Posted on 09/19/2012 11:09:35 AM PDT by OneVike
The first time religious organizations were given an exemption from paying taxes was with The Wilson Tariff Act of 1894. The next year this act was overturned by the Supreme Court, but every tax code since has allowed the exemption to be part of the tax code. However, up until 1954 religious organizations still had the freedom to participate in political and lobbying activities. That is when, then Senator Lyndon B Johnson, introduced amendment 501(c)(3) to the tax code during a Senate floor debate on the 1954 Internal Revenue Code.
Without hearings, testimony, or comments by any tax-exempt organizations, the amendment was adopted and added to the tax code. It is then that all organizations claiming a tax exempt status, including the church, were banned from ever engaging in political and lobbying activities. One can only imagine why no senator nor congressperson ever alerted the religious community to the amendment and how it would eliminate their influence on elections and legislation. Regardless of the reason, the church was silent at a time when it needed to be the loudest. We sure could have used Jay Sekulow and the American Center for Law and Justice back then.
Today most religious organizations only see the financial benefits of nonprofit and tax-exempt status. By not having to pay federal, state, and local taxes, on their donations and revenue, they are able devote a larger proportion of their resources to achieving their goals. Besides, the congregation can even deduct the payments from their own taxes.
Sadly, the big negative they refuse to see is the way the American churches have chosen Caesar over God by quietly accepting their tax free status wile keeping their mouth shut about which candidates or initiatives their flock should support at election time. Below is the 501(c)3 section of the United States tax code and language that LBJ put into the tax code in 1954.
|
To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.
Organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are commonly referred to as charitable organizations. Organizations described in section 501(c)(3), other than testing for public safety organizations, are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions in accordance with Code section 170.
The organization must not be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, and no part of a section 501(c)(3) organization's net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. If the organization engages in an excess benefit transaction with a person having substantial influence over the organization, an excise tax may be imposed on the person and any organization managers agreeing to the transaction.
Section 501(c)(3) organizations are restricted in how much political and legislative (lobbying) activities they may conduct. For a detailed discussion, see Political and Lobbying Activities. For more information about lobbying activities by charities, see the article Lobbying Issues; for more information about political activities of charities, see the FY-2002 CPE topic Election Year Issues.
Additional Information
|
|
The day the clergy became silent on government matters in return for a tax exempt status, is the day they sold out their congregations. Every Sunday the ministers preach about the need to have faith in God. Yet, by taking advantage of their tax exempt status, they are putting their faith in Caesar to help pay the church's bills, instead of God. Imagine how different America would have been if God was not allowed to be a part of constructing our Constitution? Next to the Magna Carta, the United States constitution is the greatest man made document ever constructed. Yet it would not have come close to what the states ratified if it were not for the influence of the church.
Today, almost 60 years later, America is starting to look a lot like a country where the church has no influence in it's government. Thanks to the way Obama and the Democrats have destroyed America's wealth, I would say the Church has sold their responsibility of influencing our leaders for what amounts to about 30 pieces of silver.
Truth is, LBJ's amendment codified the left's stance, that there's a separation of Church from state and ever since the courts have agreed. So when the discussion of the church's tax exempt status vs political activity comes up I always ask the same question, "If they are not going to push to change the law, then why doesn't the the clergy forgo their tax exempt status?" All you need to do is look at the power the black churches hold over the black voters to understand the power the church could have in elections.
Jesus spoke often about our lack of faith by telling us the things we could do if we just believed;
And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you." Matthew 17:20
400 years earlier, the prophet Malachi confronted the same Jews who were struggling to make it after they returned from captivity in Babylon. Instead of sharing their meager resources with the Temple priests, as God had commanded them through Moses, the priests had to ignore their duties to the Temple because they were spending all their time working the land to grow food or they would starve. In response to the people's lack of faith that God would supply their needs, God challenged to them to test Him.
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10
I have thought about this subject for many years, and when I saw this video by AlfonZo Rachel telling it straight about the way the church has allowed Democrats to do to it what they did to the black community by implementing Johnson's "Great Society", I decided to act upon my belief.
Today, I challenge Christians all across America to test God as he asked the Jews to test him. Give more to your church then ever before and ask your pastor and church elders to ignore the statute that bans them from political activity. If they refuse, then challenge them to have faith in God and forgo their tax exempt status. I promise that by stepping out in faith, that God will make both you and the church grow and prosper.
I have faith, that if you have the faith of a mustard seed, that God will pour out such blessing there will not be room for all your goods, and politicians will begin listening to the church again. Then your pastors and priests will be able to properly lead the people in all things, including the public arena of politics by supporting the politicians and agendas that would help return America from the path of becoming a Godless nation, and back to being a God fearing nation again.
