For those of you who pay attention to new posts on our forum, the man who wrote me is named Don Porter, and I use his full name because he makes it public on his site. He claims to be part of an autonomous, independent local church, part of the priesthood of all believers, a pastor, a deacon, an individual soul, separated by baptism and the Lord Supper, and president of "bibleschool.edu," which doesn't seem like it has any students in the first place, but it's hard to tell. This is what he wrote to us in his introduction thread, which I will link to later in this post. Don's in his mid to late 60s based on the information I gathered on him, so in a nutshell, we have an older man who claims he's been a preacher for a long time, and you can probably already tell, just from this information alone, how this is going to end--it's very common for these kinds of people to claim they are reasonable, but they refuse to reason anything out. The beginning of this is the email Don wrote initially wrote me, and if you read everything, you will find the hypocrisy to be staggering.
DON PORTER FROM INDIANA (APR 21, 2022):
I truly have enjoyed reading the info on your website. You are extremely detailed and studied -
I have been in church since 1972 and all of the church buildings have been organized via 501c3. Over the past few years, it has become evident, because of personal study, that our local visible assemblies need to take a pause.
There is a small unregistered church movement, but it needs to grow. Of course, as I have tried to hit this issue in my area, much resistance is experienced. Prayerfully, as the Lord leads, I intend to organize a local NT assembly in my hometown of North Vernon, IN.
After reading your discourse about 501c3 and knowing that the church, as we worship together, is the local visible assembly, I wonder about an issue. I agree with your discourse but am unsure how to argue the point of taxes due if an assembly decides to have a building on a piece of purchased property. Even a non-501c3 assembly will be required to pay property taxes, correct?
I'm attempting to analyze and critically think about this issue as I move forward with a new church plant.
Thanks for any time you may have to offer feedback.
I have had these kinds of questions for many years, and I'm going to warn you ahead of time that you will (most likely) not like my answer. (By the way, did you read the whole book, or did you just read part of it?)
The problem is not with property taxes. The problem is with the way of thinking that churchgoers have, in which they have a corporate church-ianity mentality, instead of the Biblical philosophy they should, so they focus on a "new church plant," which is based on making buildings instead of evangelizing.
The following are some links if you want to do some investigation, and if not, that is up to you. Have a great day.
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The Church is Not a Building(According to the Bible, it is impossible to "go to church.")
How does our church handle finances without 501c3?(From the FAQ)
How do we start a bank account without 501c3?(From the FAQ)
You won’t upset me, I’m not the average Christian that refuses to reason together.
God’s Word is paramount to me, and changes must happen in the NT body.
House, tent, river side, field - wherever the Lord allows. I’m not extremely burdened about this issue of the NT church. The biggest obstacle are those you live in the ministry offering 0 opportunities for discussion.
Thanks be into God for his unspeakable gift
I appreciate the reasonable disposition. I hope the information is helpful.
I'm not extremely burdened about this issue of the NT church...Should have said "I am" extremely, apologies
At this point, a day or two passed, and Don decided to create an account and join our forum. He did the typical churchianity-pastor thing, in which he puffed himself up with all his worldly titles and accomplishments. Here is the link to that thread so you can read what happened:http://www.creationliberty.com/forum/index.php?topic=1552.0That put many of us on guard immediately, and if you read it all, you will see how he accuses all of us for "being divisive" (i.e. every person on this forum, including the majority of which he has never spoken with) for just asking him questions, and then throws a divisive tantrum against us for it. After reading his writing and listening to one of his videos, I am fully convinced that he doesn't understand the basics of Scripture, even though he claims to, and his go to verse to defend himself is John 3:16--he uses that to respond to people instead of answering their questions.
After we had to ban him (for contention and spam, because he was making new, one-sentence threads where he was accusing everyone on this forum of random things), I wrote him back:
You won’t upset me, I’m not the average Christian that refuses to reason together. You lied.Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
-Col 3:9I told you that you wouldn't like my answer, and I know you didn't, even though you tried to hide it. I know you didn't read the whole book on 501c3 (I can easily tell just by what you wrote), but you don't need to read it. The following book is what you need to read, even though we both know you won't, but my job is to provide it, and let others decide for themselves what they will do:
Why Millions of Believer on Jesus are Going to HellI am preaching repentance (i.e. grief and godly sorrow) and remission of sins as Christ taught us...
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
-Luke 24:46-47...but you are preaching church-ianity, which is why you focus on creating buildings instead of evangelizing, it is why you struggled to understand how to exist without incorporated status, and it is also why you erroneously believe 501c3 is the source of the problem. I appreciate you coming onto the forum for a short time because the small amount of conversation you provided helped me discern the matter. Thank you for your time.
I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
-3Jo 1:9-10pre-eminence (n): priority of place; superiority in rank or dignity; superiority of power or influenceI pray the Lord Jesus Christ would have as much mercy on you and your family as He has had on me and mine. Have a great day.
There’s nothing you can teach me about Salvation, Repentance, Christ, and the Church. All of your forum participants have the urge to edify themselves and create argument.
It appears that exalting Chris and not Christ is the drive of your followers.
Beware of them that cause divisions among you - your followers use the freedom of Grace to hurt the cause of Christ for selfish and fleshly reasons.
The Holy Spirit pricks my heart , teaches me, and guides me. I saw nothing on your forum that supports individual soul liberty other than the individual haughtiness that was liberally meted out.
So, wisdom dictates that a mature Christian leave such childish games dealt to other Believers.
You may need this:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
You may need this:
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
-Luke 12:51Have a great day, and I pray the Lord Jesus Christ blesses you and your family with all your needs throughout the coming rough months in this country.
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
-1Pe 3:9
END OF DISCUSSION
Forum members are welcome to leave their own thoughts and comments below, especially since some of you spoke with him before he got banned. I just found it hilarious that, according to Porter's own words, I started out to have wisdom and understand, and within 48 hours, I no longer had wisdom and understanding. That's an amazing trick. 
I'm being facetious, obviously, but the reason people do that is because they speak before they listen, meaning that all those compliments were just flattering lips because he has spent far too long playing church-ianity politics with people who love flattering lips, and was not expecting rebuke from actual Christians.
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