This article evaluates the practices of some misguided believers by examining a report called Significant Trends in the World of Religion by Rev.Richard L. Sumner that appeared in November/December 1997 edition of The Biblical Evangelist

"Church Tithe Confiscated by Court:

Down in Baytown, Texas a battle is being fought that could have widespread consequences for churches everywhere.

A court has ruled the Cedar Bayou Baptist Church must return $23,000 of deacon Leland Collins' tithes. Collins filed for bankruptcy protection, so his only creditor, Gregory - Edwards Inc., a Houston air-conditioning business, sued the church to recover his tithe, and won in lower court.

The Texas district court reasoned that the donations could be confiscated because the deacon received nothing of "equivalent value" in return for his gifts. Since church members receive church benefits regardless of whether they contribute money, the court deemed the tithe as illegal gifts.

The Rev. E. Richard Steel, pastor of Cedar Bayou, in leading the appeal states: The deacon "could have gambled the money away in Las Vegas, squandered it on a cruise or consorted with a prostitute, and nobody could reclaim the money. It makes no sense ... Mr. Collins has been tithing 10 percent of his income, before bills are paid, for 40 years. In fact, it is part of our bylaws that deacons should do this."

Could our churches ultimately be forced to conduct credit checks on every donor before taking their tithes?"

Pusillanimous Christians!

In analyzing the above report, Pastor Brown noticed several things wrong in this story:

1) The Church of the story was, in fact, actually a religious Baptist corporation. This is revealed by them having "bylaws." Hence, there was, and is, no protection from God, or for that matter from the state or national constitutions. 2) The deacon, Mr. Collins, should not have filed for bankruptcy protection. By so doing, he took himself out from under God's protective care and put himself under the court's jurisdiction, which clearly demonstrated its evil as is shown by the wicked determination that stated he"received nothing of equivalent value" in return for his gifts." 3)Rev. Sumner confuses the true Church and erroneously assumes that churches could one day be forced to conduct credit checks. Actually the mistake, in this case, is not with the court, except its false view of what is of value. The fault lies with Pastor Steel and his deacons of that assembly. Like so many others have done, they too unwittingly left the Biblical promises of God's Sovereign protection and have willingly submitted themselves unto a fickle, faithless, foolish state, in order to be approved to perform religious functions.

When any true Church seeks and gains approval and status from the state, in either the form of being a religious corporation, a 501 C 3 tax exempt religious group, or an association, they have violated all Ten of God's commandments.

Five of the ten are easily seen as being broken: the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 8th, and the 9th. Of the first three, they are dealing with having No other gods before God, or bowing unto them; and taking the name of God in vain. When believers who name the name of Christ, incorporate under the statutes of a state, they violate the Holy name of Christ by such practices.

Two other laws are violated: the 8th and 9th which forbid stealing and bearing false witness.

The other 5 are likewise broken when it is realized spiritual adultery, 7th, which kills, 6th, the life of the church as it covets, 10th, the recognition of the world. The Sabbath, 4th, is violated as rest is sought outside the LORD, and the 5th is violated, since God is the Heavenly Father of a child of God.

For a fuller explanation as to why religious corporations, posing as churches are in violation to God's Law, contact Pastor John Stephen Brown. Request a list of Sermons. On this subject ask for 954C3 "Christ's Attitude Toward All Religious Corporations." Tapes are available for a small suggested donation of $3.00.

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