Ministry News

Getting Government Out of the Pulpit, Take II

Details: Tuesday, 29 September 2009 11:15

QUOTE: "Pastors have a right to speak about biblical truths from the pulpit without fear of punishment. No one should be able to use the government to intimidate pastors into giving up their constitutional rights. [The Alliance Defense Fund] is not trying to get politics into the pulpit. On the contrary, the whole point is that churches should be allowed to decide for themselves what they want to talk about. The IRS should not be the one making the decision by threatening to revoke a church's tax-exempt status. We need the government to get out of the pulpit." —Erik Stanley, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, which this past weekend held its second annual "Pulpit Freedom Sunday," in which at least 80 pastors across the nation again challenged IRS rules by preaching on the biblical alignment of various political candidates and government officials. With the urging of such organizations as Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the IRS has investigated multiple cases of pastors supporting or speaking out against particular candidates from the pulpit, yet only one has resulted in a church losing its tax-exempt status. [wnd.com, 9/26/09]

Subscribe to Ministry Today magazine

Comments

+2 #4 Jean 2009-09-29 17:16

The church is not a charity organization (at least not the one Jesus purchased with His blood). The fear that is being spoken of occurs when the Church stops being the Church. When assemblies decide to provide community services instead of being a place for souls to get saved. When one can not tell the difference between The Church and United Way something is wrong. Tithes and offerings is Gods way, not loans and government grants. If assemblies want to be considered 501C organizations, then that assembly must comply with the rules that govern 501C organizations. Let the Church be the Church. As long as the Church is the Church there is nothing to fear.

Quote

+1 #3 David Hodgin 2009-09-29 11:10

The IRS monitoring churches to be certain they are operating within the limits of their charter/statement of faith is the IRS's job. The Church is to provide biblical, spiritual and charitable support to the community. Affirming or condemning a candidate is out of place in churches that want to take advantage of 503-c-3 status. Keep in mind a church can operate as a for-profit business and the pastor can say anything they want. BTW any pastor who is "afraid" of the IRS, should hang up his Bible. We are to preach the Word, it will wrinkle a few noses and some churches could lose their tax exempt status, but that's better than losing God's presence from our church.

Quote

+2 #2 Hilda 2009-09-29 09:04

I could be wrong, however, but I see the church's fear of losing "tax exempt" status as not pleasing to God on so many levels. God has Not given us a spirit of fear.
Have we forgotten that HE is Jehovah Jhireh our provider.
The Word says we are NOT to fear what man can do to us.
NOW, in light of just those three truths--where in heavens name does this fear of the IRS come from anyway. "He whom the son sets FREE is free indeed". Jesus wasn't afraid to render unto Ceasar what belonged to Ceasar (taxes) so when and where did the church develope this fear of paying taxes--if it came down to having to pay them? Just wondering!!!!!!!!!!

Quote

0 #1 Pastor Milton Brock 2009-09-29 08:54

" AMEN and AMEN !!!" I could only say IS at times WE need to just TRUST the "WORD of GOD" The WORD tells US that "The LORD will FIGHT for YOU and YOU shall hold YOUR peace!!! "
It also tells us to be " VIGILANT" When YOU are tuned UP in the SPIRIT at the time the SPIRIT will tell YOU what YOU should say and DO !!! MIlton Brock

Quote

Refresh comments list
RSS feed for comments to this post