posted
I am part of a new house church and we are seeking any information regarding finances.
Do we need some "official" documentation by the government to reeceive donations? Are gifts tax-deductible?
Any info on house church and $ would be appreciated
Thom
posted
Anton, you may gleen some good info from this article: http://presys.com/~ekklesia/bvb.htm If I'm reading the above correctly, Churches are already considered "Exempt" and non-profit organizations even without filling all the forms...
------------------ ~~~~><>~~~~><>~~~~><>~~~~ Thom From the WET! Coast of Oregon, USA
abbiyr
posted
Here is something the Lord taught me. Render unto the government the things that are the governments. The money we spend belongs to the Federal Reserve Bank. It is loaned to the government to use as an exchange medium. When an origination (church) accepts a waver on taxes, it then is beholding to the government for this waiver. His Church being debited is not the way of the of the lord. It is however a good way for the antichrist to create the one world church by calling in the debit. Become part of the one world church or pay the back taxes, debit called in, waver disallowed. I am being lead to start a home church or something like that. This is the lesson The Lord taught me on taxes. Bottom line, PAY THE TAXES.
Faith
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As the scriptures tell us to work so we will have plenty to share with others, why have a need for finances. Have a potluck situation. If you need study books, let all buy their own. Keep a small amount set aside to purchase materials for those who can't afford them. Have pot luck dinners, etc. everybody pitch in. I truely think we should not register with the authorities. If you have no paid members or buildings, etc. why should you have any expenses? Special projects like helping others in community should remain realistic to your size, don't take money from others out of group. Don't feel like you need a tax deduction for every penny you spend on others. Give freely out of your hearts.God Bless, Faith
posted
I agree with Faith, above! But best of all, go to scripture for your financial principles! There is no such thing in scripture as a regular church collection! I Cor.16:1,2 deals with personally laying by in store as God prospers you. The purpose: to meet the needs of poor saints as God brings them to your attention. Thus every believer has the joy of giving and seeing their gift meet definite needs. As has been pointed out above, house churches have no salaried ministers, no building to purchase, maintain, pay utilies and mortgages on, so ALL of the saints financial resources can be invested in eternal commodities where the best returns are guaranteed! "Eternal commodities" are people and the Word of God. If you invest in getting people into the Word of God and the Word of God into people...you have an investment that will return dividends for eternity!
posted
gifts and money the church receives are not taxable--but you need a separate tax number and checking account to show the church is separate from your checking account. if you use your own account and the irs decides you owe taxes, they can take all of your checking account even if you saved the churches money in it. so get a separate account and tax id number for the church or ministry. the pastor drawing an income from the church must pay taxes. if the church hires someone to perform duties, the church must pay that person's taxes as required by law--Social Security, etc. A church must file paperwork if it wants to have a designation as a nonprofit organization. it can remain as a charitable organizatin without paperwork. nonprofit status only allows someone to make a contribution to your church and receive a tax benefit for doing so. keep records of money in and out, where's it going, etc. if you have enough families doing home church, trade places and let everyone have a turn at hosting a home church. this keeps expenses down and teaches sharing of responsibility.
posted
Having read through this thread I see two distinct 'camps'. One that wants to live off of the flock and one that wants to part of it. I am at a loss as to why many of the people that have posted at this forum (and other forums on the interchange) are wanting to continue the 'temple' mentality. I thought, in my nievete, that people who wanted to be the church would in fact be here. And not those who want to 'go to church'. I know this can seem to be a harsh criticism but I view their posts and am in awe that they are even here? Although most of them do tend to provide a non-home church website for us to view. Is that so we can be brought back to reality? And take our place with the other 'paying' spectators? In advance I apologize for my passion in protecting the church from the 'wolves'. Of course it is my belief that if someone doesn't like being called a wolf they shouldn't have mutton on their breath...
David Anderson
posted
Hi Ed, hi all,
The idea behind these open forums is that any believer can post their opinions and interpretations and that the truth should ultimately rise above the rest. Doesn't always happen, huh? You wouldn't believe the number of folks who just drop by to advertise something.
Obviously, there are going to be different approaches to money and tax exemption. And many who have questions about it do not use their house church funds to "pay a pastor."
As for "being the church" - that, imo, is just a cliche unknown to Scripture. The gathered church is the assembly and there is nothing inappropriate about "going to the assembly." The writer of Hebrews encourages that very thing. Hebr. 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
Never are we enjoined to "be the church" any more than a father would advise his children to "just be the family." True, if we think the building is the church, then that's a popular misconception, too. True, too, in Christ we are positionally perfect, irrespective of what we do.
Please visit when you can, brother. I know you'll raise the curve!
And to those who are $heering the sheep and looking for tax breaks, Ed's analysis against you is right on.
posted
Taken from the Koinonia.org.il message board, is my responce to someone asking a similar question:
"Dear Donna, for what it's worth - Downunder we have 'incorporated associations' which may also get tax exempt status, if they can show that the majority of their work is charitable. This sounds like a worthy thing, but I'm reminded of Jesus, who told Peter to 'go fishing' one day, catch a fish, find a coin in its mouth, and pay both their Roman taxes! Jesus Christ's teaching on this matter is simply, "render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar (taxes) and to God what belongs to God (giving of a willing heart - NOT legalistic tithing!)
The apostle Paul is in agreement with this teaching, and instructs us in Romans 13 to pay 'tribute'. Tribute that was exacted by Rome was often harsh and heavy handed, and could be as much as 40% of a person's income or more in some cases. People in the provinces were taxed heavily as they were the ones keeping the Roman state - (its government, army and navy, roads and communication lines) operational, and this is why Rome conquered them - to fund their ever expanding empire.
It's a bit different nowadays, but not so different that governments have figured out a better way to raise revenue. God commands us to 'pay up' as far as worldly governments go, but there is a lot fo confusion over the tithing issue. [Tithing was the form of taxarion used to support the temple and the priesthood in the Old Testament]
It is true that Abraham tithed to Melchizadek way back in Genesis, long before the Mosaic law was introduced, but it is also true that nowhere in the New Testament are we commanded to 'tithe' - in fact the impression I get is that whatever I have as an NT believer all belongs to the Lord, and He can all upon my resources at any time for use in His kingdom.
What often happens is that people in [IC] leaderships get greedy, and want more than just God's simple provision for their lives. They want new buildings, schools, a fancy manse house and a new car every so often - just look at the TV preachers, hardly any of them would have much less than a few million $ after so many years on the airwaves.
The testimony of the early church was that when they paid Caesar's tax and gave God His due (to whatever degree they could give) they were happy and had an overabundance of whatever they needed.
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