Is a church a business?

Here ins Sheffield, a business that has been open for years selling alcohol was shut down. The local ordinance requires business selling alcohol be greater than 300 feet away from a church.  Due to a mis-measurement, it was found they were 297 feet away.

 That's just ridiculous. Who's to know if the 297 ft. wasn't a mis-measurement?

Hi Chick,

You ask, "Is a church a business?"

No, it is a ministry.  A Christian church is a ministry ordained by God for the edification, teaching, encouragement, and salvation of His flock, the body of Christian believers who worship in the local church.  And, this is why our founding fathers and leaders were wise enough to not allow the burden of taxation upon the body of Christ.  Everything comes from God -- so, how can we tax what we return to Him?

And, that body of believers is a family to all who believe.   For many, it is the only family.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

The facts are these:

1. Russellville enacted the law--it can modify it.

2. Just because it is the "law," does not mean it is a "legal law." How's that for redundancy?

3. This law is being enforced not because of the position of the church building, but because of the location of a children's playground that is near the would-be liquor store.

4. As I understand the case at this point, Salah is suing for "racial descrimination," and not contesting the law per se. This will be a harder case to win.

5. How interesting that we have a topic on this and I've not seen one on the lawsuit brought by women who claim to have been sexually abused by a certain Russellville police sergeant? Are these our values?

Salah Salah

SOME churches are RUN like businesses. I have heard that there is one in Muscle Shoals that requires a credit check on all potential members.

Of course churches are businesses. BIG business too.

To give a simple answer, yes, churches are businesses.  Want to fix the budget?  Eliminate the tax-free entities and apply the laws equally.  If you remove the rock you will find a lot of snakes hiding there.  And I am not just picking on religious institutions.

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Good grief, Bill! Who said anything about tax? Did you read my post or just look at the title?

You claim to be so smart & know so much about your "home town" area, answer me this.

South Side Baptist Church is within 397 ft. of his store, so for that reason he is being denied. If a church is not a business, why do they refer to it as such in denying this man a license?

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I didn't see anything in that article about a playground.

What I saw was "Russellville attorney Danny McDowell said the decision not to address the license is based on opposition from a church that is next door to Salah’s store on U.S. 43".

As to my topic, if you have a problem with a Russellville police sergeant sexually abusing women, why haven't you started a topic on it?

And as to your link, if that article was meant to be funny, I didn't find it so. That kind of thing is to serious to joke about. If it is indeed a real report that actually took place, I'm surprised there hasn't been people trying to run this man out of town.

(In case anyone cares, this was edited because I hit Submit by accident before I was finished with my post.)

How interesting that we have a topic on this and I've not seen one on the lawsuit brought by women who claim to have been sexually abused by a certain Russellville police sergeant? Are these our values?

Salah Salah

Semi started this thread about something she wanted to discuss, so if you want to discuss something else start a thread about it. And the little "interview" was silly, and very racist imo.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

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I get the meaning behind your post but be prepared. You'll catch Hell from the Christians because an Atheist quoted a scripture. We non-believers & Atheist aren't allowed to do that.

The mock interview had nothing to do with race. It had to do with religion. Salah is claiming discrimination because of religion, not race. Big difference.

From Semi:

I didn't see anything in that article about a playground.

I obtained my info from a member of the town council, but apparently it has been in the news as well. This is from WAAY:

Southside Baptist Church, Hwy. 43 Russellville Russellville, AL - Many church members at Southside Baptist Church in Russellville are upset that the TNS Mini-mart next door, formerly known as Ray's Southside, wants to sell alcohol. The city's ordinance requires there to e at least 300 feet between places that sell alcohol and churches.  Although the store is 397 feet from the actual church building, it's only 235 feet away from where children have worship programs on Wednesday night.  It's 187 feet from the church's playground and basketball courts. "The biggest thing is we just don't want alcohol sold this close to the church," said interim pastor Daniel Welborn.  "We're going to take a stand on that.  We feel like that's what we need to do through the church, and that's what God wants us to do.  So, that's what we're doing taking a stand." Store manager Kelley Trace said that the business needs the alcohol sales to stay afloat during hard economic times. "It's not anything against the church," said Trace.  "It's business, and business is slow.  Everybody needs help.  The economy's bad, and we need something to boost it." The city council tabled the topic at its last meeting.  It will be brought up again on at the council meeting on Monday, Nov. 21.

1. racist- a person with a prejudiced belief that one race is superior to others

Adj. 1. racist- based on racial intolerance; "racist remarks"

2. racist- discriminatory especially on the basis of race or religion

How interesting that we have a topic on this and I've not seen one on the lawsuit brought by women who claim to have been sexually abused by a certain Russellville police sergeant? Are these our values?

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Are you saying that not discussing the charges means lower values? Seriously I'm wondering. Or are you saying that you have come to the conclusion the charges are true? I don't know anything about the lawsuit. So what exactly does your question about values mean?

I did not use the term "lower" values. It would seem you inferred that. I'm sure many would place the ability to purchase beer over the protection of a woman from sexual abuse.

Currently, a former police sergeant, the police chief, and the city are being sued in civil court by five women. Four of these women have brought criminal suits. They each state this police sergeant sexually abused them in various manners while they were incarcerated. These suits, if won, can bankrupt the town.

The women's charges were investigated by the ABI and found to have merit. The former sergeant has been terminated.

I did not use the term "lower" values.

And I did not say you did. I wanted to know if that is what you meant by asking "are these our values". I wanted you to clarify. And again, why not make your own thread about that subject? I don't see how one thing has to do with the other.

Most churches ARE actually not-for-profit CORPORATIONS. They are INCORPORATED under the 501c3. Thank Lyndon Johnson for that- he wanted to silence political action in churches so he attached an ammendment to a bill and it was never debated. That is why they IRS threatens to revoke "tax-free" status of churches if the speak on political issues.

Coincidentally, that is also why most churches are run as businesses- don't like it? Change it. Facts aren't debateable.

SERIOUSLY???

Not for profit eh? Uh huh, sure. That's why they're worth BILLIONS!!! And just try to keep them out of politics. That's why they need the $^&* taxed out of them.

best do you have Workers Comp insurance on your employees?

EPL. I'm not sure if your question is serious or not. First, I don't adhere to the denominational doctrine of that church and have never visited that particular congregation. I do know that they practice church discipline. For instance, I have a friend who has been married four times and worships at a congregation belonging to that denomination in Killen. A deacon there told me even though he felt our friend and his wife (also much married) were living in sin, the idea is to fellowship them to provide as much support as possible.

My friend and his wife would never be welcome at the congregation dogsoldier mentioned, at least as long as they continued to live together. That tends to make some people mad and they respond with outrageous lies. The financial gossip surrounding that chuch won't go away, but it's always "a friend told me," never "I saw it with my own eyes."

Well, bill claims the bible is his "manual" so he needs to adhere to what it says. Of course we all know they interpret the bible to suit their practices and beliefs.

Try to keep up buff. Of course we have WC. 

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That's real Christian of that deacon to be gossiping about that couple. I suppose that's what he calls providing as much support as possible. It never fails to amuse me how Christians gossip about others in the church.

You should mention to that deacon that there's several scriptures in the Bible about gossip. One that comes to mind is Ephesians 4:29---"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers".

But it would be hypocritical of you to mention that to him since you were taking part in the gossip.