Quoting from The Role of Pastors and Christians in Civil Government by David Barton, “In earlier generations, American ministers stood in the pulpit and called candidates and parties by name, set forth their positions, compared them to the Bible, and then advised that a Christian should or should not vote for a candidate or a party based on what the candidate said compared with what the Bible said…”
There is no Biblical model where God had his ministers remain silent with civil leaders, or on civil issues. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. When did it all change? What happened? In 1954, Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson added a rider to an appropriations bill in the U.S. Senate, which effectively muzzled any organization with a 501 (c)(3) status. Johnson’s goal was to end McCarthyism, protect the loyalist wing of the Texas Democratic Party and win re-election to the Senate.
Few Christians realize that these current restrictions have been in place for less than 50 years. American law books and early American sermons clearly demonstrate that such is the case. To a large extent this began the “silence from the pulpit.”
Alliance Defending Freedom started Pulpit Freedom Sunday, the goal of which is simple — have the Johnson Amendment declared unconstitutional and stop the ability of the IRS to censor what a pastor says in the pulpit. In 2008, there were 33 pastors from 22 states participating in PFS. In 2009, more than 80 pastors. In 2010, nearly 100 pastors participated. In 2011, the number jumped to 539. As of this date, none of the churches that have participated in Pulpit Freedom Sunday have had their tax-exempt status revoked nor have they received any penalties for expressing support or opposition to political candidates. Not even for comparing positions held by candidates with what scripture says about the issues. They went so far as to make specific recommendations about the candidates and recommended whether the congregation should vote for or against them.
These pastors brought all this to the attention of the IRS hoping that an audit would result in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Johnson Amendment.
Pulpit Freedom Sunday falls on Oct. 7 this year. Please pray about joining those already involved in this endeavor. It is time to end “silence from the pulpit.”
You make me laugh and laugh and laugh.
You Wrote:A true Christian makes decisions based on prayer and beliefs. If a Christian goes to the poll and votes based on Christian beliefs and values in November such as I plan to do they will not vote for a man that has gone against Christian beliefs on several occasions, has lied to the people, and is quick to claim executive privilege.
I reply: So you are going to vote for the Mormon wjo believes that Satan and Jesus were brothers? Or that magic underwear must be worn in temple?
Your whole schtick is just cover for the same ideas the KKK espoused.
I see the usual suspects blathering about " Liberal Churches.......Sure.....
Thats totally the same as Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity and FOX spewing craziness and vitriol 24/7.
Rhuidean
In the mid-'60s, I attended Civil-Rights meetings in churches in Mississippi, in '64 over 30 churches were burned, and today Black Citizens are Voting all over the state of Mississippi.Because Fannie Lu Hamer of Ruleville said, "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired !"
TAX THE CHURCH.
Removing the tax exempt status from churches would free them to become an extension of the Republican Party without any interference from the IRS.
You say that you want to have a larger place for your tea party to meet. Well, how about supporting local businesses by RENTING some space!
Henry VIII was an ideal example of the joining of Church and State. Heads rolling. People burning at the stake. Torture chambers to get the truth about religious controversy. A wonderful way to legislate.
Jimmy Carter is the only president I can think of that fit your qualifications. And I bet the mere mention of his name makes your blood pressure rise.
I knew I could count on you: just push the button and the toy repeats its line.
The phraseology here betrays a lack of biblical knowledge.
First, the old testament was all about the establishment, history, governance, philosopy and prophecy concerning a theocracy. There was no distinction between civil and spiritual leaders in the nation of Israel (or many other nations at that time). It was all about God and his governance of his people through various forms of leadership (Moses, judges, kings, prophets). It provides NO basis for and interface between separate entities of "church" and "state" because there was no distinction.
The new testament does address church and state (although most states at the time were also theocracies, though we often do not view them that way). Jesus says "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's." He tells Pilate that "My kingdom is not of this world." Paul tells early Christians to be obey other governments and be as good a citizen as they can be (read with his other works, Paul no doubt would not condone emperor worship or participation in pagan religion, which was intertwined with almost all governments at the time).
So your basis in scripture is lacking when you demand that churches allow themselves to be influenced by (or become the mouth-pieces of) particular political organizations. Obviously the church can hold general positions (such as traditional marriage or helping the poor) based upon its scriptural principals. But once it engages in partisan endorsements or support, it is compromising the kingdom it represents: a kingdom that is not of this world.
The majority of pastors in the U.S. probably disagree with the Tea Party. Catholics, Jews, mainstream Protestants, even many "evangelicals".
How do you feel about these other ministers using their pulpits to oppose your point of view? What if there are more of them preaching against Tea Party candidates than preaching for them?
If you want your church to be a political organization all it has to do is start paying taxes. If you want it to be a non-profit then it can't be a political organization.
It's really that simple, and it doesn't just apply to churches. There are many non-profit organizations that would champ at the bit to use their tax free funds for political purposes.
btw you might want to look up the 'credentials' of Mr. Barton. The man is about as anti-American as you can get.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David_Barton_(author)&oldid=506294921