Church Tax-Exempt $$$$ Idolatry -- the KEY STRATEGIC ISSSUE of Gay Marriage Politics ...

2013-05-03 | Patton-at-Bastogne

[Patton@Bastogne]

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2013-05-03

"RENDER UNTO CAESAR ..."


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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 children) who know NOTHING of history 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 are 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 ?


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Now ... it might come as a surprise if I stated that American Church Tax-Exempt status is EVIL - EVIL - EVIL.

Did Jesus Christ pay His "federal tax bill" to Caesar ?

YES.

Did Jesus Christ VOLUNTARILY AGREE with Julius Caesar to "keep His sermons" away from political issues ... in exchange for a government subsidy ?

NO.



What about the Apostles Peter and Paul ? Did they ASK CAESAR for a golden government subsidy to either:

1) Feed the Christian Church's Widows and Orphans

2) Send Missionaries across the Globe to Preach the Gospel

3) Help pay their Churches' electric bill ?


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WHERE and WHEN do you think America's church tax-exempt status came from ?

Have you been FOOLED or LIED TO thinking that America's Founding Fathers invented church tax-exempt status ?

Have you NEVER been told the TRUTH ?

That the U.S. Congressed passed the FIRST church tax-exempt status law in 1934 ...


to FINANCIALLY PUNISH American Christian churches that had helped enact the "Constitutional Amendment" for Prohibition in 1919.

Congresses' 1934 legislation PROHIBITED churches from working to enact Legislation, in exchange for "thirty pieces of silver" of political hush money.

In 1964 President L.B. Johnson further ENSLAVED the churches' political activity by PROHIBITING churches from endorsing Candidates for Elected Office.


Some American Churches REFUSE to worship Satan's tempting FINANCIAL GIFT of tax-exempt status ...

because these churches want their church Pastors and Leaders to PREACH WITH COMPLETE FREEDOM.



What about your church ?

Do YOU fellow Christian ... have the courage to give your pastor a copy of IRS 501 C-3 ?

Do YOU fellow Christian ... believe that Jesus Christ is "so very pathetically weak" that He can't perform miracles WITHOUT the U.S. Government's 30-pieces of silver ?



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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" ...


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"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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[Da Coyote]

A key test will be if the IRS finds “exemptions” for the muzzies.

If they proceed with any taxing for real religions and none for the religion of pieces...it’ll be war.

On both.

[svcw]

Disagree.
The tax exempt status for churches is the federal government keeping the foot on the neck of the churches.
If you are tithing or offering just for the tax credit/deduction you are not tithing or offering in the spirit it should be given.
Churches are in constant fear because of the strangle hold of this status.
There are churches who have voluntary given up the status, have not failed.

[cripplecreek]

Churches should willingly toss off the chains and accept the taxation. Seems a small price to pay for freedom.

[svcw]

Agreed

[circlecity]

"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 ?"

For my Church at least, I can confidently predict the answer would be NONE. And I also believe that offerings would go up to help pick up the slack.

[fuzzylogic]

This whole thing is bs. What the Church needs to realize is that they’re not even required to file for 501c3, the feds don’t have jurisdiction over the church, this includes the right to tax it. The Church was never taxed from the beginning of our nation, if you can tax it you can destroy it. This is written in the law, the Church is exempt for a reason. The government doesn’t get to “decide” if it’s now going to tax the Church. It wasn’t until the IRS was formed that this “charities must register” began, but the Church is exempt - it literally says it in the law.

[cripplecreek]

The threat of taxation is a greater hindrance to freedom than the actual taxation. Accept the taxation then proudly preach the evils of government oppression from the pulpit like the colonial churches did.

Its why the left fears Christianity the way they do.

It was Sunday morning early in the year 1776. In the church where Pastor Muhlenberg preached, it was a regular service for his congregation, but a quite different affair for Muhlenberg himself. Muhlenberg's text for the day was Ecclesiastes 3 where it explains, 'To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven; a time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted...'"

"Coming to the end of his sermon, Peter Muhlenberg turned to his congregation and said, 'In the language of the holy writ, there was a time for all things, a time to preach and a time to pray, but those times have passed away.' As those assembled looked on, Pastor Muhlenberg declared, 'There is a time to fight, and that time is now coming!' Muhlenberg then proceeded to remove his robes revealing, to the shock of his congregation, a military uniform."

"Marching to the back of the church he declared, 'Who among you is with me?' On that day 300 men from his church stood up and joined Peter Muhlenberg. They eventually became the 8th Virginia Brigade fighting for liberty."

"Frederick Muhlenberg, Peter's brother, was against Peter's level of involvement in the war. Peter responded to Frederick writing, 'I am a Clergyman it is true, but I am a member of the Society as well as the poorest Layman, and my Liberty is as dear to me as any man, shall I then sit still and enjoy myself at Home when the best Blood of the Covenant is spilling? ...So far am I from thinking that I act wrong, I am convinced it is my duty to do so and duly I owe to God and my country."

