Yet Another Plea for the Bride of Christ to Divorce the State
If you are a member of a church here in the United States of America, your church is most likely not the Body (Corpus) of Christ, but a Corporation of the State. I would say that over 98% of churches in America are State Corporations. The remaining 2% are either house churches or churches that understood the apostasy of incorporation.
I planted a church and pastored that church for over 12 years that never stopped being part of the Body of Christ because it was not incorporated. It is possible to maintain the separation of Church and State, but it isn't easy.
The First Amendment clearly states:
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. (emphasis mine)
What is incorporation?
It is the voluntary petition to create a fictitious legal entity that can act like a person (a body, which is the root of inCORPoration). This fictitious entity can buy, sell, trade, and act like a person. If sued, the corporation is responsible, not any individuals. Your incorporated church is just like MacDonalds, Burger King, Pepsi, Bank of America, and so forth.
There are many reasons why churches seek to incorporate, but outlining these reasons is not the purpose of this article. The purpose of this article is to confront incorporated churches with the truth that they have voluntarily "wed" the Bride of Church's expression in their midst with the State.
When a church incorporates, there is no longer a separation of Church and State.
The reason is the Church voluntarily petitioned the State to become part of the State. The Church becomes part of the State because, as stated above, the State plays God by creating a fictitious legal entity. Part of this pact is the agreement that once "created" or incorporated, the State has authority and jurisdiction over what it created. There are benefits to incorporating, but the benefits do not justify the compromise these churches commit by bringing their local church under the jurisdiction and control of the State. The State takes care of its own, at least for a time.
Many pastors will shrug articles like this off with hardly a thought. But I have a question for you and for these pastors. What does Jesus Christ think about His Bride being "created" by, joined with, and presided over by the State?
The Bible says the head of the Church is Christ (Ephesians 5:23). It means that no one can serve two masters. (Matthew 6:24). God says to have no other gods before Him. (Exodus 20:3)
While the State has a Biblical role in punishing evildoers, evil being defined as the violation of the Law of God (1 John 3:4), the State does not have authority or jurisdiction over the Church of Jesus Christ. In other words, the State does not have Biblical authority to dictate what the Church does or doesn't do or say. The First Amendment recognizes this Biblical principle.
It is sad how the Church in America has compromised the Body of Christ's status and wed the Bride to the State through incorporation. It is more than sorry. It is, in my opinion, the foundational sin in America today. The Church cannot and will not have any voice to fight the spirit of this age as She fornicates with the State through incorporation.
It is sad also to see how pastors appear to be so brave standing up against the State during COVID-19 by continuing to meet, sing, pray, worship God and do what the Bride of Christ is supposed to be doing during such a confusing and deceptive time as this.
Pastors, if you want to do the right thing, don't just defy the State by doing what the Church is called to do anyway.
Get on your knees and repent of the unholy and ungodly wedding between your church and the State through incorporation. Stop being a business man or woman and start acting like the pastors of old who protected and defended the Bride, even if it costs you your life.
Until then, stop disobeying your sovereign head, the State, and do what your Husband tells you to do!