Dateline: New York City, The Borough of “Brooklyn”
I have received this information from a very reliable source. Unfortunately I cannot reveal “who” this source is as it may put them in jeopardy. . . . . . . .The source states represents a church in Brooklyn states that back in November 2011 the Bloomberg Administration sent them a survey to find out if they were “tax exempt”. In fact, they sent this survey to all churches in Brooklyn. If they answered were NOT tax exempt, starting January 1, 2012 they would be taxed at the going rate.
Why is this being done? The Bloomberg Administration believes that : Too many churches are sitting on “prime real estate” that they are not using.
Case in point. Brooklyn is known as “The Borough of Churches” where there is literally a church on every corner, and some in between the blocks. Whether these churches are storefronts or edifices, the Bloomberg Administration has noticed the fact that most of these churches are only open on Sundays and perhaps another day during the week. They have also noticed that these churches have very small congregations.
The “BA” have gone so far to suggest that instead of having 10 small churches within a three block area, that all of the congregations should get together and share one building instead of “hogging property”. My paraphrase.
Now the “BA” knows that the majority of these little churches are NOT tax exempt, that their small congregations are poor and can barely pay tithes and offerings for upkeep of the building and salaries. They were also well aware that the majority of these churches don't have their “financial papers in order”. And if said churches tried to file for tax exemption they would NEVER make the January 1, 2012 deadline. Thus, they would be taxed.
What happens then? The majority of these churches will be shuttered permanently. All the Bloomberg Administration will do is move in and “grab the plunder”. They will take over the property and sell it to the highest bidder. Unfortunately, real estate is at such a premium here in New York City, people are willing to pay top dollar for space ANYWHERE. Even in the East Flatbush and Bedford Stuyvesant, two of the roughest and most crime ridden sections of Brooklyn!
Fortunately my source's church is (and has been for years) tax exempt. Praise God.
Now this brings up a major question. Could this be the start of persecution of the Church?
If so, it is only because we as Christians have not been vigilant. God has blessed us with buildings and real estate but what have we done with it? God blessed us with it to be used for His Kingdom. If it's properly used, the church would be active every day of the week, not only just on Sunday and (maybe)Wednesday, or Friday nights.
If the church truly ministered to the community, there would be more much more members attending. There would be a much wider variety of people there too. What is the church's OUTREACH programs doing?
The bible gives all Christians “The Great Commission”, to go out and tell the lost about Jesus, and His plan of Salvation! To compel them to come! That means everyone, so that His House may be filled! So a church should NOT be just a couple of elderly people and when they die the church dies and closes. That is an insult to the Kingdom Of God!
Of course the “enemy” is well aware of this and moved in for the kill. . . . . .
This the very reason that the Pilgrims left England and sailed over to what was known then as “The New World”, The United States. They left because they were Christians and wanted to be able to worship God freely.
Why? Because The Church Of England (The United Kingdom's State Church) owns all of the church buildings. If you are not a “state regulated religion”, you are not allowed to own a building. Christian fellowships in England must rent theaters, auditoriums, halls, and such to hold their services and meetings. It has been like this ever since the time of the Pilgrims and it is NOW, as some of my friends and relatives who live in and visited the UK can attest.
My final question is, has this come to America? The bible does warn that judgment will first come to the House Of The Lord. Why? Because, like the Old Testament Israelites, WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT what our responsibilities are. But, instead of being VIGILEANT we have become lax, lazy, and complacent.
Now that the fox is in the chicken house, it's gonna be hell to get him out. . . . . . . .
