There are many Baptist churches across our land. There are many types of Baptist churches across our land. Many are associated with various man made organizations. When the Lord Jesus started the first Baptist church in Jerusalem (if it was not a Baptist church, please feel free to comment on what type it was), it was independent of everything man had a part in. So now we are at the point that many churches will distinguish themselves as Independent Baptist versus the various conventions, associations, and fellowships that have been started. Now I am not writing this to deal with all the problems you get into by joining the various man made organizations, but simply want to ask how truly independent are the Lord's churches.
If you had to sign on the dotted line in agreement with anything man has in order to keep the Lord's church in operation, are you truly an independent Baptist? For instance, most Independent Baptists sent an application to the IRS so that they could be a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. And many of those churches also filled out the paper work with the state to become a corporation. By doing so, you have bound yourself to play by the rules of the state and the IRS. For you came to them seeking some advantages that they could give you. Just like other churches joined the convention to seek the advantages that could be given them.
Just asking, are you still as independent as you think you are?
But let it be known, that the Lord is just as powerful in 2009 as he was in 30 A.D. He did not need any help from Rome to start his church, or to keep it in existence. Therefore he certainly does not need the help of the IRS or the state to grant his church the permission to exist as a corporation. It already exists as the body of Christ.
Some may be asking, but how do we.....? Just read the Bible, walk by faith, and let the Lord take care of his church.
You make an interesting point, but I am not sure you quite proved your point by the IRS illustration. You see, any "entanglement" that places limitations that we are already bound by does not further entangle us.
ReplyDeleteFor instance, imagine there were a Bible principle that all church buildings should be painted red. Should I agree to be bound by rules that can determine the color my church is painted, I have compromised. Should I agree to be bound by rules that my church must be painted, there is no compromise, because it is already established that all church buildings must be red.
Admittedly that is an over simplification.
Perhaps what you are getting at with the IRS is the restrictions the IRS places on supporting political candidates. For Baptist churches, there should be no conflict. Since the day when Christ asked the disciples to get swords and then refused to use them when he was taken away, our churches have been non-political.
Reformed churches, on the other hand, have always been politically involved. They are still living in the shadow of their mother church which badly confused OT and NT doctrines.
Of course, that doesn't preclude Baptist members becoming involved in politics in our democratic republic, but neither does the IRS.