[svcw]

If you are offering or tithing because of the credit/deduction, leave...you certainly are not offering anything to God.
(I agree it will not happen, people will not flee)

[Resolute Conservative]

The money I give to my church or any charity I do not claim on taxes. The Bible says (paraphrase) give without expecting anything in return and without expecting accolades.

I give because I want to give. The government will find a way to screw my anyway and I feel it is really none of their business who I am giving money to.

[American in Israel]

The BS part is if the IRS determins that a church has violated its 501c3 status, It can confiscate the church property and the board of directors properties.

You still have to pay taxes to operate anyway, all employees have to have taxes taken out and everybody has to be an employee. It is illegal to take non profit money and “enrich” a private individual. That is why churches always have small business offices now, they have to comply will all Feral Government tax paperwork.

Every single Church should back out of their 501c3’s while they still can. It will take a lot of effort, it needs to be done while there is time to handle the paperwork properly. Once they decide to close churches, they have put all their laws in place to achieve it already.

The Ferals have a cocked gun to the head of every church body, that did not happen by accident. They WILL pull the trigger some day.

[Alex Murphy]

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.

Ping for later comment

[left that other site]

Yes. I agree with you about the churches. By accepting government money (or exemptions) they make themselves vulnerable to control.

The same applies to the Arts, IMO. Over the years I have been informed of “Grants’ to develop my art. I have always refused, knowing that he who pays the piper gets to call the tune.

[RHS Jr]

Deja vu 1790: The socialist French government was broke and antiChrist so they confiscated church properties; they issued assignats (bonds) on the church properties and within two years had blown all that currency. In 1917, Russian commies destroyed most churches and installed puppets for pastors in the rest. Bela Kun (born Moritz Cohen) led a successful commie revolution in Hungary in 1919. When he closed the churches, the people deposed him. In 1936, the commies looted and burned every church in Spain and began executing their enemies (which started the counter-revolution). Our commie revolution’s fighting will begin when bank runs crash the whole Western fascist-socialist Ponzi and the dollar becomes worthless to foreigners.

[Patton@Bastogne]

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This whole thing is bs.

What the Church needs to realize is that they’re not even required to file for 501c3 ...


I respectfully disagree, point by point ...


First of all, I've attempted to write this in "love" ... and NOT go-off on a self-righteous holier-than-thou rant ...

Every Christian pastor and church leader in the United States should be gently challenged to read this post.


Next ... church "corporations" (the entity that pays the building loan and school bus insurance) MUST apply for Federal Tax-Exempt Status.

Period.

It is NOT automatically granted.

Federal Tax-Exempt "corporations" (churches, united way, the SPCA) are given special federal tax-numbers, reflecting that tax-exempt status is a "special privilege".


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You are correct about taxation's "POWER TO DESTROY".

The power to tax is the power to destroy.

ATTRIBUTION: This quotation comes from the words of DANIEL WEBSTER and those of JOHN MARSHALL in the Supreme Court case, McCulloch v. Maryland.

Webster, in arguing the case, said: “An unlimited power to tax involves, necessarily, a power to destroy,” 17 U.S. 327 (1819).

In his decision, Chief Justice Marshall said: “That the power of taxing it [the bank] by the States may be exercised so as to destroy it, is too obvious to be denied” (p. 427), and “That the power to tax involves the power to destroy … [is] not to be denied” (p. 431).

Source: http://www.bartleby.com/73/1798.html


FuzzyLogic ... and other Christians ...ask yourself this question:

"WHY" would the U.S. Congress in 1934 pass special legislation that REQUIRED tax-exempt organizations (Christian Churches) ...

PROHIBITING these Christian Churches from attempting to get Legislation passed ?

Because ... America's businesses had lost BILLIONS $$$ during Prohibition's reign from 1919 to 1934.

These same American businesses VOWED IN RETALIATION that American Churches would NEVER again cause them financial loss or damage.

So these American businesses LOBBIED the U.S. Congress to PROHIBIT American Churches from attempting to pass legislation.

In a sense, it's very similar to what the United States did to Japan's military after World War II.

The "Imperial Japanese Navy" (IJN) had bitterly damaged the United States vis-a-via it's powerful force of Aircraft Carriers, starting with Pearl Harbor.

With unconditional victory in hand, the United States DICTATED to the defeated Japanese that they would NEVER be allowed to have Aircraft Carriers.

Dittos for American Churches after Prohibition was repealed in 1934.

The "politically-defeated" American Churches were FORCED to be POLITICALLY CASTRATED ... in exchange for an annual "thirty pieces of silver" allowance from Uncle Sam.



