The Reformed Advisor

Our Culture is Starving for Bold Pastors Willing to Speak Up

Posted on April 4, 2014 in Religious Freedom by

bold pastorPastor, let me ask you a question. Does your congregation know their religious rights? I’m not trying to be funny, it’s a serious question. And I am willing to bet that not only does many in your congregation not know their rights, but neither do you.

My friend Erik Stanley has been leading the charge to educate churches and pastors on their religious rights for a long time. As a religious freedom litigator with Alliance Defending Freedom he is on the front lines ensuring our constitutional rights are protected and defended. Part of his work has been the “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” project which aims to challenge the unconstitutional Johnson Amendment in the IRS code. Erik recently wrote:

“Why is it that Christians have a sense that our faith is under attack and that we are a disfavored minority on the road to sure persecution?  One reason is because of the stories we see of fellow believers who are currently undergoing trials and tribulations for simply exercising their faith… Pastor, what are you doing to prepare your congregation to live in a culture that seems bent on denying them the right to live out their faith and to share their faith with others around them?  Are they aware of the increasing attacks on people of faith?”

By now many people know of the florist in Washington, the baker in Colorado, and the photographer in New Mexico facing lawsuits for adhering to their religious convictions. What you might not know is that these are just three of the hundreds of cases wherein people of faith are facing legal action for their convictions. The reality is that these stories are growing in number.

One of the reasons this is happening, as Erik Stanley and Alliance Defending Freedom have often asserted, is that pastors are not boldly preaching and teaching in their churches. I’ve said more than once that pastors have a duty to boldly teach biblical truth regardless of IRS codes or threats from the government. By doing so we empower our congregations to live according to their faith. In today’s culture that may mean backlash in the form of a lawsuit. But if pastors are preparing their congregations and equipping them for such backlash we can continue to stand boldly in the face of such threats.

Since the adoption of the “Johnson Amendment” in 1954 churches have been intimidated and lied to regarding their speech rights. They have been told over again that they cannot speak about certain social issues, cannot speak about the positions of specific candidates, and that violation of these rules will result in the revoking of the churches tax-exempt status (among other things).

However, to date, not one church has ever lost their tax exempt status over political involvement and activism. Furthermore, even if a churches tax-exempt status was revoked, it would only be for one day (the day of the “illegal activity”) because tax-exemption is inherent for churches under IRS code. In other words, the IRS knows it cannot legally revoke a churches tax-exempt status permanently. The IRS is crying wolf with empty threats.

Yet many pastors have given in to fear and intimidation. This fear is sorely misplaced and sinful. Rather than educating themselves and knowing the law they have believed a lie and sat quietly in the corner while liberal organizations have preached an immoral, unbiblical message that violates more than just Scripture. The tactics employed by the IRS and other groups seek to silence some of America’s most influential, respected leaders: pastors. Consider:

“In 2004 the IRS created a dedicated enforcement program focused on political activity by churches and other nonprofits. Called the Political Activities Compliance Initiative (PACI), it investigated in the 2004, 2006 and 2008 election cycles 80 instances where church officials were alleged to have endorsed a candidate during services. According to IRS tallies made public after each election, the majority of the PACI complaints were upheld and settled with a warning that the organization comply with the ban on political activity. The IRS did not respond to Reuters questions about its enforcement activities in recent years, or explain why they seem to have ended abruptly in 2009.”

Again, it cannot be overstated enough that pastors have every right to engage in biblical teaching on social issues, and even to “shine a light” into the position of candidates in order to provide biblical shepherding to their congregations.

When a pastor responds to me that it’s not proper, or needed for pastor’s/churches to engage in this kind of teaching I simply ask, “Is that what you would say to our founding fathers?” Our founders were men with seminary and bible degrees, some were even pastor’s, and they believed so strongly in the involvement of pastor’s and Bible teachers in political matters that they risked their lives signing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Perhaps some believe it is possible to segregate or compartmentalize their faith and their politics. I disagree. I believe that my politics are born from my faith and that the two are inseparable. So when I speak on social issues it is because I believe what the Bible says and I am simply teaching God’s position on the subject.

For me, pastors are one group that should boldly seek to preserve religious freedom. Without religious freedom many pastors would be out of a job. Is that what we want? Do we want to see the day when our churches must meet underground like China and North Korea for fear of persecution? Answering yes to this question is silly, at best; unbiblical at worst (we are not to seek persecution). But truthfully, it would be sad to see the day when a country that was once free to worship no longer enjoyed that freedom due to the apathy of its “religious leaders.”

Hey, if you want more motivation to speak on these issues from your pulpit, watch this video of Michelle Obama telling a church group that there is “no place better” to talk about politics than in the church. It’s sad if you need permission from Michelle Obama, Oprah, Dr. Phil or anyone else, but, if it helps get you motivated.

Pastors, stand firm and teach boldly. If you need legal counsel or advice, or if you, your church, or someone in your congregation is facing legal action for your religious convictions, contact Alliance Defending Freedom and Erik Stanley. They will be a resource and represent you with excellence. To learn more go to the Alliance Defending Freedom website.

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