Greg Laurie to Gay Activists: 'I Won't Back Down'

A California megachurch pastor involved in the National Day of Prayer who has recently come under fire for his views on homosexuality has declared that he will not be intimidated.

At a prayer event held Wednesday morning at the Washington, D.C., office of the Family Research Council, Pastor Greg Laurie told those gathered, "I won't back down."

"They do not want me to pray. They describe me as 'homophobic' and so forth. How can you deal with such a situation? We're in a time in our country now where I'm attacked because I believe what the Bible teaches," said Laurie, ahead of Thursday's National Day of Prayer.

"If people want to make it all about that I'm not going to back down. In the immortal words of the great theologian Tom Petty, 'I won't back down,' I won't. I'm not going to apologize."

Laurie paralleled the efforts of gay rights activists to that of the palace officials who sought to stop Daniel (in the Old Testament) from praying and passed a law that resulted in him being thrown into the Lion's Den.

"Here is something that we need to learn from that. The Devil does not want us to pray. It's been said that Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees," said Laurie. "I've had people try to stop me from praying this week. And we have these activist homosexual groups who have alerted their people to petition the Pentagon."

The main focus of Laurie's speech was on the subject of prayer, which was in keeping with the theme of the FRC event. Among the points made was that it does not matter where one prays, so long as it was with a sincere heart.

"God did not hear the prayer of the pharisee. Why? Because the Bible says Jesus speaking, 'he prayed thus with himself,'" said Laurie.

"Prayer is the movement of our heart towards God and the main thing is we need to pray because you could pray in any position, anytime, anywhere … it does not matter where you pray, the main thing is just pray."

In recent days, LGBT organizations like the Human Rights Campaign have demanded that government officials bar Laurie from leading National Day of Prayer events in the nation's capital this week.

"Pastor Laurie's message is out of step with what the majority of people of faith across this country believe," said Dr. Sharon Groves, director of HRC's Religion & Faith Program. "In greater numbers than ever before, people of faith are feeling compelled to speak up and organize for equality – because of their faith."

This is not the first time gay activists have attempted to get clergy opposed to homosexuality removed from a major national event. In January, LGBT activists successfully got the Rev. Louie Giglio of Passion City Church in Roswell, Ga., to withdraw from saying the closing prayer at President Barack Obama's second inauguration.

Laurie's remarks came at an event sponsored by FRC titled "The National Day of Prayer Task Force Men's Prayer Meeting."

Other speakers at the event included a couple Christian businessmen, FRC Vice President for Church Ministries Dr. Kenyn Cureton, and John Bornschien, Vice Chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force.

.

You're correct.

The "strategic goal" of the pro-gay-marriage-farce movement is "NOT" about homosexual marriage or child adoption.

All of that is a political smokescreen for the Low-Information-Voters ... which by the way ... including MILLIONS of Twenty-Somethings (like my four adult chilrden) who know NOTHING of histroy and DESTRUCTION of a nation.

The real goal of the pro-gay-marriage-farce movement is to create a Perfect Storm to REMOVE the Churches' IRS 501 C-3 tax-exempt status.

This SATANIC PERFECT STORM is designed to force genuine Christian Churches into FINANCIAL POVERTY by having their (idolatrous) IRS 501 C-3 tax-exempt status revoked.

"IF" the U.S. Supreme Court ever declares "homosexual marriage" to be a FEDERAL RIGHT ... similar to Roe vs. Wade ...

"THEN" U.S. Churches that are tax-exempt (under IRS 501 C-3) and asre FEDERAL CONTRACTORS ... will be OBLIGATED to "honor" the U.S. Federal Government's policies towards "homosexual marriage".

It will be a repeat of the U.S. Supreme Court's REMOVAL of the tax-exempt status of Bob Jones University in 1973 because Bob Jones University refused to allow inter-racial dating and marriage.

Christian churches will be given the FEDERAL ULTIMATUM to either "Serve The LORD God or Mammon" ...

to either HONOR "homosexual marriage" ...

or to HONOR the Scriptures.

HOW MANY of your churches' congregation WILL LEAVE if they can no longer use their Tithes and Offerings as a TAX-DEDUCTION on their annual IRS tax forms ?

Far too many ... too many indeed ...

How many churches tell the U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT to "Go To Hell" and GLADLY ABANDON their IRS 501 C-3 tax-exemption-subsidy and instead HONOR God's Word ?

===============================

If "The Lord God" is apparently not answering Christian's prayers for the political salvation for America ...

then a "major part of that reason" is IRS 501 (c)(3) ...

where (secular) "church corporations" sell their soul (silence from the pulpit) in exchange for the IRS's "thirty-pieces of tax exempt staus" silver ...

and that's a "fact" .

Church "tax emempt status" is a VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT where a chuch VOLUNTARILY agrees to accept IRS silver in exchange of "political silence" ...

All the "great" American churches do it ... Pat "Korean War Coimbat Veteran" Robertson ...

San Antonio's Hagee ... Olsteen ... Billy Graham ...

all of them ...

Just attend your church's next congregational business meeting ... passing out copies of IRS 501 (c)(3) ...

and see how FAST you are ESCORTED out the door ...

with "extreme prejudice" ...