The churches could have STOOD STRONG in 1934 ... had genuine faith in Jesus Christ's SUPERNATURAL PROVISION ... and declined the "Political Slavery" of IRS 501 C-3.

Unfortunately ... America's Christian Churches ACCEPTED Satan’s "bride" of "political hush money" ...

and decided that beautiful buildings, and Christian radio and television stations were more important than "spiritual purity".



America's Christian Churches made the same WOEFUL decision that Esau made ABANDONING and THROWING-AWAY his "spiritual birthright".

America's Christian Pastors always criticize Esau as a "spiritual moron" for trading his father Jacob's Spiritual Blessing for a simple bowl of soup.

Esau had "no" self-discipline. Esau was more worried about his physical appetite that The LORD's "best blessings" for his life.

How are America's Christian churches different regarding their IRS 501 C-3 "political hush money" tax-exempt status ?

Sadly, "NO different than Esau".

America's Christian Churches TRUST UNCLE SAM more than they do the supernatural power of Jesus Christ ... the GREAT I AM ... the Alpha and Omega.

Sure, it's GREAT to hear these "incredible" church choirs sing MAGNIFICENT HYMN of PRAISE every Sunday and at Christmas ...

but ... again ... sadly, these same "beautiful cathedrals" ... put their FINANCIAL TRUST in UNCLE SAM ...

just like ancient Israel STUPIDLY put their SPIRITUAL trust in armies, horses and chariots.

IRS 501 C-3 is SATAN's "spiritual soup" served-up by the trough to America's Christian Churches ...

And we American Christian Churches ... just like Esau or hungry pigs ... feed our financial faces ... every April 15 with the U.S. Government's "thirty pieces of silver" ...

That damned SATANIC "thirty pieces of silver" is pretty convenient !!!

It helps pay for the churches' new Sunday School Addition, giant Flat-Screen TV Displays, sending Missionaries to Africa, radio and television air broadcast time ... and of course, air-conditioned buildings.

So much for that "targeted criticism" towards Church Leadership.



But what about "me" and "you", Fuzzy Logic ?

Don't we "treasure" that annual IRS 501 C-3 "tax refund" that SATAN blesses us with for attending an American "crystal cathedral" IRS 501 C-3 tax-exempt church ?

We might even use that SATANIC tax-refund to send a missionary to South America ... or buy food for Christian Widows and Orphans ...

and really feel SPECIAL about how "WONDERFUL" we are as Christians.


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What NONSENSE !!!

What an INCREDIBLE LIE from Satan that is.



What about Judas Iscariot's "thirty pieces of silver" ???

What if Judas Iscariot had given that "sin money" to Widows and Orphans ?

What if Judas Iscariot had given that "sin money" to the Apostles NEW CHURCH BUILDING in Jerusalem ?

What if Judas Iscariot had given that "sin money" to print copies of the (still unwritten) New Testament ?


Would those theoretically "good" financial donations made that "thirty pieces of silver" any better ?

Would Jesus Christ have "smiled" and "thanked" Judas Iscariot for his otherwise "great" financial gifts toward the Church and spread the Gospel ?

Nope. Zero. Nada. Zip.



And Jesus Christ looks at America's Christian Churches ... and their SATANIC BRIBE-TAKING ... via IRS 501 C-3 tax-exempt status ...

... exactly the same way.


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[CommerceComet]

While you are correct that churches are under no requirement to file for 501c3 status, that doesn’t remove the potential threat. The government could always deny deductibility to any donations made to non-registered churches.

[Patton@Bastogne]

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Tax Information for Churches and Religious Organizations

IRS 501 C-3 Status is VOLUNTARY - (click)


Example of a Law Firm specializing is obtaining a VOLUNTARY IRS 501 C-3 Status - (click)


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[Patton@Bastogne]

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IRS Section 501(c)(3) vs Freedom of Speech


By Mike Foil (Bio and Archives) Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Canada Free Press


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"Tax-Exempt Organization” - Sounds pretty good and sort of makes you wish you were one, doesn’t it? You must ask, whenever the government (IRS) tells you that you can keep some dollars in your right pocket, what are they taking out of your left pocket?


When was the last time you heard of a church that was not approved by the IRS as a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization?

It seems that it is almost automatic that a church is approved by the IRS for this status. What is the benefit to churches to be classified as a 501(c)(3) organization?

Receiving this status allows individuals who contribute to the church to deduct their contributions as an itemized deduction on their income taxes.

If a church did not meet the requirements of a 501(c)(3) organization, those contributions could not be deducted for income tax purposes.


Sounds like a win-win situation! Not so fast, the IRS is not Santa Claus.

It does not give away revenue out of the kindness of its heart. Be skeptical anytime the government appears to be giving you something for nothing.

We accepted money from Washington for our public schools - now the Department of Education dictates some curriculum and mandates local spending on liberal agenda items.

