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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.

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 to what the "truth" is.

You are a STAR athelete 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 ...

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 ?

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