I’m troubled by the alliance most church organization have with the IRS (the 501(c)3 agreement.

It may be God’s provision that the IRS will not grant tax exemption to the Coalition for Life of Iowa until they sware to limit their “picketing” and “protesting” of Planned Parenthood.

Maybe this should be a warning flag to pastors who seemingly carelessly put ink to paper when they “non-profitize” their organization.

Read the entire article at Christian Newswire

Imagine being in your Sunday morning church meeting and a government official storms in demanding to your pastor that he is not allowed to preach about X, Y and Z. In this land of free speech? In a church that serves the sovereign God? What would you do?

You may be surprised to hear that your pastor already has received such a commandment - or should I say ‘made such an agreement’. Its called a 501(c)3 non-profit registration.

For a few benefits from the IRS (tax exemptions), church organizations have relinquished their right to be a voice on partisan political issues.

The IRS puts it this way:
“These organizations cannot endorse any candidates, make donations to their campaigns, engage in fund raising, distribute statements, or become involved in any other activities that may be beneficial or detrimental to any candidate. Even activities that encourage people to vote for or against a particular candidate on the basis of nonpartisan criteria violate the political campaign prohibition of section 501(c)(3).” Learn more

There’s confusion regarding what can and cannot be said legally by 501(c)3 church organizations. Attorney, Tim Mooney cautions advocating a point when the “…issue is really hot and is a dividing point between the candidates” and it “could be considered illegal electioneering”.

On the other hand, Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the American Center for Law & Justice, wants to encourage pastors that they can speak out on the moral issues of the day. However, in his conversation with  Senior Counsel, Colby May its evident that the church is being stifled.

Jay: What are the prohibited areas right now under the IRS rules and guidelines? What are [church organizations] not allowed to do?

Colby: The particular section of the tax-code says that “they may not intervene in support of or in opposition to a candidate for elective office.”

Jay: Yes, but you’re talking about there a candidate for elective office, so in other words, “they can’t indorse a candidate or oppose a particular candidate”.

Colby: That’s right.

Jay: But, that doesn’t impact their ability to address the major moral issues of day?

Colby: That’s right it does not, however what seems to have happened, there’s been this creep of all things political into the discussions that used to be distinctly moral or religious in character. And so, when you talk about abortion, and you talk about marriage, you talk about sanctity of human life, all those kinds of issues – it seems that they now brush into the political and as a consequence of that when ministers speak out on it, there are those who will use it for partisan purposes by filing complaints with the IRS to politicize the whole matter for the very purpose to try to get churches to be quiet on those issues.

The result: the Church is quiet. The sword of truth is become non-partisan and politically correct.

According to another Senior Counsel of the ACLJ, every year before the election, hundreds of thousands of church organizations receive letters with legalize intending to cause the church leadership to cowar away from the possibility of running a foul with the IRS.

How can the church agree to this silencing unbiblical obligation? It is said that ‘every man has his price’ but the body of Christ has already been purchased and redeemed from this wicked world. It is our duty not be conformed back into it but rather to let our light shine in it.

The church’s union with the IRS is forbidden by God. He told His children of Israel “do not make a league with the world”. He also commanded the church not to be “unequally yoked.”

Let me ask you, what role did your pastor play in your vote in 2008? What role did the Bible play?