Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Silence of the Pulpits - Why?
11/15/2008 | Penn4God

Posted on 11/15/2008 5:32:16 PM PST by Penn4God

In view of the 2008 election, the Christian churches have been noticeably silent. Is this reluctance due to their fear of losing the tax exempt status?

The recent election highlights this issue quite well. Candidates held moral positions that were in direct opposition to known biblical teachings. Despite the candidates support for issues like abortion, religious leaders allowed these candidates to go unchallenged from their pulpits.

Religious leaders are fearful of losing the tax-exempt status if they speak out strongly regarding moral positions that candidates hold. Religious leaders are not directing their comments from their pulpits to influence decisions about candidates based on biblical truths. The result is the election of a pro-abortion, radical candidate for president that many christians supported.

Is it time to amend the IRS code to allow religious leaders the freedom to speak on current issues that have become politicized? The original intent of this IRS code was to silence churches in Texas who spoke out against Lyndon Johnson. The result has been the muzzling of the church by the goverment. Do we call this a free republic?


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: 501c3; censorship; fairnessdoctrine; freespeech; gaystapo; newbie; pastors; politicking; taxes
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-115 next last

1 posted on 11/15/2008 5:32:16 PM PST by Penn4God
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Penn4God

Have you seen what has been going on in California? Churches are being vandalized for speaking up against Gay Marriage. Churches led the fight to pass Proposition 8 and now the Gaystapo is punishing them for their votes. So, they haven’t exactly been silent there.


2 posted on 11/15/2008 5:38:22 PM PST by Reaganesque
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Penn4God

I told a pastor this just last night.


3 posted on 11/15/2008 5:38:56 PM PST by TommyDale (I) (Never forget the Republicans who voted for illegal immigrant amnesty in 2007!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Penn4God

When a guest speaker in a major non-denominational church in Ft. Lauderdale made reference to the beliefs of the candidates and who was more aligned with Christian values, someone in the congregation sent a *certified letter* of complaint, as well as several phone calls with complaints. The pastor made a public apology the next week. Me thinks the churches are being monitored by those who believe in The One.


4 posted on 11/15/2008 5:39:09 PM PST by Bluebird Singing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Penn4God

Is that when the muzzling of the churches happened? With LBJ/ tax code law? It definitely goes against the First Amendment. Many of the militia members during the Revolutionary War came from the churches. Came out of the churches, after a sermon, and joined the fight right then. Including the pastors.

It seems so wrong that the churches are silenced. In fact, must be the next fight. Of course, really only some of them are. Clinton campaigned in the black churches. The liberal ones around here MUST have supported obama (little o, not a Real God).


5 posted on 11/15/2008 5:41:11 PM PST by bboop (Stealth Tutor)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bluebird Singing

Yes, I believe there are spies in churches. Didn’t little o suggest that they do that? I think I remember that from a while back.


6 posted on 11/15/2008 5:42:21 PM PST by bboop (obama, little o, not a Real God)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Penn4God

Look, it’s simple. If you’re a black church, you can say, do ANYthing.......even hosting your favorite lib candidate, especially if he’s black.

Try that in a predominantly white church in middle America; I dare you.


7 posted on 11/15/2008 5:44:38 PM PST by RightOnline
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Penn4God
Good argument for the flat tax with no deductions .
8 posted on 11/15/2008 5:45:45 PM PST by kbennkc (For those who have fought for it freedom has a flavor the protected will never know F/8 Cav)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bboop

The black churches of Cleveland not only campaigned from the pulpit - they rented charter buses to take people to the poles. Obama materials and merchandise were handed out in the churches. I guess some “churches” get a free pass...but they won’t get it from the final authority, the one they claim to serve.


9 posted on 11/15/2008 5:47:27 PM PST by mom4melody
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Penn4God

The Catholic CHurch was pretty vocal about Obama, abortion and the danger to the souls of Catholics who voted for him, as well as threating to cut off Catholic politicians ofrm the Catholic community for supporting him.

AS for the others, most of them were pretty silent or openly supported the Obamanation, or if they opposed him, were given little or no coverage.

Western Christianity is a ripe pumb ready to fall into the bloody, flithy hands of the Muslims.


10 posted on 11/15/2008 5:48:08 PM PST by ZULU (Non nobis, non nobis Domine, sed nomini tuo da gloriam. God, guts and guns made America great.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Reaganesque
Well clearly there are pastors speaking up.

This is another of those scare tactic messages.

11 posted on 11/15/2008 5:49:08 PM PST by joesbucks (Sarah Palin: "I believe John McCain is the best leader that we have in the nation right now,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Penn4God

hmmmm...


12 posted on 11/15/2008 5:50:01 PM PST by tutstar (Baptist Ping list - freepmail me to get on or off.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Reaganesque

We are standing with those churches in California—we want them to know they are not alone. Thanks for your words of enlightenment.


13 posted on 11/15/2008 5:50:05 PM PST by truthingod
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Penn4God
This is a phoney problem which would not exist if churches were not tax exempt. I don't believe that churches, and related religious entities, should be tax exempt to begin with. They want to have it both ways. But if they are going to benefit from special treatment they will have to dance to the piper's tune.
14 posted on 11/15/2008 5:51:27 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bboop

The Mainline Protestant churches are run by liberal democrats at the highest levels and are pro-choice. I’m sure they’re deliriously happy that Obama won.

...United Church of Christ, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Methodists, and Presbyterian USA...


15 posted on 11/15/2008 5:52:05 PM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Penn4God

I’m sure no one wants me to get on my soapbox but this has been foretold in the Bible about the last days events. The churches are silent because godly preaching is almost non-existent in these days. No one preaches holiness, hell, damnation, true salvation and like items.


16 posted on 11/15/2008 5:52:24 PM PST by pctech
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Penn4God

This issue should not go away. The only way to see a change is to put pressure on pastors and religious leaders to step out regardless of circumstances. Guts are the way to go!


17 posted on 11/15/2008 5:53:54 PM PST by truthingod
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pctech

However, I did see alot of programs on Christian television that were absolutely anti Obama...

INSP,Daystar etc


18 posted on 11/15/2008 5:54:03 PM PST by JaneNC (I)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: VigilantAmerican; All

I am wondering if there will come a time when we Christians will have to meet, quietly, in our own homes and “upper rooms”, as it was done a long time ago, before religion got organized.


19 posted on 11/15/2008 5:54:09 PM PST by jacquej
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: hinckley buzzard

I agree, maybe the churches should give up the status and preach the word! I am sure Paul would not have cared a hoot about tax stuff when compared with the need to see people’s lives changed with the gospel of Jesus.


20 posted on 11/15/2008 5:56:17 PM PST by truthingod
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-115 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson