A 2014 Christian Parable : Baseball, Missionary Bibles for China, and Church Tax-Exempt Status

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2014-10-15

Free Republic’s "Maelstorm" protested today that ...

The government has no dominion over religious freedom period.
The idea that nonprofit status disappears because a pastor speaks out on political issues is crazy and tyrannical.

regarding the Mayor of Houston's campaign to "prosecute" Christian churches for political activity against the ever-growing Gay-Mafia-Agenda in America.

Jesus Christ taught in parables.

Using a parable that touches both baseball and Christian missionaries in China ...

I will explain why Houston's Lesbian Mayor is LEGALLY CORRECT ...

in wanting the IRS / Federal Government to "Shut-Down" or "Financially Destroy" ALL Houston-area Christian Churches that are "politically" fighting the Gay-Agenda.

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Maelstorm,

You're correct, insofar as this scenario is (falsely) described by "deceptive" groups like Jay Sekulow and the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).

May I present an analogy (a parable) to what the "truth" is.

You are a STAR athlete who's a member of the New York Rednecks baseball team.

You had to APPLY for your position with the New York Rednecks. You sought after them because the New York Rednecks had sometime YOU wanted DESPERATELY:

MONEY, "Beyond the Dreams of Avarice" (Hans Solo, Star Wars).

Millions and millions of dollars, but ONLY if You agreed to VOLUNTARILY sign for the New York Rednecks.

The Rednecks said "yes" to your "voluntary" request to join the team.

Condition-1 : Be a useful TOOL to help the New York Rednecks win the World Series.

Condition-2 : NEVER, NEVER criticize the New York Rednecks, their coach, their owner, their sponsors, their players. EVER.

Violating either of these "contractual conditions" would result in Your FINANCIAL PAYMENTS being canceled.

Maelstorm (nothing personal here) ...

YOU wanted that MONEY so BADLY (to buy bibles for Christian missionaries in China), that you ...

VOLUNTARILY signed the CONTRACT with the New York Rednecks.

Years go by, and SUDDENLY you discover that the New York Rednecks are doing VERY BAD THINGS.

Your Christian conscience COMPELLS you to speak out.

However, your attorney warns you that IF you speak-out about these evils, you are violating Condition-2 of your VOLUNTARY "employment contract" with the New York Rednecks baseball team.

Sadly, you decide NOT to criticize the New York Rednecks ...

because you DESPERATELY NEED that MONEY to buy bibles for the Christian Missionaries in China.

Now ... in the midst of your conflicted decision, Jesus Christ shows up for a chat.

Jesus Christ advises "Just Do the Right Thing, don't worry about the Money."

Jesus Christ promises to handle everything (financially), and you'll be "right as rain".

But like all of us (including that Patton@Bastogne guy at Free Republic) ...

you SECRETLY DOUBT that Jesus Christ can make the deal work.

So ... in the end ... you KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT about the evil New York Rednecks ...

and continue spending your ten-million salary on buying bibles for the Christian missionaries in China.

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Maelstorm ... that's EXACTLY where America's tax-exempt Christian churches are today in 2014.

Maelstorm ... church tax-exempt status is a "Federal Contract" ... all VOLUNTARY

Maelstorm ... church tax-exempt status puts your church on the FEDERAL PAYROLL ... vis-a-via "income tax deductions (gifts) for your congregation"

Maelstorm ... the "contract" DEMANDS that your church NOT ENDORSE CANDIDATES for public office (i.e. criticize Uncle Sam)

Maelstorm ... the "contract" DEMANDS that your church NOT ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATION (i.e. change Uncle Sam's evil ways)

Maelstorm ... if your church VIOLATES EITHER of THESE TWO RULES ...

then the "Federal Contract" you FREELY WANTED says that Uncle Sam can "properly" sue you in Court ... and Win.

Maelstorm ... IRS 501-C3 is a "Covenant" just as binding and legal as the "Covenant" THE LORD made with Abraham.

So ... what does Christ's American Christian Church do in 2014 ?

