Church Politics

I’ve got something heavy on my mind today. And I don’t really know how to express, so bear with me. Actually, it started when I woke up this morning. I was doing the usual as I was getting dressed---half watching, but fully listening to DayStar TV. Joyce Meyer had a guest on who was talking about love. And what the guest said was…..you can’t say you love God and not love the church. Yes, yes……I know this. I think. At least I thought I did.

He then went on to say that if you break down what love means, according to Corinthians, and apply every component to your feelings for the church then you’ll know if you really “love the church”. I tried this in an entry back in February, entitled A True Love, but I used people, not the church. So I gave the church a try this morning. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I was shocked, but I couldn’t get through a great part of the list. In fact, my feelings for the church actually go against love. I hate to feel like this…..but let me explain why I feel/felt this way.

First, I’m easily angered by the church. Cause they can do some stupid stuff. From my experience, it seems like it’s all based on money. Not to mention, the folk who sit in leadership positions that can’t even be cordial to us regular folk without thinking their make-up will smear or their image will be tainted. I can go forever about what angers me with the church.

Then, I haven’t been patient. My feelings are that the church needs to get it right, right now!!! I feel like there’s no excuse. NONE. Time is winding up. Again, it’s hard for me to be patient with an entity who can beg for money, get it, ask for more, and not completely serve the people.

Then, yes yes…..I can be rude. I have been at times. I remember going to a church and the pastor pointed me out and said that God said I was to join his church or I would die. YES, HE HAD THE NERVE TO SAY THIS. And just as fast as he said it I responded faster, in front of the congregation, that I didn’t agree, nor did I accept it. And yes, I said it with an attitude. The truth of the matter, I probably would have joined the church if I hadn’t witnessed him prophesying over folk all to do with money and saying to them that they should give a certain dollar amount first before their prophecy would come to pass. Wait a minute, no I take that back--lol. I wouldn’t have joined the church cause I had proof that dude was sleeping with a few of the women in the church. So yes, when it comes down to foolishness, the rudeness can come out of me.

Then, I really have to admit this……I have kept record of wrong. I have a mental file cabinet of things that the church does that is contrary to the Word of God. And it keeps piling up. Maybe I think one day I can unload it all on God when we meet face-to-face. As if He doesn’t already know. Lol.

Then, I don’t trust the church. As soon as I get comfortable in a church thinking that they’re coming with pure Godly motives, I get hit with the bullcrap. Anything from trying to bamboozle me out of money to making me feel like I can never be closer to God like the church leaders. So I’ve become very guarded over the years.

Then, I don’t persevere. Any church bullcrap that I spot, I flee. Ain’t got time to be dealing with folk who are trying to hinder my worship with the Lord. Yes, I’ve been known to flee a church. Especially when I spot shadiness in the finance department.

Then, I don’t protect the church. I was reading an article yesterday about a pastor in Baltimore who admitted that he coerced a few of his handicapped members into making him the beneficiary of their insurance policies and then hired a hit man to kill them off. Of course the comments about the article were rampant. Most saying stuff like that’s why they don’t go to church and don’t trust pastors. And the more I read the more I concurred with the comments. I could’ve very well submitted a comment on the contrary, but I didn’t.

(Deep Breath)

So as I was listening to the guest on Joyce Meyer’s this morning, the Lord started convicting me. My heart was heavy and I felt bad. Cause my feelings toward the church have been very brutal. So I repented. But even as I’m writing, I think I’m still harboring some ill feelings. (Deep breath). Ok, so let me say this again, publicly:

I repent for disliking the church. And I say this wholeheartedly.

Okay, I don’t like the thought of me “disliking” the church. So I’ll say…….going against the church—if that sounds any better-lol. But to be honest, the Lord knows my heart, I luuuv the Body of Christ. But I get so disappointed when the church gets caught up in foolishness. It hurts my heart. Really it does. I think I can deal with anything from gays to divorce in the church, not that’s its right. But when it comes to mishandling honest people’s money…….my heart is not just pierced, but stabbed. And then the hurt turns into frustration and that’s when my patience runs out, and I can’t trust, and……... If there’s one issue that I could go Al Sharpton on…..it would be money and the church.

So today I got a phone call from a family friend whose husband is a new pastor in the area. And she was telling me that they were in the midst of filing their tax exempt status (501(c)3) as well as setting up several outreach ministries/programs in which they will be seeking funding for in the future. So of course I offered my support in helping to set up their programs since they have been such a blessing to me and my family over the years. In addition to that, they are truly committed to the things of God. Truly.

But then my antennas went up when she mentioned the 501(c)3 again. The thought of a church being formed as a corporation rubs me the WRONG way. So I listened and offered some off-the-top-of-my-head advice. Not really wanting to get into the nitty gritty of the issue because I couldn’t speak freely---at work. But I did ask her why she wanted to go the 501(c)3 route and she responded that most churches are established this way, especially the mega churches. I listened. Even before I knew all the ins and outs of managing a nonprofit (I have a master’s in nonprofit management and have worked for three major nonprofits), I know that when a church is operated under the auspices of a business, the Lord is being put on the backburner. Most church leaders don’t even realize this. It’s a deceitful lie that doesn’t appear wrong until a church is in a legal dispute. Then you hear some foolishness like…….. “business-is-business”.

When I got off the phone, it hit me. A lot of churches operate, as it seems, on the money agenda because they simply don’t know any better. Before I started writing this entry I made up in my mind that instead of going against the church, I would be obedient to the Lord in helping the church in every way I can. Especially when its issues that I know a little something about.

