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For ever, O LORD, thy word is
settled in heaven. Psalms 119:89
What was the
conflict that propelled Marion County to come with such a show of force against
our tiny, unarmed Church? Marion County has taken the position that all churches
must pay property taxes - unless they qualify for and are granted an exemption.
Our position, however, is that no church pays property taxes. But in order for
properties to be removed from the tax rolls, the church must secure the
exemption by claiming it. Once the church notifies the assessor, it is the
assessor's duty to remove the property from the tax rolls. The difference in
positions is that the County wants us to apply for and receive a privilege. Our
position is that God established this Church and if He said it, that settles it.
This battle is
not so much a question of taxes as it is of Lordship. Who is going to be Lord of
the Church? Is Marion County, State of Oregon, going to be lord over the Church,
or is Jesus Christ going to be Lord over the Church? God does not share His
glory with another. Neither can any man serve two masters, for he will love the
one and hate the other. We know we have a very jealous God.
Jesus wants us
to be in His bed, and it is a very private bed. If we become harlots and join
the bed of others, then He can no longer sanction His bride.
Any church that
incorporates or is recognized under the State or Federal government
cannot possibly be the Church because they have separated themselves from Jesus
Christ. In other words, if a church is recognized by the State, it is not
the Church. It is the State. Therefore, if we want the protection of the Lord
Jesus Christ, then let us remain with Him alone and let us stand until the end.
If the Church
remains a Church under the Lord Jesus Christ, then their whole livelihood is
Jesus Christ. They are not restricted from speaking out against abortion,
homosexuality, and divorce and remarriage. But once the Church becomes a
corporation of the State, then the State has an interest in what they preach.
They can threaten to remove their tax exempt status for speaking in opposition
to the State's policies.
The State church
must use its property according to State dictates. They must apply for zoning
and building permits. However, a Kingdom of Heaven Church is used exactly the
way Jesus Christ desires the people to use that Church.
In a State
corporation church, the States rules over them. They are blocked from truly
being the Church. Jesus Christ becomes merely a figurehead. His true character
is gutted out and His Kingdom ceases to be a present reality.
The State
churches have fallen into a low position of having to jump through hoops for the
State, just to claim what is already theirs. The County wants to do the same
thing with us. They want to qualify us as a Church. But as soon as they start
trying to qualify the Church, they enter into establishing religion. Now they
are telling the Church what it can and cannot do.
The County has
told us that we have not taken advantage of our statutory right to appeal the
Assessor's denial. We believe we cannot appeal their decision. To appeal is to
acknowledge that the County has the authority to qualify a Church and to grant
or deny the Church an exemption. We continue to stand on the Lord Jesus Christ
and are not subject to the State's procedures. A Christian follows truth
wherever it takes him. The world, on the other hand, follows procedures, and
not the truth.
We may have made
a hundred errors, but we could not care less. We may have "missed appeal
rights" and this and that, but it does not matter because we are seekers of
Truth and that is what we want them to follow, too. Their forefathers used
procedures to take Jesus off of the land. They had no accusations against Him.
They crucified a perfect man. And their procedures crucified Him.
Now they have
come against our Lord Jesus Christ by removing His Church from the land. And
they are hoping to prevail, not because Truth is on their side, but because they
have followed their procedures.
By mercy and truth iniquity is
purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. Proverbs 16:6
More
information on the Military Raid on the Embassy of Heaven Church |
