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Originally Posted by Mark
Maybe I missed something, but after reading Nord Davis' pardon me, but..., I still don't get the following:
Hypothetically speaking:
say I accept all receipts given to me, and insist on one when not offered one: for the simple purpose of keeping track of all my expenses--I like to know where my money goes. Besides, how could the IRS possibly know if I've accepted a sales receipt or not? Makes no sense to me.
Maybe some one here could enlighten me? Thanks
Peace
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True, it doesn't explain that. I suspect it is because when You keep records and accounting You are considered to be in commerce and lex mercatoria applies (consider reading that whole post at the forum link, it goes into employment vs laboring as a workman etc. I think all said in the post can be found here: http://www.ecclesia.org/truth but that post is well put together): http://forums.ourchurch.com/viewtopic.php?p=8804&sid=8dcb1ebf2c9add81a2dc39c8f c2f556b
"Buying, Selling, and Trading
Buying, selling, or trading is not necessarily 'commercial activity' or contrary to Scripture. How, and for what purpose you transact, determines whether or not it is considered a 'commercial activity' and contrary to the Law of God. Creating a record, such as the giving or receiving of a receipt, constitutes commercial activity.
Calling yourself 'the owner' (which is a commercial term) constitutes commercial activity, for God is 'The Owner' of everything (Psalm 24:1, Isaiah 44:24, 2 Corinthians 5:18). Charging or paying interest through extended credit for such transactions constitutes commercial activity through 'suretyship' and is contrary to Scripture (Proverbs 6:1-2; 11:15, Romans 13:8, 2 Kings 18:23,31). Advertising to the 'general public' (the secular world, atheists, and other infidels), to sell a product or your labor, constitutes commercial activity and is not favored in Scripture.
It simply has to do with venue and jurisdiction. Are you living the Law in accordance with the One True God of Scripture, or the god of Mercury (the god of commerce)? When operating within your community and with brethren, the use of receipts, records, advertising, profiteering for abundant gain, free government benefits, charging or paying interest, etc., is not necessary and therefore should not be used if you wish to remain non-commercial. All bondmen of Christ should be operating by word of mouth within their community and supporting one another (Romans 13:8).
Other Sales
Someone may ask what one should do if they would like to exchange their possessions for money, such as having a "Garage Sale," "Yard Sale," etc. Well, if one puts such a sign out in front of their home, then this is engaging in commercial activity, because it not only advertises to the secular public, but is advertising that something is for "sale," which is a commercial term, and the "things" all have prices attached to them, which is a mark of a merchant. There is a maxim of law which states, "The payment of the price stands in the place of a sale." And this is one way the government acquires jurisdiction over you, when someone places the burden of a price on things, and when someone makes the payment of that price, that constitutes a "sale," and this is commercial activity. All sales are under the lex mercatoria. The problem with putting a price on anything is that it represents seeking gain.
So, what is one to do? Well, one can place a sign that says, "books," "records," "kitchen supplies," and other such descriptions above the things you are getting rid of. Do not place prices on anything you have. When someone comes up to you and is interested in "buying" something, just ask them to give you whatever they are led by the Spirit to give. Nobody can accuse you of "selling" anything, because you are not advertising a "sale," and you don't have prices on anything! If they feel uncomfortable, and say they don't want to pay less than what it's worth, you can tell them, "Don't worry about that. The Lord provides either through you or others. Those who pay more than enough, make up for those who pay less than enough."
If a policeman says, "you need a permit to have a yard sale," just tell him, "I'm not selling anything." For example, if somebody walked up to a police officer and offered to buy his gun, does that mean the police officer was selling his gun? No. Likewise, if someone walks up to you and offers to buy your book, this does not mean you are selling anything. Would it matter if the policeman had a sign above his gun that said, "Gun"? No. Likewise, if there was a sign hung above some books that said "Books," it does not mean it's for sale.
Final Thoughts on Prices
We got a phone call one time, and the man greeted us in the name of the Lord. He started asking us about prices, and we said we don't have any prices. I got the feeling that he was from the government (IRS, whatever), and he was just testing me out. One of the things he brought up in the conversation is, "Well, how can you do that? How do you balance your accounts payable and your accounts receivable?" And I said, "Well, I don't know what those things are. I don't find, whatever they are, in the Word of God. And, therefore, they must have to do with the concerns of the world, and I'm not concerned with the things of the world. The Lord has freely given and we freely receive from Him, and I do the same. It sounds like a record, and I'm not concerned with that. I don't have to keep a record of what the Lord gives me. He provides for my needs, I don't have to keep track of what he provides for me."
As soon as he said, "accounts payable and accounts receivable," those are terms of the lex mercatoria and we have to stay away from those things. When you keep records then you're concerned with your profits, and what we're doing is not for profit! I'm simply serving the Lord and He'll provide for my needs if He wants me to continue what I'm doing. That's why we don't have to have prices. Prices represent gain, and I'm not here to gain.
Man's maxim of law says, "The payment of the price stands in the place of a sale." So, as soon as you put a price on anything and entered into a sale, the lex mercatoria will regulate that. And then you come under the IRS and all those things." http://forums.ourchurch.com/viewtopic.php?p=8804&sid=8dcb1ebf2c9add81a2dc39c8f c2f556b
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