I could be wrong,but weren’t the churches never intended to be taxed groups long before there was an IRS?
You're not wrong. Through the 18th and 19th centuries, our civil government generally recognized and behaved as if churches enjoyed a separate sovereignty in the land, meaning churches were not beholden to the civil government for their existence and did owe tax to the government, because the civil government recognized that churches owed their tax (tithe) to God. A church's "tax-exempt status" (even before the 501(c)3 filings) was a status recognized by both parties, because the civil government recognized that a church owed it's taxes to another Lord, and not to the civil government itself. It was not conferred, but pre-existing in the same way that our Constitution recognizes that our civil rights came from God long before the civil government honored them.
Today, however, the civil government decrees that it can award or withhold tax exemption to churches, based upon the terms of the 501(c)3 rules. This is not liberty - this is toleration. If a church becomes intolerable to the government, the government can tax it or even seize it's property in lieu of taxation. In practice, the civil government behaves as if it is God Himself, demanding tithes from all in exchange for all sustenance.
It is my belief that all Trinitarian churches should enjoy an automatic tax-free status with the civil government. Then again, it's also my belief that the civil government should formally declare the Lord Jesus Christ as it's sovereign head, and not taxing it's citizenry for any amount larger than 10% (i.e. no larger than the amount that God Himself demands from His church, so as not to encroach on God's rights).
The government took over the duties of churches when they started the welfare programs.
As their involvement grew, the necessity of the churches waned. As this occurred, the nutcase evangelist tv preachers came into play. Their care for the poor had been greatly supplemented by the govt., so they got rich and bought island retreats. Robert Tilton comes to immediate mind.
Ask any liberal what they think of religion, they will point to the televangelist. They were phonies, and now all religions pay the price in the liberal cult.