Churches don’t ‘earn money’ through work and selling a product or service - from which they would have expenses and a profit. Churches receive money through voluntary donations.
Churches have MORE rights to a 501(c)3 status than many non-church organizations do....like Sierra Club, World Wildlife Foundation, etc.
If/when the IRS decides to end the ability of churches to have a 501(c)3 status - they should be prepared to end the 501(c)3 status for every organization.
You are 100% correct - what they DON'T need, is a piece of paper from the FedGov that say so. BUT - the fact is that the churches have rendered unto Caesar that which is God's. The result will be that the churches will be forced to toe the statist line unless they want their status revoked. If their non-profit status is revoked, the tithes are no longer tax deductible.