Read “The Harbinger” and you’ll see that we (America) are on the road to destruction. Our “tolerance” means less adherence to our own faith and values, hence the increased attack on anything Christian or moral. Photographers now, bakers, caterers, florists, bridal wear, etc.: all these and other businesses subject to the same stupid interpretation. And, I agree that churches’ IRS status is under attack. We are so doomed...
It is becoming more and more clear to more and more people that giving up IRS privileges is just what Bible-belieivng churches are going to have to do.
Incorporation and IRS status are NOT what makes a church a church to begin with. In fact, it will soon make a church less of a church, if it hasn't already, or not a church at all.
I am writing after many years of direct work with underground churches in, let's just say, "anti-Christian," and anti-missionary" countries. The underground churches are not registered, not incorporated, and without tax privileges. Some of them are still entirely unknown to officialdom. Are they legitimate churches ? By the definitions of many Americans, NO! They would be considered illegitimate to Americans who believe that to be legitimate, it must have a stamp of governmental approval and recognition.
There have always been unregistered (unincorporated, non-501(c)(3)) churches in the United States. In fact, there were NO 501(c)(3) churches before 1951, because such status didn't exist before 1951. All churches in the USA must have been phony before 1951 !! (sarc.)
The unregistered church movements that already exist in the USA (they DO exist and have been growing exponentially since 1980), will soon be the model for church organization. Currently they are not necessarily "underground," but they soon will be.