Posted on 07/27/2004 8:40:23 AM PDT by prairiebreeze
Yes it is.
These monitors are waiting for a pastor to say something that might be construed as violating arcane election rules.
Once armed with some "evidence" they will engage in nuisance lawsuits designed to tie up the time and financial resources of pastors opposed to their agenda.
Their goal is to use the courts to distract and bankrupt their political enemies.
This is intimidation and harassment and is particularly problematic because it deals so intimately with First Amendment rights.
It is not a criminal act. But they will report it to the IRS. Apparently, the IRS has already said that they do not have the resosurces to follow up on these "tips" so they are pushing the system and using it to get maximum media coverage. Apparently, there are IRS statutes that do not allow churches to say certain kinds of things and retain their tax-free status. Already on the Medved show yesterday, I heard at least one conservative say that he agreed with their position. This is a media campaign. It's not a healthy trend. We need to pray that as these people go into Bible-believing churches, their hearts will be changed. I believe that God delights in these opportunities.
Nor should it be. Yet a church is a private club. They have the duty to ban those who interfere with services -- and just "passively" observing is indeed disruptive. For the observations are intended to "get cha".
And management wants them there since management is courting their publicity.
This cuts both ways, of course. Liberals had a fit when the Patriot Act allowed the FBI to monitor religious services, particularly in mosques which are sometimes havens for radical elements. Now liberals are infiltrating conservative churches to monitor THEM.
Hey, the Red Chinese police do this all the time.
Of course, this is America.
Yet a school -- a college -- is tax-free too. And those are the most stinking cesspools of raw partisan worship of the Hate Bush theocracy.
I could be wrong about this, but I would guess that the folks who we are speaking about are not really all that interested in worshipping -- at least as I understand Christian Worship.
My understanding of Christian worship is that it comes from a desire to experience the One who created all that is and whose love is unbounding.
But, as the letter to the monitored churches indicates, "We are well aware we are coming into difficult [political] times, and we encourage your participation in the democratic process. Have candidate forums and do voter registration drives. However, other things may be more questionable and we urge caution. Because we have become concerned over this we will be randomly sending our members to worship in your church."
Those "members" are not attending worship services in the churches being monitored because they want to grow closer to God. Or because of any heart-felt desire to experience forgiveness. Or even because they want to hear the good news of the Gospel.
Like the members of the Committee for the Defense of the Revolution in Cuba, these "members" have one desire in attending the worship services of these churches -- to intimidate and report to the authorities any activities that are "questionable" and which do not seem to be the result of due "caution".
Same rationalization of "entitlement" that the Gypsies use to excuse their theivery from "oppressors".
I thought the woman on the Medved was chilling. She was southern and very "nice." Yet, when you heard what she had to say in her nice, mannerly drawl, she was very threatening. She was also extremely articulate, intelligent and quick on her feet. A very present danger! Yet, did you hear her say that people they've already sent into the churches have been very surprized at their reception. IOW, how nice church-goers are? Of course, the people do not realize that they are spies, but they are nevertheless surprized that any stranger is so warmly welcomed. It's an opportunity for hearts to be changed!
The IRS has been very selective in its enforcement of these rules. The Christian Coalition lost its tax-exempt status because it published checklists showing candidates voter records, but groups like the Sierra Club and PAW do the same thing with impunity. It's bull****.
However, if a church has an "All Welcome" sign out front and the monitor is simply taping the service without any outward sign of being a monitor, how is he in any kind of trespass, harassment or disruption situation? I would agree if the monitor is actively taking notes or acting in a disruptive manner, the conduction would be actionable, but I think that if a church is going to preach politics from the pulpit, they're going to be a target of these folks. And we conservatives in turn should hold liberal churches to the law instead of just bitching about their actions - or work to change the law.
I agree. Their number one priority is to ban religion, specifically Christianity.
Now liberals are infiltrating conservative Christian churches to monitor THEM.
I don't think anything illegal is going on here but it's "chilling".
The best way to deal with this is for churches to be very proactive. Meet and greet everyone new (Christians should be doing this anyway). After the service, steer newcomers to the coffee and cookies and lead the discussion to the topic of the sermon or homily. Answer questions, ask questions, be accessible.
You make an interesting point!
It's open to all who want to come and worship but not to those who come to disrupt or harass. It is, after all, private property.
Funny, but food reviewers order, eat, take notes and then critique the restaurant."
I think, dirtboy, that you have just revealed something about yourself.
And that would be that you see no difference between going to a restaurant and going to worship God.
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