I don’t see that it has stopped the Black churches from hosting democrats during their services.
AlfonZo Rachel has a great rant video that I have commented to, about the failure of the Church
leaders to standup to the government when LBJ got an amendment to the tax code passed
that outlawed all tax exempt organizations from participating in political and lobbying activities.
• Send FReep Mail to OneVike to be
[ADDED] or [REMOVED]
from my article and video Ping List •
"All you need to do is look at the power the black churches hold over the black voters to understand the power the church could have in elections."Then I first suggested all churches do the same thing,
"Give more to your church then ever before and ask your pastor and church elders to ignore the statute that bans them from political activity. If they refuse, then challenge them to have faith in God and forgo their tax exempt status."
That would be very powerful. What would the tax rate be for a church that didn't take the exemption? Just out of curiosity.
Good question, but I would think a look at the tax rate for small businesses that have incorporated might be close.
It might be costly but it might be worth the freedom it purchased.
How many people will support such tax exempt church without tax deductibility of their contributions?
Maybe taxes would lead to leaner churches, more focused on Christ and fellowship, rather than spreading out, building, acquiring property and larger estates, diversifying, and so on.
The simpler and more compact the building and property, and the more focused the purpose, would reduce the tax burden of the congregation.
Interesting idea.
That should never be ones motive for giving to start with. I think if the tax exemption denies the preacher and members a voice of conscience on important issues then they make a poor deal with the devil by accepting his terms {a tax exempt status} for their silence. LBJ sought through The Great Society to replace GOD with government.
Maybe taxes would lead to leaner churches, more focused on Christ and fellowship, rather than spreading out, building, acquiring property and larger estates, diversifying, and so on.You make a good point, because in the book of the Revelation, Jesus said to the Church of Smyrna;
"I know your works, tribulation, and poverty.....
The city of Smyrna was famous for science and medicine and was a very wealthy city, but the church itself suffered in abject poverty because its professing members would not renounce Christ in order to get work from the local trade unions.
Of the seven churches mentioned by Christ, Smyrna is the only one that still remains to this day. Still poor, but still faithful.
An abundance of silver and gold does not make a church wealthy, nor effective. As is often the case, wealth has a tendency to distract people from their goals. Whether it be the leadership of the church or it's congregation, to whom much is given much is expected.
So I guess it would be an example where less can be more.
How many people will support such tax exempt church without tax deductibility of their contributions?
Sadly many will refuse to give if they themselves do not receive a tax write off. In all my years of giving, I have never once taken advantage of my right to a tax exemption for the money I gave back to God.
I am not criticizing others for doing so, but as for me and my house I will put my faith in the Lord's promise, not Caesars benevolence.
I think it comes down to what people really and truly want from their spiritual leaders and houses of faith. It’s something to think about.
I agree. Like a democracy, a church is what the members want it to be.
Which is why it is imperative that Christian churches are Christ centered.
When congregations get away from the teachings of Christ and start to resemble the world around them, they have ceased to be salt of the earth. Thus the reason we see so many churches today that have gotten away from teaching the Bible.
Instead they teach modern day enlightenment which is nothing more then the same old philosophy of man. Which is what has caused every Godless civilization to fail since Babylon, the original one world government philosophy system that God dispersed some 6000 years ago.
We are told we would get back to it before Christ returns again. Until Obama got elected, I thought that day would be much farther in the future. Now I can see that day coming in my life time.
Whether or not individual donations are tax deductible is one thing, but once the government at any level starts to tax churches there won't be any more freedom of religion because there will be tax penalties for those who don't agree with the State Religion of Secular Humanism and all it's wonderful goals like queers marrying one another and so on.
I subscribe to Zo’s YouTube channel, and I found that he always makes a lot of sense.
It would certainly take the wind out of the government’s sails if they had no legal or monetary power over the churches.
But with the lawless regime we have now, a little thing like a law wouldn’t stop them from trying to control or eliminate Christian churches in the name of the moon (lunatic) god.
Yes, you are correct, which is why we need to get rid of him at all cost.
I guess I can look at the way Ryan being a conservative will be the frontrunner in 2020 and that is better than Bush following Reagan was.
Romney will slow down many leftists programs, and maybe even do better then most conservatives think. Then after we slowed the left down, Ryan will follow him with a strong conservative agenda that could really put an end to Democrats ability to recover.
It can happen.
From your keyboard to God’s ears, OV, my friend.
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.