The Associated press reports,
“Churches (501-c-3s) should have the right to endorse political candidates and still keep their tax-free status, say House Republicans targeting a law that prohibits such outright politicking from the pulpit.
Republicans repeatedly have failed to scrap the law preventing churches and other nonprofits from backing candidates, so now they are trying to starve it. With little fanfare, a House Appropriations subcommittee added a provision that would deny money to the IRS to enforce the 63-year-old law to a bill to fund the Treasury Department, Securities and Exchange Commission and other agencies” (July 1, 2017).
Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Ohio stated, “I believe that churches (government churches) have a right of free speech and an opportunity to talk about positions and issues that are relevant to their faith.” In using the term “believe,” it should be obvious this Republican is trying to force his religious beliefs on the rest of Congress.
Some Democrats say the measure comes too close to mixing church and state. They say religious leaders (state religious orgs) already have First Amendment rights, just like anyone else. But if they want to get political, they don’t have a constitutional right not to pay taxes.
Likewise, the statement supra reflects the view of Democrats who wish to control churches with their religious beliefs . . . that churches shouldn’t get political . . . that churches should pay taxes. What?
The great issue in America is not whether Americans are religious, but whose religion is going to control the country — the religion of secularists . . . the religion of Christians . . . or the religions of Islam?
The article goes on to address the fears of ecclesiastical leaders that the IRS might revoke a church’s tax exempt status if they endorse political candidates.
It’s all so bewildering . . . except to the Biblical mind.
It’s important that church leaders think Biblically and understand the following.
First, the church of God is sovereign.
When a politician uses the term “church” he is referring to government church called a 501 religious organization. He is not referring to a Biblically structured free-church which operates exclusively under Christ and his shepherds founded upon Holy Scripture.
The true Church is not under the authority of any government. It is under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ sitting at the right hand of God.
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Second, the government is not the head of the church.
The Lord Jesus is the head of the church. The church is called to honor Christ and surrender to His authority and His law-order. Not holding up the Head is a serious sin of churchmen (Ephesians 1:19ff; Colossians 2:8-19).
Do not hear what is not being said. Individual Christians may be obligated to obey certain statutes of the State because they are citizens of a nation, but the true Church has no duty to civil rulers and their wishes, beliefs, and wants for the church. Individual Christians may have some taxes to pay, but the Church of Jesus Christ is not nor ever has been taxable by the State. If anything, civil rulers are duty bound to tithe to the Church and to obey Christ in their sphere of service.
Third, in America the State has no authority to regulate religion, define religion, order religion, rule religion, tax religion, or pass laws towards churches. Why is it that politicians have difficulty with the word “no”?
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion . . . (First Amendment).
“No law” means Congress can’t pass a single bill to regulate, tax, or control the Church.
If the First Amendment means anything it means that Congress has to keep its greedy, controlling hands off the Church, its creeds, its money, its practices, and its pastors. It is the will of Christ the Church remain free to be His servant.
Fourth, the church is obligated to be the conscience of the State and to address the issues of politics. The term “politics” generally refers to the affairs of the State and its policies. Because the State’s laws are a product of morality and religious beliefs, churchmen are duty bound to judge, discern, address, correct, criticize, offer, advise, and rebuke the laws passed by rulers that are contrary to the law of the Lord God. Isn’t this correct?
If the First Commandment means anything it means that Christians are not to engage in legal pluralism; that is, to honor a legal system contrary to the Ten Commandments and relevant case law. Government is not a god even thought it competes with God for the affection of the people. But, government is a god when Christians are more concerned about being right with the State than being right with the Lord. Moreover, when government is a god in the minds of Christians, they can not be trusted not to betray you.
Moreover, Jesus said, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” To put it another way, even Caesar has a duty to God. The Spirit instructs rulers to “kiss the the Son” (Matthew 22:21; Psalm 2). Any government that fails to honor Christ and His law-order must be carefully resisted and cautiously obeyed. There is another king, King Jesus, that Christians are commanded to obey (Acts 17:7).
A religious organization that fastidiously surrenders to public policy is more than likely living in rebellion towards Christ.
Fifth, while the State cannot regulate true, free-Christian churches, it can and must regulate compromising church groups that have surrendered their sovereignty to become a religious 501-c-3 organization.
When a church signs a contact with the State, the State appoints the IRS as Head over its non-profit Organization. In so doing, the Church commits treason to Christ and becomes duty bound to obey the most criminal organization in the world, the IRS. Isn’t this correct?
No, a religious organization may not be involved in politics. CEO’s (pastors) of these organizations are obligated to obey its lord, the IRS. Shame on a so-called “Christian” religious organizations that rebels against its contract!.
But, this is not the situation of the free-church.
Yes, a free-church should be involved in politics . . . at least addressing the issues of our time from God’s Word. Like Israel of old, the New Israel is to be God’s prophet among the nations.
Psalm 105:15 Saying to the nations, “Touch not mine anointed (Israel), and do my prophets (church pastors) no harm.
Just as their is fake news, there are fake Christians. Christians that don’t believe in mixing politics and religion are AWOL from their God-given duty to enter the battle as a Christian soldier to wage war against the gates of hell (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
Because Christian Churches did not fight the Johnson Amendment in 1954, main stream religious organizations became silent, irrelevant, and trivial. Consequently, the religious Left rose to power to cram its religious beliefs of secularism, communism, abortion, feminism, Sodomy, Lesbianism, faggot marriage, and transvestite mental illness down the throats of children in public schools with little to no resistance from these compromised, religious 501-c-3 non-prophets.
It’s time to repent . . . but repentance for these serf-organizations that now worship god government . . . in their chains . . . will come at a high price (Revelation 2:5).
Brooky Stockton, BA, MSL, PHD.
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