How a Tax Exempt, New Testament Church Benefits Americans: full transcript and answers

▶ 0:02 I want to thank you again and offer my appreciation for joining us on another session of clarity on crucial choices. Today we’re going to discuss how a tax-exempt New Testament church benefits America and Americans. What benefit does the New Testament church have for the people of America? We’re going to take a look first at the federal government’s definition of a church—how they define it, how they see it. First of all they say it is a building where people congregate to worship, marry, bury, serve communion, do other religious rites.

▶ 0:59 Is this group must have a religious history, and this congregation of people ordained ministers such as priests, rabbis or so forth. But most importantly, as I have accented, it is a people congregated to give aid to the community. Now this is found in your 501(c)(3) instructions that almost every church gets a tax exemption by filling out this tax exemption form 501(c)(3). The second thing they define a church as is a

▶ 1:51 House of Representatives bill—H.R. 1860, 75th Congress, third session in 1938—said the exemption from taxation of money or property devoted to charitable and other purposes, the church is based on the theory that the government is compensated for the loss of tax revenue by the benefits resulting from the promotion of the general welfare. The aid that the church gives to the community saves the government taxes, and therefore the government is compensated and can give a tax exemption.

▶ 2:45 Now that’s 501(c)(3) and this bill in the 1930s give us two of the definitions. The third one is there are restrictions, controls put upon the church by the federal government. Again quoting from the 501(c)(3) application and instruction in the IRS manual: an institution is a society or organization founded for religious, educational or social purposes. So an institution, a church seeking tax exemption, must serve a public purpose—in other words it’s got to serve all the people in the community

▶ 3:39 and not be contrary to public policy. In our generation we can’t be contrary to homosexuals, the unborn, illegal aliens, the capital punishment, right to bear arms, over-taxation, witchcraft—if the community and its public policy, we cannot contest it. All right. And it says absolutely no political lobbying or no involvement in campaign, and they use the excuse of the separation of church and state with the definition of church that they have. Now who can lobby and campaign? Well, homosexuals can, transvestites—those that dress like the opposite sex—transsexuals—those that change their sex—pedophiles—those that have sex with children—the National Education Association,

▶ 4:37 the feminists, the NAACP, the seniors, the NRA and the other side wanting gun control. They can lobby. Pro-Israel or Jews can lobby. Pro-choice can lobby. Wicca or witchcraft can lobby. But not the church. These other people can be involved in campaign, speak about their candidates, but not the church, who is 78% of the population of America, and they are silenced by the restriction and controls of the 501(c)(3). Now we’re going to take a look at government policy, public policy benefits. What are the benefits of this public policy that the government puts upon the community? Well, it gives freedom to make harmful choices.

▶ 5:39 And of course the results of these kind of public policies is destroyed lives. 50% of people in America have a sexually transmitted disease. 26,000 homosexuals are killed by AIDS every year. 450,000 people die from tobacco, and only 18% of Americans smoke. 88,000 people die from alcohol-related deaths and 4 million from alcohol-related injuries are hurt, and yet only 50% of Americans drink alcohol. So the public policy and the results are disastrous. They put abortion, birth control, above self-control. Birth control—

▶ 6:32 we just need to control ourselves. They put women’s rights over the scientific babies’ rights. Science has declared life begins at conception, but they don’t care. They put same-sex marriage above the Bible and science marriage. Even science knows that marriage is between a man and a woman because they can produce kids and they commit to a lifetime commitment to raise those kids and protect those kids. Homosexuals cannot have kids naturally; they have to take your kids. That’s science. But who cares about science or the Bible in America today? Same-sex lifestyle instead of a scientific fact they were not born that way—science has found there’s no homosexual gene. Homosexual civil rights versus science stats: AIDS kill 26,000 a year as we said before. And they put the unprovable evolution

▶ 7:34 with Bible creation censored. They don’t like any opposition. Now let’s go and look at the Bible’s definition of the church and see how the Bible defines the church. First of all the word used in the Bible for church just simply means assembling—called out to assemble together. So a church is followers of Jesus and His word that come together, that congregate together. Church has nothing to do with a physical building. It has nothing to do with a corporation. A corporation is a company or group of people authorized to act as a single unit and recognized in civil law. The church is not a corporation. It is not a physical building. Acts 7:48 says, and is quoting from Isaiah 66:1, the Most High God does not dwell

