Imagine what elections might look like if the pulpit were able to freely speak about largess, corruption, elections, political groups and their agendas! We may not have the current administration in office.
It has been my view that taking the tax exemption has been too heavy of a trade off for the church. We essentially sell the truth away for the lucre. Silence on political issues in return for a 501(c3). A compromise. Luke warm.
Yes, more revenue is collected because of the tax write off, but that does not make it right. Many will say that it is a necessary compromise, but I disagree. It is an entitlement perspective that allows it easy for believers to give. Yet where is it written that giving is easy...or was meant to be easy? God says it is a test...a test of Him and of His faithfulness (the ONLY thing the Bible tells us to test Him in!) and a test of ourselves and our faith in Him. Tests are never easy. They are meant to challenge us and to make us better. But where is the test when the government essentially says; “Hey, I'll make your testing easier. You compromise what you can say about me and I'll make it look like you're giving more money than you actually are.”? For, if I can “write off” (dismiss, excuse) my tithe, then I have watered it down. The government has essentially enabled me to cheat on God's test. All for the sake of the filthy lucre.
Do not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing. (it is supposed to be between He and me!)
“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (there is a cost for following God)
The leftists do NOT want to totally remove the 501(c)3 status, for fear that then then ere will be NO LIMIT on what can be preached from the pulpit.
The drop in donations to churches will only shift the benevolence ministry away form the church and put it upon the back of the local/county/state and fed government.
First, the churches will need to pay the basic bills like buildings, salaries, supplies and such. Then, only the money remaining will be available for benevolence ministries. This is where the cuts will be necessitated.
The amount of benevolence provided by the church is much larger than what can be easily seen, but when the county/state has to start feeding, housing, clothing and paying the bills of those that the church has to turn away, THEN it will be readily apparent.
Another thought...
I think this will be a purification for the church.
The white wash seplucres will be apparent for what they really are. The buildings of spiritually dead men.
Reference...
The financial aspect...
Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral Ministry Crumbling
The spiritually dead aspect...
Man kills himself at Crystal Cathedral
..and those are mere examples.