Since the the mid 1950’s the IRS has had somewhat of a strangle hold on churches, their pastors, and even the congregations with regards to what may be preached from the pulpit and what kind of political activities the church as a whole may participate in then, or else the IRS may pull their Non-Profit status. That would cause them to pay taxes just like a business. Stinks, doesn’t it?
In 1954 Lynden B. Johnson, conspired (as some say) with the IRS about this regulation. The 501 (c) (3) issue has been the feared bear at the edge of the forest for Pastors and churches.
However, this year Pastors from more than 475 churches nationwide have registered to participate in the Alliance Defense Fund’s fourth annual Pulpit Freedom Sunday on Oct. 2 as part of their “Pulpit Initiative”. The total number of pastors who will participate reflects nearly five times as many participants as last year’s total of approximately 100 pastors. Obviously the message got out that the rule of churches and 501 (c) (3) is a sham.
“Pastors and churches shouldn’t live in fear of being punished or penalized by the government,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Erik Stanley. “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. No government-recognized status can be conditioned upon the surrender of a constitutionally protected right. That’s why ADF started Pulpit Freedom Sunday: to get the government out of the pulpits of America.”
This year once again, the pastors have committed to preach sermons on this day that present biblical perspectives on the positions of electoral candidates. In so doing, they will exercise their constitutionally protected right to free religious expression despite a problematic Internal Revenue Service rule that activist groups often use to silence churches.
Finally! Some pastors around the country will help take the fear out of the IRS for many churches.
But Johnson, pulled the wool over the eyes of the unsuspecting and those who were more than willing join in lock step with the so-called trusted elected officials they voted for! And….the IRS would have churches believe that they are not allowed to speak freely about political issues from the pulpit because they were then a legal “charity” or Non-Profit.
But that is totally wrong. Section 508 of the IRS Code that was written long before Johnson could get his conniving hands on it. And….Section 508 exempts any church (registered or otherwise) from paying taxes…..AND…..says nothing about the church being quiet about politics.
Could the IRS be on it's way out?