▶ 8:44 in temples, buildings made with hands. In Isaiah He explains that heaven is My throne, earth is My footstool—where are you going to put Me? I’m big. And so the Bible doesn’t back up our government’s definition of a church as a building where people congregate together. People can congregate for Christ anywhere—in the park, at a home or wherever—not some special building. 1 Corinthians 3:9 makes it plain: you, the followers of Christ, are God’s building. 1 Peter 2:5: you as living stones are built up a spiritual house to offer spiritual sacrifices. It is the people coming together that God is working with to build His spiritual house. He lives in the congregation of His people, and the people come together to offer up spiritual sacrifices—

▶ 9:54 not carnal, not fleshly offerings to God but spiritual ones. Continuing with the Bible definition of a church: the church is not a charitable or welfare organization. And Jesus made this clear when the woman with the alabaster box came—very expensive perfume—and anointed Jesus, and Judas and some others there go, this is ridiculous, this is a waste of money, this could have been sold and given to the poor and help the poor. And what was Jesus’ reply to these people? Leave her alone. Mark 14:6: leave this woman alone; she’s done a good work for Me to anoint My body for burial. You always have the poor with you, and whenever you want to you can do them good, you can help them, but Me you don’t always have with you. So in the church Jesus is the primary

▶ 11:06 and high-ranking focus of the church. The first priority of spiritual sacrifices is ministering unto the presence of Jesus—not giving medical, food or clothing to the poor. Matthew 18:20 makes it very clear: where two or three are gathered in My name—see, the gathering of the people that follow Christ and His word—I am there in the midst. The important factor, the high priority factor when a church comes together is to bring the presence of Jesus Christ. The criteria for church aid by the way is found in 1 Timothy 5:8: if anyone does not provide for his own and especially for his immediate family he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over 60 years of age, had been faithful to her husband while he was alive and known for good deeds

▶ 12:14 such as bringing up children, helping those that were in trouble and so forth. There were qualifications—not just handing out stuff. The church—continuing with the Bible’s definition of a church—we found that the church is an assembly of followers, and when they assemble together they assemble together to pray, to worship, to bless or speak good of God and one another, to thank—tell God that we appreciate Him—and to praise Jesus. So prayer, as the Bible says according to His will, is another spiritual sacrifice that we do in the church.

▶ 13:07 Mark 11:17: My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations—Chinese, Australia, Russians, whoever, homosexuals, humanists, atheists, all nations, all people—but you have made it a den of thieves. And to America, just like then in the New Testament time they made the house a house of merchandise. The house of God is not for making money and merchandising; it’s for prayer—

▶ 13:42 very limited in American churches. Hebrews 13:15: by Jesus let us offer continually the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. See, the New Testament church is a church that comes together to boast and brag and honor Jesus Christ and thank Him for His blood and His goodness. John 4:23: true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. So when the church comes together they adore Him—not only praise Him but they adore Him, they love Him. Psalm 34:1: I will bless the Lord at all times—no matter what condition I’m in I’ll speak good of the Lord, I’ll speak good of His word, I’ll speak good of the church. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. And Psalm 22:3 says He inhabits the praises of His people.

▶ 14:46 Continuing with the Bible’s definition of a church: the fourth description of God’s church—an assembly of followers of the Bible and Jesus that speaks and lives truth. John 8:32: Jesus said if you continue in My word you are My disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Chapter 17 verse 17 of John: God’s word is truth. So the followers speak the truth—not their opinions, not psychology and philosophies but the truth. 1 Timothy 3:15: these things I write to you so you may know how to conduct yourself in the house of God. He just gave us what we’re to do when we come together.

▶ 15:38 The house of God which is the church—they’re synonymous terms—the church of the living God. His presence is there when we congregate together, and the church is the pillar and support of truth. We back up truth, not opinions. We back up truth, not lies. Matthew 28:19: Jesus said go make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you—not only to teach them but emphasize that they practice them. And all nations includes the atheists, the humanists, the homosexuals, the hedonists, the religionists, and any nationality that you can think of. Luke 24:47: Jesus said repentance and remission, forgiveness of sins, should be preached in His name among all nations. That is a primary message of the church: that people need to turn from sin and that’s how you give forgiveness.

