Free Churches and the New Testament, Part 1

A not uncommon term to find in the religious world, especially in the United States, is the "free church." Sometimes this is found in the name of a individual congregation, and sometimes in a "group" name.

There are actually three meanings to this term "free church."

The first and most common is found in Wikipedia and elsewhere:
Historically, we are told "The term, free church refers to a Christian denomination that is intrinsically separated from government (as opposed to a theocracy, or an "established" or state church). The term is especially relevant in countries with established state churches."

Obviously, by this definition, most of us would think that ALL churches are "free churches" in the United States today, since the United States do not have established state church(es). However, as a number of people have pointed out there are "state churches" and "state churches." The act of making a church corporation in accordance with state laws ("incorporating") is a way of becoming a "state church," as is seeking recognition from the IRS as a "church" or 501c3 organization. This idea is discussed in more detail later.)

The second relates to individual congregations, which are churches that are (or at least claim to be) "congregational" in organization: they do not fall under the control of some "higher" organization like a "synod" or a "diocese" or some sort of similar denominational group. Such a group of churches that claim this status is:
"Lutheran Free Churches" were formed in the 1970s by two Minnesota professors who "determined that according to the New Testament the local congregation was the correct form of God's kingdom on earth" but ironically, in 1897 formed an "association" called Lutheran Free Churches in 1897, which merged with the American Lutheran Church, a denomination, in 1963. Forty congregations which did not agree with the ALC merger continued as the "Association of Free Lutheran Congregations." With more than 250 congregations, the AFLC claims that its congregations are autonomous but has multiple corporations "to direct their common endeavors." Free apparently does not mean "free" for the "Free Lutheran Congregations.

We find something similar for the Evangelical Free Churches of America, which says of itself: United by a mutual commitment to serve our Lord Jesus Christ with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and obedience to the Word of God, the Evangelical Free Church of America is an association of nearly 1,500 churches and church plants in a growing ministry that currently extends to some 75 countries of the world. Wikipedia calls the EFCA a denomination and that seems to be the case. Most churches in America who call themselves a "Free Church" seem to be parts of this EFCA denomination, even though they often do not use the word "Evangelical" in their name.

There are, however, many churches which DO adhere to this idea of "free church," that is, churches (local congregations) which are autonomous, recognize and belong to NO "parent organization" including synods, associations, societies, cooperative assemblies, or anything else on earth. These churches claim no earthly headquarters at all, and that they are responsible to, and members of, only Christ Jesus himself. They often use very different names, including just plain "Church," but commonly-used names include "Christian Church," "Church of Christ," "Church of God," and "Bible Church." Most (but not all) are like one church in Vallejo, California: "There are no governing boards -- neither district, regional, national, or international. Each congregation is autonomous (self-ruled). Each congregation is governed locally by a plurality of elders."

The third use of "free church" refers to what are also called "Unregistered Churches." These are churches which refuse to have anything to do with government agencies, such as the IRS, do not incorporate or operate as any sort of trust or business, and do not obtain "recognition" via such things as a Employer Identification Number" (EIN). A good description of this kind of "free church" is found at the "The Free-Church Solution", which says in part: "A great many of the church's problems today are a direct result of the church "taking" and actively pursuing a legal status that makes it inferior to, and a subordinate of, the civil government. The two most significant ways this occurs is by incorporation (state jurisdiction) and the tax-exempt 501c3 status (federal jurisdiction)."

To understand this reasoning, it is good to refer to an IRS Publication In that, on page 27, we find the closest thing to a government (IRS) definition of "church:"
Church. Certain characteristics are generally attributed to churches.
These attributes of a church have been developed by the IRS and
by court decisions. They include:
-distinct legal existence;
-recognized creed and form of worship;
- definite and distinct ecclesiastical government;
- formal code of doctrine and discipline;
- distinct religious history;
- membership not associated with any other church or denomination;
- organization of ordained ministers;
- ordained ministers selected after completing prescribed courses of study;
- literature of its own;
- established places of worship;
- regular congregations;
- regular religious services;
- Sunday schools for the religious instruction of the young;
- schools for the preparation of its ministers.
The IRS generally uses a combination of these characteristics,
together with other facts and circumstances, to determine whether
an organization is considered a church for federal tax purposes.
The IRS makes no attempt to evaluate the content of whatever
doctrine a particular organization claims is religious, provided the
particular beliefs of the organization are truly and sincerely held by
those professing them and the practices and rites associated with
the organization’s belief or creed are not illegal or contrary to
clearly defined public policy.

Keep in mind, this is an official IRS (US Government) publication, explaining the law. It is easy to see why some people want to have their local congregation free of this. Yet, even many churches which are "free" in the sense of being autonomous congregations routinely do incorporate, obtain verification of 501c3 status, and obtain EIN and other recognition by federal, state, and sometimes local agencies. Many of them teach this is a necessity in the world (and especially the United States), citing Romans 13:1-8 and 1 Peter 2:13-14.

That, at least, is a very common misunderstanding. As the website "hushmoney.com" explains, though: "IRC 508c1A and IRS Publication 557 make it clear that a church is "automatically tax-exempt" without having to apply for 501c3 status. The reason that churches aren't taxed is because of the "charitable and religious" activities they engage in. If you organize a real church, it doesn't matter to the IRS whether you organize as a church, as an unincorporated association, as a non-profit corporation, or as a corporation sole. The legal manner in which you organize a church is irrelevant for tax purposes. Provided that it really is a church, it's always automatically tax exempt without having to apply for 501c3 status."

What does the Bible teach, and specifically, what is found in the New Testament beyond these two passages?

We shall look at that in the next posting.

Defending ourselves from evil doers

Another of Oleg Volk's evocative photo-posters.

In Scripture, we find a large number of examples of self-defense, both in the Old and New Testaments. Here are just a few:
Luke 22:36-38 - Jesus commands His disciples to buy a sword for their travels preaching the Gospel.
Acts 18:12-16 - Paul accepted the use of the physical power of the state to protect him from the angry Jews. Either some city troops or Jews or Paul's converts beat Sosthenes (leader of the synagogue) apparently in an attempt to stop his persecution of Paul, and Paul did not intervene. (v 17)
Acts 21 - Paul accepted his personal defense by Roman troops against his own Jewish people in the Temple forecourt. In Chapter 23, he again accepted defense by Roman troops against an assassination attempt.

But the best defense is to take the offense: to preach and convert the evil doers of the world into followers of the Christ - we will never succeed in converting every sinner, every future government thug, but enough, and the darkness that descended over 20th Century Europe will not be nearly so dark, and the light will return sooner, while God's kingdom is spread.