We accepted highway money from Washington - now we are threatened with the loss of these on-going funds if we do not tow the line in other areas.


Why does the government let us deduct contributions to churches? What do they get out of it?


When a church is approved as a 501(c)(3) organization, they forfeit part of their freedom of speech rights. That is the payoff to the government.

From that point on, that church cannot risk being fined and the loss of their tax-exempt status by speaking out on political matters or passing out material for or against any political campaign.


The government has just silenced organized religion when it comes to the affairs of politicians. Churches are afraid that the loss of their IRS status would mean the loss of contributions.


But, aren’t all churches required by the IRS to file for 501(c)(3) approval? No, they are not, based on the IRS tax guide for “Churches and Religious Organizations”.

Quoted from page 3, “Churches that meet the requirements of IRC section 501(c)(3) are automatically considered tax exempt and are not required to apply for and obtain recognition of tax-exempt status from the IRS.”

It goes on to say, “Although there is no requirement to do so, many churches seek recognition of tax-exempt status from the IRS because such recognition assures church leaders, members, and contributors that the church is recognized as exempt and qualifies for related tax benefits.”


So, what are the “requirements of IRC section 501(c)(3)”?

There are several, but two of importance in this discussion are summarized as follows: first, “no substantial part of its activity may be attempting to influence legislation,” and, “the organization may not intervene in political campaigns”.

They explain that intervening includes speaking out for or against any candidate, raising funds for political activities, passing out literature for or against any candidate, etc.

It was not always the case that the government restricted political speech in churches.

In the early part of this country, preachers speaking about political issues were not uncommon. Four of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were preachers. Most of the Founding Fathers were religious.


he IRS web site has a link to a document, “Election Year Issues”. Within this article is contained some background to IRS 501(c)(3). Page 336, “Prior to 1954, there was no statutory provision absolutely prohibiting organizations described in the antecedents of IRC 501(c)(3) from engaging in political campaign activities.” The Revenue Act of 1934 had established the lobbying (legislation) restriction of 501(c)(3), but the campaign activity restriction was not included.

In the Revenue Act of 1954, Lyndon Johnson had successfully added an amendment restricting 501(c)(3) organizations from campaign activity.


As I am not an attorney or an accountant, there are other issues relating to whether or not a church should or should not apply with the IRS for 501(c)(3) status (consult your professional for legal advise).

But, the government has been successful, by offering tax benefits to those who comply, in closing America’s pulpits to political speech.

Soon after the Revenue Act of 1954, with the preachers effectively silenced, government became more bold in its attack on religion and America became more lax in its morality.

By the 1960’s, we were dealing with the removal of prayer in schools and the “free love” movement. We also began to see the dismantling of the typical family unit and the “women’s lib” movement.


How has the trade-off worked for better? The churches may have more contributions from their members, but probably have fewer members due to the decline in morality and the lack of interest in organized religion.


How were churches able to generate necessary funds prior to the IRS letting contributions be deductible? That is easy, the members did not expect special tax benefits and gave out of love of the church or at least obedience to the Word.

If a church were to give up its 501(c)(3) status, gain back the free speech from the pulpit, but lose the tax benefits to the members; what would the members do?

Would they change churches or stop giving to their church? I would hope not.

I believe that with the proper education the members would understand the importance of not having the preachers censored by the government and would appreciate the stand being taken by the church leaders. God did not instruct us to give where we gained a financial benefit from the gift, He just told us to give.


Sometimes, the old-fashioned way of doing things was just better!


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[Rashputin]

". . . if you can tax it you can destroy it. This is written in the law, the Church is exempt for a reason."

That's the bottom line. People who think churches should be taxed had better think things through again.

Movie makers and Christian Rock music companies aren't the issue, freedom from government control of churches is the issue.

[fuzzylogic]

I completely agree that the intent is to “shut up” the Church. Today’s politics often tread all over theological issues - ultimately, all law is based on an ethics system. Ours came from Judeo-Christian ethics. Which is why people are wrong when they say politics should have nothing to do with religion - you can’t separate them, which is different than having a religious institution running the government - aka “separation of Church and State”, the thing is - that goes both ways. The government has no business taxing a Church because they don’t like it’s message with respect to policy, they don’t have the authority to do so.

My point is, the Church should stop bowing to 501c3, ignore it, let the government start taxing you - then *challenge* it in court, again and again. The Feds have no right to tax the Church. Just because, one day, the IRS says, “oh, but you now need to register” doesn’t make it a legitimate demand that must be adhered to. It’s the same as other rights, we have them, the government doesn’t have the power to just declare “we’re taking one of them away”, or, “we decided that right comes with a new ‘but’”.

The government is not the master of the Church, we do not need to “comply”. The truth of God is not a slave to the Federal government, never was prior to 1953.

http://creationwiki.org/501c3
http://www.boundaries-for-effective-ministry.org/501c3-application.html