▶ 16:46 Humanists, their followers and humanist churches don’t preach Jesus’s truth to turn immoral people to morality. Instead they teach immoral behavior is acceptable and they sentence people to preventable deaths, physical harm such as sexually transmitted diseases and other harms. And we need to preach repentance for forgiveness of sin every church. There are eight sources of speaking—and I left out prayer because most prayer is us talking to our God personally. 1 Corinthians 12:8: a gift is given to one by the Spirit the word of wisdom—it’s an ability to speak the word of wisdom. You hardly ever hear that in the church world today. Hasn’t been restored yet in my opinion.

▶ 17:41 To another by the Spirit is given the word of knowledge—they actually get into the word and God opens the word up and they have knowledge of the word. To another, prophecy—and this word prophecy is edification, exhortation, comfort. It is not the office of a prophet to predict the future and it comes to pass. He’s using prophecy—speaking by the inspiration of God—to build the church. Tongues: to another tongues. And this is a big argument in America today, but tongues are Bible languages whether they are earthly or whether they’re heavenly. And Paul said if there’s no interpretation you can’t do it in the church because there’s no understanding. So he says to another’s given interpretation. Then in 14:6 he says what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation or teaching. Revelation is the uncovering of a truth revealed to you. Ephesians 5:19: speaking to yourselves in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. See, music: hymns.

▶ 18:45 Psalms is singing—singing Scripture. Hymns is a song of truth put together. And music and singing is very important. They carry a heavy weight in the New Testament church. And all this is to be done by the Spirit, not human intellect. You can’t go and get these things by human intellect. Teaching is basically what most of the church world is doing. You hardly ever hear a word of wisdom, a word of knowledge. I know what they call knowledge, but that’s not what this is. Teaching is basically what we’re doing—and they don’t even have the credentials of a teacher, they just teach. So to answer our question at the beginning: what are the benefits of a New Testament tax-exempt church service?

▶ 19:39 1 Corinthians 14:26: when you come together—see, here we are, the church comes together—each of you, see, all of us, come with something to contribute: a song, song music, maybe your instrument play, maybe you’re a singer, whatever, maybe you’re just in the congregation and you lift up your voice and sing; a teaching; a tongue, a language; a revelation. He’s given five of the eight things listed here. And the other has an interpretation—come be ready to interpret a language. And let all things be done to edification—building, encouraging the people of God. Not when you come have food for the hungry, clothing for the naked, medicine for the sick and a 12-step recovery program for those who have gone through traumatic things.

▶ 20:33 He didn’t say to bring that. 1 Corinthians 14:24: if all prophesy—speak and sing by the inspiration of the Spirit—and an unbeliever, unlearned, comes into the service, he is convinced by all of these things, he is convicted by all of these things—the songs, the prophecies, everything that’s going on. The secrets of his heart are revealed to him, and falling down on his face without being told to he will worship God and report God is truly in the midst of that church. Why? Because this unbeliever or unlearned person had an encounter with Him and God spoke to him what needed to be changed in his life. And that benefits America

▶ 21:27 and a community higher than anything can—a spiritual awakening, a spiritual encounter with the person of Jesus Christ because God’s people come to bring something to contribute. New Testament church tax exempt benefits. All right, there’s an argument whether the church should be tax exempt or not. And the church is going to be a church whether we get tax exemption or not. But why is it important that our founding fathers and up to this present time gave a tax exemption to the church? Well, first of all it’s Jesus’s church

▶ 22:21 and He can’t be restrained by tax or immoral laws. Acts 5:39: if it be of God, if anything be of God, you cannot overthrow it lest you be found fighting against God. And it’s God’s church, and if you try to regulate the church by taxation or tax benefits you’re going to be fighting against God directly Himself. And the separation of church and state was instituted by our government—the First Amendment—to keep government out of the affairs of the church. It wasn’t to keep Christians out of the affairs of government.

▶ 23:13 It teaches Bible truths. A New Testament tax-exempt church—a real New Testament—there’s a lot of not-real New Testament churches—and truths protect people from preventable deaths, physical harm, mental harm, prevent emotional harm, thus saving families and government billions of dollars in medical, legal costs, police costs, criminal and immorality of all kinds of costs every year, every year. So besides that we give people eternal life, which is to know Jesus and God, and on the side we do help the poor.