KEEP Uncle Sam's MONEY ... and Shut-The-Heck-Up about Uncle Sam's evil ways ...

or "SPEAK GOD'S TRUTH without RESERVATION" ...

and TRUST Jesus Christ for the money needed to buy all those bibles for the Christian missionaries to China ?

Muster up the courage to do the free IRS download of "Pamplet P1828" which specifies the legal details of your tax-exempt church's servitude to it's U.S. Government Masters.

Heck, I'll even do you the favor of providing the internet link:

IRS Legal Obligations of Tax-Exempt Christian Churches and Pastors" - (click)

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IRS & Church Marriage vs. "Render Unto Caesar" ...

IRS & Church Marriage vs. "Render Unto Caesar" - (click)

America's Spiritual Revival and Healing - The Obstacle ...

.America's Spiritual Revival and Healing - The Obstacle ... - (click)

Pro-Life Victory vs. "Render Unto Caesar" ...

Pro-Life Victory vs. "Render Unto Caesar" - (click)

Tea Party Christians and "Render Unto Caesar" ...

Tea Party Christians and "Render Unto Caesar" - (click)

“Maelstorm ... church tax-exempt status is a “Federal Contract” ... all VOLUNTARY”

Absolute BS. There is absolutely nothing voluntary about the government or its taxes. This is total insanity. It is force and coercion.

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Jesus Christ "paid His FULL taxes to Rome".

Jesus Christ COMMANDED HIS BELIEVERS ... "Render Unto Caesar !"

Was Rome guilty of horrific evils ? Yes.

Then ... should American Christian Churches JETTISON their IRS-501-C3 tax-exempt status ?

Yes. Absolutely.

If Jesus Christ PAID HIS FULL TAXES to Rome ...

then WHY-WHY-WHY should American Christian Churches DISOBEY Christ's "commands" ?

Jesus Christ (today) "gently" calls His American church to "Render Unto Caesar".

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I hope you do not actually believe any of these arguments because they are completely flawed.

Tax exemption is simply a recognition by the state that they have no power over a Sovereign God.

It is not provided by the government. The government must abide by it or face a theocracy.

Taxing the churches would prove the state is superior and sovereign over the church. That is untrue. The state is not superior to the Church.

The Church allows the state to exist.

The Church predates the state. The Church appeals to a higher authority than the state.

I really think this is an argument designed to trick churches into forfeiting their tax exempt status.

I do think revoking the tax exempt status of the government would be a fabulous idea and I wish more politicians would consider it.

PULPIT POLITICS U.S. CIVIL WAR STYLE, 1862

“Politics are usurping the place of religion to a deplorable extent in the pulpits of New England Sermons are degenerating into stump speeches. The clergy are taking a more and more active part in political movements.
You will hardly find a political convention in which one or more of the most active and noisy members are not clergymen.
If you enter a New England church on any Sunday in the year
the chances are at least even that you will hear a political harangue which part of the audience will be moved to applaud and part to hiss.

And the political opinions which are enunciated from the pulpit are generally accompanied with a most offensive dogmatism and positiveness This is natural enough.
The clergyman is regarded with peculiar deference as
a man removed from secular struggles and secular stains and
set apart to break the bread of life to the people He is rarely contradicted he is treated by men as men treat women he “ ....
“Nor do we put the objection to political preaching solely on the ground that such preaching offends the earnest political convictions of a portion of the congregation and thus keeps them away from church”

“Pulpit Politics: Or, Ecclesiastical Legislation on Slavery, in Its Disturbing
Influences Upon the American Union”, ...
By David Christy, 1862, pp612-614

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LoneStar67 ...

Your knowledge of history and philosophy are impressive ...

Unfortunately (like myself before 1988) you need a bit more education in the law.

How about downloading that IRS Pamplet-1828 (link provided below) ... and we can talk further.

I’ve done a lot of church state work. I do think the state consistently interprets the law in its own favor. I will read your handout. But the states position should not be viewed as final or acceptable.

The first amendment is a statement of negative rights. Prior to state formation we possessed natural God given rights of free exercise. Taxation has been recognized by the courts as a power to destroy. Religious groups should not concede to the irs regulatory stance. They want tax revenue. They also want to diminish rivals to the state.

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