

Read here






You Might Also Like

4 Replies to “I.R.S. to monitor sermons now? Yoohoo, they may be saved!”

  1. A number of points here. Since churches receive the benefits of government services, churches should pay taxes. This is especially true since much of what church members pay for are services for themselves. There is little in terms of charity to the outside world that is practiced by many churches.

    Besides, if churches paid taxes and contributions to them were not tax deductible, the following would occur:

    Ministers would be free to speak truth to power without worrying about having their sermons monitored for political content
    Churches could see who gives to them out of sincerity rather than for the tax breaks.

    As for the IRS monitoring sermons, then either those listening will be saved or will catch up on their sleep

  2. Great points Curt! Allow me to emphasize two: Churches can’t say that they are free from government while, at the same time, receiving government benefits. This is akin to women to say “I want the government out of my bedroom” while asking the government to pay for for protection on that which is made, more often than not, in the bedroom. I believe in Churches totally independent from the government. You are also right: there is very little charity practiced by churches today, not within or without their boundaries. This is sad because it is disobedience to the Apostolic command: “those within and those without” and in another passage “especially those of the household of faith…” speaking of charity, charitable and general reputation.

  3. I think a good start would be to look into the special exemptions that churches get, such as the parsonage exemption. There is in fact an ongoing lawsuit and it may soon be declared unconstitutional.

    However, we could also go too far and start putting churches at a disadvantage relative to other nonprofits. Many of them are not unlike churches in that they also seek to advance a certain viewpoint (e.g. ‘foundations’ that promote political views). All democratic countries recognize that churches have the right to acquire corporate personhood and be treated on equal footing with other kinds of non-profit organizations, which they closely resemble. Even France, which has a very restrictive view of the separation between church and state, allows for tax-deductible donations to churches.

  4. Milton,
    But churches can’t be totally independent from the government. They rely on the government for law enforcement, emergency services, protection against foreign enemies, education, and, in part, the general welfare of the society. That is why churches must pay taxes.

Leave a Reply, Please!
