So eventually I might get excommunicated in a few years

[Anonymous]

There is a reason why the Bible so often uses the metaphor of "whoring" to describe a "church" which denies Him and teaches rebellion to His Word. Those "pastors" or false shepherds who teach contrary to Him, perhaps because they care far more about their 501c(3) tax-exempt status than they do Him, already "have their reward".

I hope you're not suggesting that the majority of pastors care more for their 501c(3) status than teaching the Word Of God ? "If" you are then I feel that is most unfair of you.
The pastors that I have been privileged to know (both unknown & famous) through the years have been committed men of God who would not compromise sound doctrine for the sake of a tax exempt status. My current pastor has openly stated that he would freely dispense with the 501c(3) if it ever meant he had to compromise the Word Of God in order to keep it.
I'm quite sure there are some bad pastors out there..."BUT" there are MANY fine ones, as well. Don't paint them all with the same brush !

Blessings,
Fairlight

 

[porkchop]

We gave up church many years ago after my husband was recruited to be a deacon. After the acceptance he was quickly told that 'he needed to act and look the part' and that meant wearing a suit to church (which he'd never done before and conformity doesn't come easily to us. Then came a new church building with a big mortage, followed by promisary letters to increase thithing by all members to meet the mortgage; Then came the big church split over divorce; followed by the pastor resigning. New pastor wanted all members (I don't really understand the concept of church membership) to sign a letter that they'd submit to his authority. It got to the point where I'd become sick when I walked into the building. I'd hide out in the bathroom until service started. Luckily I had a small child so I pretended to be playing with her a lot. Finally we jsut gave up and stopped going.

Since then my tattoos that I don't cover (because I like them); that we don't believe women should not work outside the home, that we don't beleve that women should only wear dresses, that women can wear shorts and all sorts of ridiculous stuff has become BIG issues with some church members. We even had a pastor stop at our house and tell us that our friend should not visit the house when husband wasn't home because of 'appearances'.

We're tired of the drama.

 

[Anonymous]

We're tired of the drama.

I don't blame you !
How about look for a new church or a home fellowship ?

Blessings,
Fairlight

 

[Mark C]

I hope you're not suggesting that the majority of pastors care more for their 501c(3) status than teaching the Word Of God ? "If" you are then I feel that is most unfair of you.

Not at all. It's not a suggestion. I'm affirming that our Savior said clearly that no one can serve two masters, and that whether or not a State-approved "pastor" knows who his master is, and who the creator of his corporate "church" is, the IRS certainly does. But I do submit, and can cite both statutory and Scriptural support en masse, that Yahushua's response to the "prince of THIS world", to "serve YHVH only" is consistent with that principle. And any pastor who is blind to which master claims to be the creator of that corporation which writes his paycheck, owns the building, and blesses it with liability protection and special tax status should read the contract! (And those few with the courage to actually "search out the Truth for themselves" can do a web search on "Indianapolis Baptist Temple" and Pastor Greg Dixon. Caesar came with armed troops to take HIS church building when that licensed entity tried to SEPARATE themselves to the Real Creator, and dissolve the corporation.)


BTW, even some fairly "mainstream" pastors, like Chuck Baldwin, are coming to understand the nature of the 501c(3) issue, and what fear of that "other master" has accomplished. Check out his column from, coincidentally, today:

http://www.newswithviews.com/baldwin/baldwin631.htm

I probably know more good pastors and Bible teachers who have been "excommunicated" for coming to the conclusion that they should DIVORCE themselves from the Caesar-created, State-licensed, 501c(3) corporate 'church' than those who have been kicked out for coming to the Biblical Truth of polygyny. But the principles are strikingly similar, and rife with the likelihood that our Messiah warned about: many would be "offended" by Him.

 

[Anonymous]

And any pastor who is blind to which master claims to be the creator of that corporation which writes his paycheck

I am quite confident that my pastor knows who his Master is...and it's not the Government. BTW, he doesn't get a paycheck either.

Blessings,
Fairlight

 

[porkchop]

We look a lot. Sometimes husband will try one (I tell him 'you first'). So far, 15 years with no luck. The one church I really enjoy going to is 1.5 hrs away and its just too impractical. I don't really know how to look for home churches, they don't do a lot of advertising. There was one little church about 10 years ago, but the pastor decided to have an affair with his co-pastors wife and the church sorta disolved when they moved in together. Not much since then. Southern Baptist culture is hard to deal with if you don't quite fit the mold.

 

[macike]

501(c)3

I think most (not all) pastors do not think or really care about tax exemptions.

Let's be real most people would give to a local congregation regardless of a 25% tax write off. The vast majority of people in churches cannot itemize their taxes and makes the 501 exemption worthless.

The pastors I have known from even a liberal denomination (ABC USA) where I was a conservative pastor (not a good match), did not really think or care or preach to or about anything to do with tax. Most pastors care about the people they serve and work with. Most are sick of drama and stupid little things.

 

[APOSTLE]

Well I excommunicated the buildings and demon nations long ago. Jesus died for His church so I came to realize we the born again believers are the church and so any who calls the buildings and demon nations church basically say Jesus died for the buildings and demon nations. I gave up being a pastor and an evangelist because I could no longer support something that is so dead and filled with the doctrine of men and demons. I truly believe one day there will be a place for the body to fellowship together and they will be able to live openly about their Godly Polygyny and God will bless all they do.

 

[DiscussingTheTopic]

Well I excommunicated the buildings and demon nations long ago. Jesus died for His church so I came to realize we the born again believers are the church and so any who calls the buildings and demon nations church basically say Jesus died for the buildings and demon nations. I gave up being a pastor and an evangelist because I could no longer support something that is so dead and filled with the doctrine of men and demons. I truly believe one day there will be a place for the body to fellowship together and they will be able to live openly about their Godly Polygyny and God will bless all they do.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV 2010

1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
1 Timothy 4:1-3 NIV 2010

I truly believe one day there will be a place for the body to fellowship together and they will be able to live openly about their Godly Polygyny and God will bless all they do.

It's not like one day all the demon worshiping demonized demoniacs are just going to say "let's let the Christians be in charge,"

12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2 Timothy 3:12-13 NIV 2010

Biblical rules might not fully be applied until the day that day even angels are judged (1 Corinthians 6.) In order to live a godly life often people will have to break laws, it was as true in the days where those who refused to worship government leaders were executed as it is today.

2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!

1 Corinthians 6:2-3 NIV 2010

Of course if Christians were willing to get more spiritual and start judging (in the proper way) things might progress more in the correct direction and less in the incorrect direction.

14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:
1 Corinthians 2:14-15 NIV 2010