Separation of Church and State Law Blog

I. Articles from Jerald Finney's "Separation of Church and State Law" blog (jeraldfinney.wordpress.com):

A. Letters from pastors concerning "Separation of Church and State Law" blog.

041810:  More Letters from Pastors in Response to the Separation of Church and State Law Blog and My Replies.
033010: Letters from Pastors in Response to the Separation of Church and State Law Blog and My Responses.
102309: What Pastors Are Saying in Response to this "Separation of Church and State Law" Blog.

B. Articles concerning biblical principles concerning and historical and legal facts about incorporation and Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) status of churches.

082110: Jack Schaap, First Baptist of Hammond, Heresy and Apostasy.
080710: On Jack Hyles' Sermon, "The Treasure is in a Field". 
071010: Tax Reasons Given for Church Corporate-501(c)(3) Status: A Biblical and Legal Analysis. This article deals with the following reasons given for church corporate-501(c)(3) status: civil government recognition of tax exempt status assures church leaders, members, and contributors that the church is recognized as exempt and qualifies for related tax benefits (For example, contributors to a church that has been recognized as tax exempt would know that their contributions generally are tax-deductible); and convenience. Prioir articles have addressed other reasons.
061610: Preaching on Sodomy in a Hate Crime Atmosphere. Another storm is brewing over the spiritual foundations of America. That storm may with full force strike our religious edifices at any time. The reaction of preachers to this threatened destruction of the recognition of religious liberty by the federal and state governments in America is very revealing as to the spiritual condition of America’s “Bible-believing” churches and pastors.
052910: Analysis of another reason given for church corporate status: to hold property. This article will deal with the second reason, to hold property. The first reason, limited liability, has already been addressed in the article “Church Incorporation Increased Liability of Church Members.” Future articles which will be posted on this blog will cover the last two reasons. 
051610: Church Incorporation Increases Liability of Church Members. Today, the most common reasons given by churches for incorporating and seeking 501(c)(3) status are (1) limited liability; (2) to allow a church to hold property; (3) civil government recognition of tax exempt status assures church leaders, members, and contributors that the church is recognized as exempt and qualifies for related tax benefits (For example, contributors to a church that has been recognized as tax exempt would know that their contributions generally are tax-deductible); and (4) convenience—it is easier to get a tax deduction for tithes and offerings given to an incorporated 501(c)(3) religious organization than for tithes and offerings given to a New Testament church. This article will deal with the first reason, limited liability. Future articles will cover the last three reasons.
050810: Your Conviction to Incorporate God's Church or Not. Another reason given by some pastors and Christians for their decision to incorporate is that it is up to each individual church to decide the issue based upon “Bible based convictions.” Relevant definitions of “conviction” are: (1) “a strong persuasion or belief;” (2) “the state of being convinced” (Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (10^th ed., 1995). Principle may be defined as: “a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption” (Ibid.). Of course, if a conviction is based upon Biblical principles, that conviction is valid in the eyes of God. If one acts upon a conviction which is not based upon principles in the Word of God, “sin lieth at the door.”
040610: The Most Important Thing: Loving God and/or Winning Souls. This article proves from the Bible that church corporate 501c3 status dishonors the marriage relationship between Christ and His church.
030710: Does God and/or Civil Government Require Churches to Get 501(c)(3) Status? Does the Word of God teach that churches in America should get Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) (“501c3”) status? What about civil law? Does American law purportedly require that churches get 501c3 status? This article answers those questions.
022610: Laws Protecting New Testament Churches in America: Read Them for Yourself. This article presents the hierarchy of laws protecting New Testament churches in America, quotes relevant portions of United States laws which protect New Testament churches in America, and quotes relevant  laws  from Kansas (one can do a similar study of laws of other states which affect churches), and  comments upon some of these laws.
010610: An Abridged History of the First Amendment.  Since this topic is so vast, this article is longer than most articles on this blog—21 single spaced pages, excluding endnotes (not so long considering the wealth of information distilled on this vital subject). Sadly, very few Christians know the facts presented in this history. Tragically, few Christians want to know it. To fully understand the issue of separation of church and state, one must have knowledge of the history of the First Amendment. 
120609: Separation of Church and God. How incorporation and 501(c)(3) status separates God's churches from God.
092909: American Abuse of Romans 13.1-2 and Related Verses. This article shows the biblical bankruptcy of the false teaching that Romans 13 and some other verses taken out of context teach almost unlimited submission by Christians and churches to civil government.
091509:  The Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) Exemption-Definition-Control Scheme. An audio teaching player on this subject is included in this article.
091509: Separation of Church and State: Christians Who Call Evil Good and Good Evil. Among other things, this article explains exactly the meaning of "legal entity" and "church incorporation." Located on the article are two audio presentations which deal with "legal versus spiritual entities" and "incorporation of churches." This article has links to more thorough audio teaching on this subject.

C. Miscellaneous articles

1. Exposing the dangers of David Barton's teachings.
2. David Barton's Christian Revisionism.
3. An answer to an article entitled, "Dechristianizing America Rampage: Part IV"
4. Do you want to go to church?
5. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge

II. Audio series on God Betrayed/Separation of Church and State: The Biblical Principles and the American Application (Just click link to go to audio teaching):

1. The Biblical Principles of Government
    a. Introduction
    b. The proper motivation and goal
    c. Self-government
    d. Family government and conscience
    e. Civil government
    f. God desires nations to glorify Him
    g. Israel - the only theocracy ordained by God
    h. God is the God of Israel
    i. God desires Gentile nations to glorify Him
    j. God judges nations
    k. Satan orchestrates the world system
    l. Conclusion

2. The Biblical Doctrine of the Church
    a. Introduction
    b. Definition, organization, and purposes of a church
    c. Christ, the Bridegroom/Husband/Head of the  church
    d. Heresy and  apostasy
    e. Recent accelerated apostasy in America
    f. Apostasy at the end of the church age
    g. The church will reign with the Lord
    h. Conclusion

3. The Biblical Doctrine of Separation of Church and State
    a. Introduction
    b. Definitions
    c. Dispensational theology versus covenant theology
    d. Distinct differences between church and state
    e. Render unto God the  things that are  His
    f. Christ-church, Husband-wife, Bridegroom-Bride 
    g. Conclusion

4. History of the First Amendment 
    a. Introducton
    b. The Pilgrims and Puritans in Massachusetts
    c. The Baptists in Rhode Island
    d. The Separates and  Baptists in New England
    e. From New England to the South
    f. To Virginia
    g. To the New Nation
    h. Conclusion

5. Supreme Court Religion Clause Jurisprudence 

6. God Betrayed: Union of Church and State 
    a. Introduction
    b. Spiritual versus legal entities
    c. Incorporation of churches
    d. Federal government control of churches
        through 501(c)(3) tax exemption
    e. The incorporation 501(c)(3) control scheme
    f. Spurious rationale for incorporating: limited liability
    g. Spurious rationale for incorporating: to hold property
    h. Spurious rationale for incorporating: tax exemption
        and tax deduction for contributions
    i. Conclusion