Faith
By Judge John Marshall Meisburg, Jr.
Let freedom ring! President Trump said on the campaign trail that so-called Johnson Amendment that prohibits churches and pastors from endorsing political candidates to keep their tax free status was unconstitutional. I have also been saying that for at least 30 years. Now, the Trump IRS has “caved in” and agreed. The IRS has now stated in federal court that churches and pastors may actually endorse political candidates. They said that such an endorsement was part and parcel of giving counsel to their congregation and was not illegal.
The Johnson Amendment to the Tax code was proposed by Senator Lyndon Johnson and was passed without any discussion or debate. It has been hanging over the head of churches in America for 50 years like the Sword of Damocles, scaring them from being “political.” Churches were afraid that if they endorsed a political candidate that they would lose their 501©(3) tax exempt status. It had a great chilling effect. But that was a totally unfounded fear. Here is truth: no church in America has ever lost their tax-free status due to politics or endorsing a political candidate! And that is so because the IRS has always been afraid to defend the Johnson Amendment in court, because they always knew that they would lose. But how many churches knew that?
Here is the point: The First Amendment to U.S. Constitution says this: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging freedom of speech….”
The so-called Johnson Amendment to Tax Code was a clear violation of the First Amendment in regard to both freedom of religion and freedom of speech.
Some people say that politics has no place in church. I totally disagree. Politics and spirituality are so intertwined, especially today, that churches and pastors have a duty before God to teach and counsel their congregations about the political issues and political candidates of the day.
In the early Colonial days of America, it was a sacred tradition that every Fall, before an election, the Christian pastors would devote a sermon on the upcoming election, and actually endorse candidates for office. They would teach their congregations about the issues of the day from
a Biblical perspective, and even tell them for whom to vote, to insure that Godly men were elected. The Founders of America said that we should always prefer Christians for public office, because they would govern the land from a Godly and Biblical perspective. John Jay, the First Chief Justice of the U.S. Supeme Court said: “It is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” Indeed, some of the Colonies even made it a requirement to run for office that you were a professing Christian. While we do not have that requirement today (there is no religious test for office) that is all the more reason for pastors and churches to advise their congregations in regard to elections and voting.
A pastor can now say: “The IRS has now given me, and the pastors and churches of America, the freedom to speak about politics and political candidates! That is actually a fundamental freedom in America – the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech. Freedom of religion and the free exercise of religion is actually the most important America freedom, because that is what prompted the Pilgrims and Huguenots and others to come to to America. That is our bedrock national freedom, and it is very important for our government to protect that freedom. So, today I am going to speak to you about the upcoming election. I intend to speak about the political issues of the day from a Biblical perspective, and I am even going to tell you the political candidates for whom I am voting, and why I am voting for them. The Founders of our country said we should prefer Christian candidates for public office, and I wholeheartedly agree.”
Many of the political issues of our day are inextricably intertwined with spiritual issues and values.
Some of those issues include (1)abortion (2)same sex marriage (3)illegal immigration and border security (4)law and order and respect for police and authority (5) gender confusion and surgery (6)pornography and pornographic books in the public schools (7)national debt (8)human trafficking and prostitution (8)illegal drugs and marijuana (9)parental rights and school curricula and (10)the defense of Israel. I believe that the pastors of America have a duty before God to speak out on these key political/spiritual issues, and lead their congregations in the paths of righteousness in regard to the elections and candidates that impact these issues.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus told us to be “light and salt” in our culture (Matthew 5:13-16), and He told us to “occupy until I come.” (Luke 19:11-27). The pastors and churches of America now have the freedom to be “light and salt” and speak boldly about the political issues and candidates of the day, and impact our culture for the Kingdom of God!
