posted by Kevin
Does scripture prohibit registering a local church at the SEC (Security Exchange Commission) or the 501(c)(3) incorporation in the United States?
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An interesting and thorny question. No doubt once you bring money into the equation the degree of difficulty of having a gathering into the name of Jesus rises.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin
It seems to me that one of the major reason of divison among the Local Churches in the Philippines was over church incorporation. Isn't this quite a minor disagreement?
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Not familiar with what you are talking about.
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Originally Posted by Kevin
There are several reasons from the negative side to disregard church incorporation:
1. It becomes a religion.
2. The government becomes the head of the church.
3. The church is registered in heaven, not on earth (Hebrews 12:23).
4. Matthew 22:21 and Mark 12:17
5. The church marries the world.
6. Article 2 Sec. 6 "The separation of Church and State.
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I don't agree with #1. The NT definition for religion is in James, there is nothing to say that incorporating makes you a religion, nor is the term negative. I also don't agree with #2. Paul appealed to Caesar, this didn't make Caesar Lord. The NT says that the authorities have been appointed by the Lord and do not cause a terror to the righteous, only to the unrighteous. As for #3, I do agree, but the church is not the meeting hall. We don't register the meeting with the IRS, we register assets like land and meeting halls which the IRS does have jurisdiction over. As for #4
21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. -- The Lord is telling us to render unto the authorities the things that are theirs, like taxes. Since you need to pay taxes, pay mortgages, light bills, telephone bills, etc. It makes perfect sense to do this in a way that is honorable and wise. As for Matthew 12:17 I do not understand how that affects your argument. I also agree that #5 is something we need to be concerned with, but I don't agree that the process of incorporating "marries the world". The Lord said that we were "in the world but not of the world". Finally, I don't understand how incorporating confuses the separation of church and state.
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Originally Posted by Kevin
Does registering a Church in the SEC negate its authenticity?
They are worst than I thought than those of the members of the LCM. They considered those registered churches worldly and therefore are told by their elders to refrain from fellowshipping with other Christians. Extreme exclusivism from these former LCers.
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Once again, not familiar with what you are talking about.