As I have blogged before, discernment in the “church” these days is lacking in so many ways. Anti-Semitic attitudes and stances, both blatant and subtle, have crept in. Occult teaching and practices have been allowed to come into church teachings. Books considered by many to be Christian books are anything but. But what about the attitude towards money? Do both the church and the “church” show poor discernment in this area as well? Indeed it does.
Sitting On The Fence
Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13 – “No one can serve two masters . . . You cannot serve Yahweh and money.”
Taking a 501c(3) exemption from the government is just another way for the church to rely on both Yahweh and the government, another way for the church to stay tied to Egypt instead of leaving it completely. Or, in other words, to trust in both money and God. It is a way of saying to Yahweh, “We don’t fully trust you to meet our financial needs.”
Getting Off The Fence
1 Chronicles 29:16 – “All the wealth we’ve provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand; everything belongs to you, Yahweh.”
Matthew 17:27, Luke 16:13 – “Go to the lake, throw out a line, and take the first fish you catch. Open its mouth, and you will find a shekel. Take it and give it to the tax collectors for me and for you.”
How interesting! Yeshua did not ask for a tax exemption. He simply depended upon Yahweh to supply the need and Yahweh did so. Scripture clearly shows that all finances necessary for building and maintaining a temple or tabernacle is supplied by Yahweh. The true church does not rely on a 501c(3) exemption to meet any part of its financial needs. The true church, like Yeshua, knows that no matter how high the property taxes, no matter how high the city, state, or county fees, Yahweh will always meet the expense. It is only a church that has minimal discernment, or perhaps none at all, that relies on any form of tax exemption to meet financial needs.
The Burden Of The Tax Exemption
Acts 4:19 – “You must judge whether it is right to listen to you rather than Yahweh.”
Acts 5:29 – ““We must obey Yahweh, not men.”
The 501c(3) tax exemption allows government and outside influences to determine what teaching is appropriate or allowed, whether or not they choose to exercise this right. This bit of legalese is from the pit of hell and actually gives Satan a “legal right” to interfere in Yahweh’s agenda. At any time, Satan’s enforcement agent, the government agency overseeing the tax exemption can over-ride the ability of a pastor or teacher to teach Yahweh’s word rightly and force them to teach the doctrines of demons or lose their exemption. A truly discerning church will not allow itself to be placed in a position that would even remotely allow Satan or an outside agency to legally interfere in such a manner. Just as Peter and John told the governing authorities of their time, the Sanhedrin, that they would not be silent, so too will the true church only listen to Yahweh and will not be silent!
Conclusions
1 Chronicles 29:11, Job 41:11 – “Everything under Heaven belongs to Yahweh.”
A truly discerning church will not continue to trust Yahweh and at the same time expect or claim a tax exemption from taxes. A church that is not discerning will straddle the fence – and shows a distinct lack of trust in Yahweh’s ability to provide for all of its financial needs. It is time for the true church to stop sitting on the fence, instead to rely solely on Yahweh for financial stability, and drop the 501c(3) tax exempt status. This bit of legalese from the pit of hell should have no place in the house of Yahweh. I pray that every church will take appropriate measures to no longer be yoked to this legal pitfall.
Final Thought
Prophecy as foretold by the Hebrew prophets continues to unfold in an escalating pattern. The stage is nearly completely set. The great and terrible Day of Yahweh, Joseph’s Trouble, hastens forth and will not delay. Time is short – Yeshua Ha’Mashiach is coming soon – get busy reaching the lost.
Rapture Party 