Posted on 02/21/2008 8:14:18 AM PST by Alex Murphy
A column published earlier this month, entitled "To hell with the dole," seems to have hit a nerve with some readers. Essentially, these folks took issue with what they saw as my flippant use of a serious theological term. In response to these concerns, I want to be clear that I gave very serious thought to the use of the word "hell."
I would not have used the word "hell" if it did not have the precision I intended to convey.
Idolatry is a very serious matter. In fact, as we read through the biblical history of Israel, we see very quickly that it was God's primary concern in the Old Testament. (There's a reason the first commandment is "No. 1 on the list.") God was far more concerned about idolatry and right worship than about pretty much any other issue confronting the Israelites in their day.
Naturally, it's never an easy one-to-one match between the biblical context and our time, but we can draw some broad principles from this Old Testament reality – principles about God's hatred of "idols." And my point about 501(c)3 status was simply to assert that when the effective boldness of the church to confront our culture and to address the sin in that culture is compromised because of the financial "benefits" brought about by tax exemption, then the church has in effect become idolatrous. In this case it is far better that our 501(c)3 be banished to the pit of hell, metaphorically speaking, than for us to prosper materially while we sully the purity of our worship and zeal of our mission.
But I appreciate those who took the time to write and to raise concerns about my use of the word. I want to assure them that
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
The ostensible dilemna of whether or not a church dabbling into politics should remain tax exempt is a problem created by the unspoken assertion that the State has sovereignty and pre-eminence over the Church. Thus, tax-exempt status is something that must be applied for to - or withheld by - the State, in an act asserting the State's unspoken doctrine of pre-eminence.
Further, the State's tax rate on citizens is actually higher than the Old Testament's requirement of a tithe (10%) to be paid to God via the Church. And the State requires it's money to be collected first, in the form of withholding. Pre-eminence again. Such demands IMO mean the State is asserting certain attributes of Godhood for itself.
The State won't stop muzzling the churches in the United States, until the State recognizes the pre-eminence of God over the State itself first, and then recognizes the co-sovereignty of the Church over the State's citizens.
The Socialist Left has tried to mask themselves as the Religious Left and proclaim that high taxes for Socialist programs ARE charity. Of course there is no charity or free will in the contribution and some classes of society are exempted from the payments.
Does this mean if we permit the Religious Left to lead this country we will be able to opt out of taxes on the grounds of religious freedom?
I went through the various tithes required in the OT and think it came out much higher than 10% . . . there were tithes that came every 3rd year etc. as well.
Though I agree that the State should not have “pre-eminence” over the Church, I think it would require that the State mandate something antithetical to God’s direct commands to become a problem.
Is direct endorsement of a political candidate necessary to maintain obedience to God’s word? I think that leaders of churches can speak out freely on the issues relevant to their beliefs without direct reference to a particular candidate. When members of the church hear the biblical evidence for or against particular contemporary issues, certainly they have the logical ability to align this bibilcal understanding with a particular candidate.
then there were the offerings added to that.
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