Government Takeover of the Church

Direct Link: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4096944125079342774

Additional Audio: http://www.switchpod.com/cats.php?a=10161

Romans 13 Part 1

The idolatry of government seems to survive on a misunderstanding of Romans 13.

Rom 13:1¶Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Rom 13:2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

The word ‘power’ there has a broad meaning. It tends to be falsely attributed to worldly leaders and is sometimes translated ‘authorities’. Then it is often directed only at the Christians and never at the government officials since most believe it is referring to obeying the worldly government official. But the word can mean “power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases” or “jurisdiction” or “the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege)”. Remember that this applies to everyone, even government officials, pastors, parents or those in roles of authority as well. So everyone must obey these jurisdictions, liberties or authorities. This puts a huge burden of responsibility for those in a role of authority. God is serious about these ‘powers’, for those that resist will receive damnation , same as if we sin against the law of God. To resist would be to resist God and Gods ‘ordinance’ (or arrangement). God is the one who determines jurisdictions, rights, ordinances, arrangements and authorities, not man or even men in a position of government. Men in authority can only follow his “perfect law of liberty” or their rules have no authority over us!

How the love of money corrupts our churches and neuters its ability to speak to moral issues of the day.

1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Political correctness is not just something that is effecting some corrupt politicians in Washington DC. In fact it has infiltrated the church long before it was reflected in our government. Logically the church went bad first, as it is said, so goes the church so goes that nation. Something similar can also be said for the family. These two institutions lay the ground work for any civilized culture when they become corrupted and undermined the people are put under God’s judgment. I sometimes think it is God’s way of forcing us to make real choices.

The Churches of today have really corrupted themselves. They have become careless with the evils of money and those evils have crept into heart and mind of the church leaders and spilled out into the congregations some seeking to be feed truth. The problem is you don’t know the intents of people hearts for the heart is deceitful and wicked how can you know? Only way I know is to examine the fruit. And the church seems to be missing any significant fruit in the area of influencing the culture and government. Shouldn’t be to hard if you have the truth right? I guess that means we are not getting the whole truth. Something has corrupted the church. So lets look behind the curtain at the gears and levers of the churches money/substance. Though we will not know the intents of their hearts we can examine the possible cause and effect.

There really are multiple things that could be working to undermine straight hard teaching from a church. But the ones that likely effect most churches are tax exemption, limited liability and dept(high rent or high budget). These things together could have diverse effect on the teachings without a single person in the church recognizing it. Dept might cause the pastor unknowingly to soften his message, because everyone knows you have keep everyone coming back right? What if people where to start leaving the church? Who would be stuck with the payments? Most likely the pastor and the leadership, the very people who are suppose to make sure your getting feed.

What about Tax exemption for churches that become state corporations, 501(c)3? If the pastor starts talking about proper government and undermined any public policy he could loose his tax exemption . This could cause the church members to not want give money and even find a different church. Even if the church members shouldn’t be taking government subsidies in the first place it is what might keep some people in the church giving money. Could this be an unconscious fear of the pastor and/or leadership? Certainly they have explained away their responsibility to to speak to all issues of faith and practice. More specifically those relevant issues concerning moral government and society. Could it be they continue to hold to a faulty doctrine of silence because their wicked hearts don’t want to put any tithe money a risk. Or maybe they just want a quite life without facing problems with the IRS?

Similarly, limited liability as a state corporation works as another influence on churches to accept the role of washing their hands of anything to do with political and societal issues. With the rampant wickedness in our culture and enforcement of it by our government do we really think the church has nothing relevant to say about this? Or has the church put it’s light under a bushel? For what? The benefit and protection from a Government who is clearly in opposition to the truth? Do churches really believe they are better protected by them? Yet it is probably the thing that influences them to hold on to their Government protector.

Both dept and incorporation both are voluntary actions. Both with serious dangers to the spiritual nature of the church. As if the church doesn’t have enough enemies we invite evil in for temporary gain. Yet the end of it will be the fruit of what we sowed? In this case I think it is what we didn’t sow. We essentially lied down our swords and we are letting the ideas of the culture over run the church. It’s no wonder government and the banks have become the grandest idols of our culture. Even the church looks them for its substance. Well I say tear down those idols!