So as I’m trying to turn over a new leaf, let me make something clear as far as the church being established as a “nonprofit” entity. So if you’re in a church leadership position…..take notes.

According to the First Amendment……Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. And according to the law, a church that is established as a “church” is automatically exempt from taxation.

The 501(c)3 legal status was introduced in the 1950s by then Senator Lyndon B. Johnson. According to many, I don’t know cause I wasn’t born back then therefore have never heard dude speak on the issue, but its said that LBJ developed this IRS code because the church was having too much power in public policy. By establishing this, many say, LBJ was trying to silence the church. This certainly goes against the First Amendment as it concerns the church.

The church needs to understand that when they form as a corporation, they have given up their submission to God’s authority and become subject to that of the state. When filing for 501(c)3 status, a church is swearing to be governed by the state. Therefore, the state becomes the head and sovereign authority. No longer God. As a result, when certain issues arise like abortion and gays marrying (yeah, it’s headed to your state—lol), if your church is a corporation you are legally limited on what you can say even if the Lord has commanded you to speak. If you notice, not that many pastors are speaking out about gay marriage or any other social issue, publicly. And that’s for one or two reasons---lol.

But then there’s the issue of……..if a church doesn’t file as a nonprofit corporation then they will have to pay taxes. This is the biggest misconception that is out there. I mean, why does the church need to seek permission from a tax they didn’t owe to begin with????? The law automatically exempts churches without a 501(c)3 status. But an attorney will advise otherwise, for obvious reasons.

What I think, and this is just my opinion, but what I think churches do is try to prove to their members that they are “legit” by establishing as a 501(c)3. Unfortunately, this status brings “false” credibility because it tells a member that it is “safe” to financially contribute to a particular church when in fact most shadiness in church finances are done under the 501(c)3 status. In addition, its boasted that by having this status it allows the member to write their contributions off on their personal tax filings. But no need!!! The member can too still do this, even without the status. As long as a church is a CHURCH, and not a center as most churches are renaming themselves, then its covered. And furthermore, if that’s the only way a member is comfortable in giving to their church then perhaps their money may not be a good seed to be sown in that ministry. But all money has become green to the church, unfortunately.

As I’m writing this entry, I thought about a couple of years ago when several congressmen demanded to see the financial records of several mega-church ministries, Creflo Dollar’s ministry being one. It was very embarrassing and humiliating. And another notch in the world’s “let’s destroy the church by making them destroy themselves” agenda. It was very public. But then, I remember stumbling across an article that said when Creflo Dollar turned over his records (his ministry being one of the only, or first, to comply---can’t remember which one) they were almost squeaky clean. Very much in order. This article of course was very quiet. I’m sure not many had read it. Those senators demanding to see financial documentation like that was a prime example of being under the authority of the state. This should have been a wake-up call for many.

So then, why does a church really need to establish as a corporation as a (501(c)3)?? I mean, if its only benefit is to appease its members then why???? There is another “advantage”. It helps the church to get funding from the government and foundations. But again, that means the church is not just under the state’s headship, but now under the authority of the funding entity. Most funders won’t even look at a church if it’s not established as a legal corporation. Again, it’s a false sense of credibility where a lot of times greed falls into the trap.

I remember a girlfriend was telling me about an incident that happened to her church. She said that they had just established a program for the elderly and were excited. Many seniors from their neighborhood were involved and benefiting from the services, all while being ministered to. And so they were encouraged to apply for a grant. So they did. And they were awarded the grant, increasing the program and its services. A couple of months into the grant, this being very new to them, they were abruptly visited by one of the grants officers. The officer came in, demanded to see paperwork that they had no idea they needed to have, and because they didn’t have it their funding was immediately taken away.

Now don’t get me wrong………I’d be the first to say you need to have your stuff in order in ANY situation. ESPECIALLY since I monitor programs and do site visits for a living--lol. And more importantly, because the Word of God speaks about this. But in more than enough situations, the services are being provided as promised, but one little “default” and your ministry can be shut down without notice depending on where the money is coming from.

Now what has been really on the rise in the last few decades or so is the church purchasing up all types of real estate. From shopping centers to homes to vacation spots to mega buildings. And more than likely they are purchasing under their 501(c)3 status which allows for……….huge tax breaks. That's the whole purpose. And you know what kind of return you get on real estate. Its actually the biggest and safest investment. So yes…..the church is making money by using their corporation status as well. Its a very powerful status to have. But its at the expense of their souls. And again, most are not even aware of this. They think the government is helping them out. Umph.

Soooo what this all trickles down to is the church being governed by money, not being under the direct authority of God. And this is what has been eating me up for the last umpteen years. Even in the most innocent situations, money is ruling the church. There are churches whose pastors are fully aware of their greedy motives, and try to justify it with the Word of God. Can I make a news flash……..the inheritance God promised us is not earthly, and neither is His kingdom. I know of several churches that have leaders in place who are operating on self motives and are out of the will of God. And the pastor knows this. But because the leaders are heavy financial contributors they’re kept in place.

Look, bottomline…….I know the church needs money to pay for its daily necessities. But if we would all do our part as the Body of Christ, that’s serving unselfishly in ministry, spreading the authentic Gospel, giving of ourselves without looking for a return from the church, and truly trusting God to provide our needs (as well as the church’s needs)…….then we don’t have to be bound by the government or any other person or institution that’s trying to work above what God mandated in His covenant with His people. Just trust GOD to provide!! It’s that simple. And I’m down with that.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. “ The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. --Hosea 4:6-7