Archived column: http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?p=3859 It is no hyperbole to say that the vast majority of today's churches do not remotely resemble the New Testament pattern. In the first place, the Church was never intended to be a government corporation! Yet, that is exactly what every 501c3 non-profit "religious" organization is: it is a government-created corporation. In the eyes of the government, pastors, elders, and deacons are not pastors, elders, and deacons; they are corporate officers. And put to the test, virtually any and all of these so-called "pastors," "elders," and "deacons," will confirm that they are corporate officers. So, right out of the gate we must understand that we are dealing with government corporations and corporate officers, not with New Testament churches, pastors, elders, and deacons. Pray tell, where do you find anything in the New Testament about churches joining with the State, or being incorporated by the State, or being required to submit to the State? It's not there! The 501c3 corporation status has turned the Lord's Church into mere creatures of the State. Therefore, please remember, when you "worship" inside these government corporations, when you give your tithes and offerings to these government corporations, you are NOT supporting "the Lord's work." You are supporting the work of the State. You might as well be paying taxes; it amounts to virtually the same thing. The same is true for all these TV preachers. They are all 501c3 incorporated! This is why many pastors do not speak out on the burning issues of the day. This is why neither he nor his church will take a stand for anything. This is why he won't "get involved in politics." He is a corporate officer of the State, and he will not jeopardize his standing as such. I don't care how "nice" the preacher is! It matters not how knowledgeable you think he is of the Scriptures. It doesn't amount to a hill of beans if he knows Hebrew and Greek and how many degrees he has behind his name. If he is a corporate officer of the State, he will never preach the "whole counsel of God;" he will never be willing to stand in front of his congregation and tell "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help him God." He won't do it! Why? He knows he is a State corporate officer, and he knows where the line is drawn. Ditto for the church deacons and trustees (I mean, corporate officers) that support him. If the so-called "Religious Right" would get as excited about replacing these government-toadies (called pastors) that we have in our "churches" and putting honest-to-God, tell-it-like-it-is, fearless prophets in their pulpits as they are about replacing a "liberal" and putting some so-called "conservative" Republican in the White House, we really could have revival in America! The problem is not the White House; the problem is the church house! Is it any wonder that the donor base for these religious-talking Republican politicians is mostly identical to the donor base for these religious-talking government corporations called churches? They are Siamese twins! This is why the "Religious Right" will never offend the GOP establishment: they are both sucking from the same teat! And the sow providing the milk for both is the federal government, via its non-profit corporation status, corporate welfare programs, and endless cash for the Warfare State. Just look at the behavior of the people attending these government corporations. What do you see? Gossip, slander, backbiting, nosiness, jealousy, resentment, bickering, judgmentalism, and downright hatred is rampant! Church splits are commonplace. These government corporation "Christians" will betray their brothers and sisters for far less than thirty pieces of silver. The motivating factor for most of these government corporations is the same as it is for private corporations: money. Money drives everything they do. The workshops, seminars, how-to manuals, etc., are all geared to making these government corporations more attractive and appealing to the donor base. Just as Jesus said to the moneychangers in His day, these corporate officers have turned God's House into "a den of thieves." Why is it that today's pastors and Christians are so clueless to what is happening in front of their eyes? They say they are "preaching the Gospel." But they aren't. What they are doing is pulling the wool over people's eyes by refusing to sound the alarm! Why is it that as soon as the final "Amen" is spoken at the end of a "worship service," the first thing out of the mouths of most of the men in attendance is something about sports? Why is it that so many "Christian" women spend dozens of hours each week searching the Internet in pursuit of whatever sordid information is floating around out there about their "friends" and fellow church members? It seems that today's Christians are so ignorant of true Biblical friendship, fellowship, and brotherhood that they don't know what to do with it even when they find it! Christian betrayal is epidemic! A genuine New Testament church follows Jesus' instruction to love one another. A New Testament church yearns for genuine Christian fellowship and brotherhood. A New Testament church prefers one another and honors one another. A New Testament church desires truth--even when it's painful. And yes, a New Testament church is willing to die for one another! I have spoken with Russian Christians who endured the "purging" under Joe Stalin. They told me about KGB agents bursting into a church service with fully automatic weapons demanding to know who the pastor was. They told me how when this happened, every man in the congregation raised his hand. They told me about how when government agents took men at gun point from the congregation, elderly ladies were laying in front of the government vehicles. Can one imagine this scene taking place in today's churches? I can see it now: government agents demand to know who the pastor is, and every man in the congregation points AT THE PASTOR! Government agents haul men out of the church and the old women applaud and get patriotic goose bumps as they are taken away. All across the Christian spectrum, people are beholden to the state. Welfare checks, government pension checks, corporate welfare checks, food stamps, medical benefits, etc., etc., ad infinitum. "My God shall supply all your needs"? Who needs that promise? We have the state to take care of us! "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof"? Irrelevant! We don't even know how to recognize evil when we see it. "Give us this day our daily bread"? Antiquated rubbish easily explained away by our brilliant corporate officers in the pulpit. "Blessed are the peacemakers"? Forget it! "Conservative," evangelical Christians and preachers today are the biggest cheerleaders, proponents, and apologists for spreading war, mayhem, and death all over the world! I would dare say that most of today's churches and pastors have never given a second thought to what the "church" is. The church is not a building. The church is not programs and musicals, and socials and recreational theme parks. The church is not restaurants and bookstores. The word "church" means "called out assembly." Called out from what? Called out from state governance and control; called out from worldly philosophies and principles; called out from bondage and tyranny. That's what! Need I remind my brothers and sisters that the first reference, chronologically, to the "church" is found in Acts 7:38 where Stephen gave tribute to "the church in the wilderness"? Why was the church in the wilderness? God had called it out of Egyptian bondage. Hence, the word "church," meaning "a called out assembly." So, where is the called out assembly today? It has left nothing! The assembly gathers together under the auspices of, and in the name of, the state. It grovels before the state. It gears its messages to the pleasure of the state. It keeps its congregants in the dark to the illegalities, improprieties, and criminalities of the state. It seeks the state's approval and approbation. And when called upon by the state, it will betray or sell out any preacher, prophet, or Christian brother or sister. You who say you love God, you who say you know what's going on and are concerned about your children's future, you who say you desire truth, how can you continue to support these 501c3 government corporations with your attendance and with your tithes and offerings? You are called to "come out." So, why don't you? These government corporations are in bed with Babylon. And Babylon is not our friend. It is enslaving saints all over the world. It is persecuting the Bride. It is making war with God's children. It is drunk with the blood of pilgrims and patriots! How dare you sleep in the same bed with her? How did the Holy Spirit conclude the Book of Revelation? By commanding us, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Rev. 18:4) This unholy alliance between the Lord's Church and Caesar, between the Body of Christ and Beelzebub, between the fellowship of God and the fellowship of Satan is plaguing our nation, our families, and our future. "Come out of her, my people." *If you appreciate this column and want to help me distribute these editorial opinions to an ever-growing audience, donations may now be made by credit card, check, or Money Order. Use this link: http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?page_id=19 � Chuck Baldwin NOTE TO THE READER: Chuck Baldwin is a syndicated columnist, radio broadcaster, author, and pastor dedicated to preserving the historic principles upon which America was founded. He was the 2008 Presidential candidate for the Constitution Party. He and his wife, Connie, have 3 children and 8 grandchildren. 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