[Alex Murphy]

The ostensible dilema of whether or not a church dabbling into politics should remain tax exempt is a problem created by the establishment of the income tax and the IRS.

I completely disagree. The ostensible dilemna of whether or not a church dabbling into politics should remain tax exempt is a problem created by the unspoken assertion that the State has pre-eminence over the Church. Thus, tax-exempt status is something that must be applied for to - or withheld by - the State, in an act asserting the State's unspoken doctrine of pre-eminence.

Further, the State's tax rate on citizens is actually higher than the Old Testament's requirement of a tithe (10%) to be paid to God via the Church. And the State requires it's money to be collected first, in the form of withholding. Pre-eminence again.

The State won't stop muzzling the churches in the United States, until the State recognizes the pre-eminence of God over the State first, and the co-sovereignty of the Church over it's citizens in addition to the State's.

[f.Christian]

50 years of PC... tyranny!

[american spirit]

To add a little more to your observations, it's as simple as God created man, man created gov't. The created cannot be greater than the creator however in the case of 501C-3 churches they have in effect become corporations granted as a "privilege" by the state/fedgov. This relationship gives the state the ability to control the activities of the pastor/church in exchange for tax advantages. They've made a deal with the proverbial devil and end up suffering in silence because of their desire for tax privileges. That's why the gov't is deathly afraid of churches who operate the old fashioned way.