=========================================

"Federal Contract" IRS 501(c)(3) -- Source: Wikipedia

501(c)(3)501(c)(3) exemptions apply to corporations, and any community chest, fund, cooperating association or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, to foster national or international amateur sports competition, to promote the arts, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.[7][8]

These bodies are often referred to in shorthand form as "Friends of" organizations.[9][10][11][12][13]

Another provision, 26 U.S.C. § 170, provides a deduction, for federal income tax purposes, for some donors who make charitable contributions to most types of 501(c)(3) organizations, among others.

Regulations specify which such deductions must be verifiable to be allowed (e.g., receipts for donations over $250).

Due to the tax deductions associated with donations, loss of 501(c)(3) status can be highly challenging to a charity's continued operation, as many foundations and corporate matching programs do not grant funds to a charity without such status, and individual donors often do not donate to such a charity due to the unavailability of the deduction.

Testing for public safety is described under section 509(a)(4) of the code, which makes the organization a public charity and not a private foundation,[14] but contributions to 509(a)(4) organizations are not deductible by the donor for federal income, estate, or gift tax purposes.

The two exempt classifications of 501(c)(3) organizations are as follows:[15]

A public charity, identified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as "not a private foundation," normally receives a substantial part of its income, directly or indirectly, from the general public or from the government.

The public support must be fairly broad, not limited to a few individuals or families.

Public charities are defined in the Internal Revenue Code under sections 509(a)(1) through 509(a)(4).

A private foundation, sometimes called a non-operating foundation, receives most of its income from investments and endowments.

This income is used to make grants to other organizations, rather than being dispersed directly for charitable activities.

Private foundations are defined in the Internal Revenue Code under section 509(a) as 501(c)(3) organizations, which do not qualify as public charities.

Before donating to a 501(c)(3) organization, a donor may wish to review IRS Publication 78, which lists organizations currently exempt under 501(c)(3).[16]

Donors may also verify 501(c)(3) organizations on the web-based, searchable IRS list of charitable organizations[17] as well as on lists maintained by the states, typically on states' Departments of Justice websites.

Churches, however, have specific requirements to obtain and maintain tax exempt status; these are outlined in IRS Publication 1828: Tax guide for churches and religious organizations.[18]

This guide clearly outlines activities allowed and not allowed by churches under the 501(c)(3) designation.

A private, nonprofit organization, GuideStar, also provides reputable and detailed results for web-based searching to verify information on 501(c)(3) organizations.[19]

Consumers may file IRS Form 13909 with documentation to complain about inappropriate or fradulent (i.e., fundraising, political campaigning, lobbying) activities by any 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.[20]

Obtaining status:

Most organizations acquire 501(c)(3) tax exemption by filing IRS Form 1023.

The form must be accompanied by a $850 filing fee if the yearly gross receipts for the organization are expected to average $10,000 or more.[21][22]

If yearly gross receipts are expected to average less than $10,000, the filing fee is reduced to $400.[21][22]

There are some classes of organizations that automatically are treated as tax exempt under 501(c)(3), without the need to file Form 1023:

Churches, their integrated auxiliaries, and conventions or associations of churches[23]

Organizations that are not private foundations and that have gross receipts that normally are not more than $5,000[24]

The IRS also expects to release a software tool called Cyber Assistant, which will assist with preparation of the application for tax exemption.

But as of late 2011 the agency has stated "Software testing revealed problems requiring correction prior to public launch, and the IRS had to delay the release.

Because the IRS must balance a number of competing information technology needs, we cannot presently predict when Cyber Assistant will be available."[25]

Political activity:

Section 501(c)(3) organizations are subject to limits or absolute prohibitions on engaging in political activities and risk loss of status as tax exempt status if violated.[26]

ElectionsOrganizations described in section 501(c)(3) are prohibited from conducting political campaign activities to intervene in elections to public office.[27]

The Internal Revenue Service website elaborates upon this prohibition as follows:

Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office.

Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity.

Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.

Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances.

For example, certain voter education activities (including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity.

In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not be prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner.

On the other hand, voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention.

The Internal Revenue Service provides resources to exempt organizations and the public to help them understand the prohibition.

As part of its examination program, the IRS also monitors whether organizations are complying with the prohibition.

Lobbying:

In contrast to the absolute prohibition on political campaign interventions by all section 501(c)(3) organizations, public charities (but not private foundations) may conduct a limited amount of lobbying to influence legislation.

Although the law states that "No substantial part..." of a public charity's activities can go to lobbying, charities with large budgets may lawfully expend a million dollars (under the "expenditure" test), or more (under the "substantial part" test) per year on lobbying.[28]

To clarify the standard of the "substantial part" test, Congress enacted §501 (h) (called the Conable election after its author Representative Barber Conable). The section establishes limits based on operating budget that a charity can use to determine if it meets the substantial test.

This changes the prohibition against direct intervention in partisan contests only for lobbying.

The organization is now presumed in compliance with the substantiality test if they work within the limits. The Conable Election requires a charity to file a declaration with the IRS and file a functional distribution of funds spreadsheet with their Form 990.

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