Opinion
By Zach Terry
7/8/25
You may have seen a recent New York Times–first report: the IRS, in a court filing, clarified that sermons endorsing candidates—delivered through “usual channels during religious services”—should no longer be considered prohibited “campaign activity” under the Johnson Amendment texastribune.org+7apnews.com+7cbsnews.com+7.
In plain terms: pastors speaking about candidates from the pulpit are now formally treated as sharing matters of faith within a congregation—not campaigning.
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This is not a repeal of the Johnson Amendment (which I believe should be repealed) – It’s a narrow legal carve-out—limited to pulpit speech to one’s own congregation. The IRS isn’t legalizing full-throated political sermons aimed at broader audiences or public fundraising. It’s simply recognizing what many churches have already been doing without penelty, speaking the truth concerning the intersection of theology and public policy.
This is where it gets tricky. The scriptures warn us of the deep depravity found in the human heart. People change, and normally not for the better. To endorse someone means to publicly or officially express support or approval of them, typically in a way that encourages others to do the same. It’s the “THEM” I am concerned about. What happens to our crediblity if they shift policy posistion?
On the other hand, policies don’t hold office, people do. I believe there are times when an endorsement may be in order if we hope to forge a “more perfect union” and one that more faithfully functions as “One Nation Under God”. We should desire to see people who have a good reputation within the household of faith sitting in the halls of power. We should expect them to take their convictions with them into office.🌱
Still—Wisdom Calls for RestraintAll this brings us back to foundational wisdom:
Your platform reflects you
Endorsing people—from a pulpit or a platform—is a serious act. Your reputation, not just their agenda, is put on the line. If you endorse a canidate who fails to succeed, thier loss can easily become yours.
People shift. Policies endure
People pivot—political positions evolve, alliances change. But principles are less prone to fickleness. Framing an endorsement around clear principles is always wiser and safer than a carte blanc endorsement of a person.
Influence hedging is wise
Expect people you endorse to let you down from time to time. Fallen people is all we have to work with. Sadly, there are no perfect people running for office, yet. So, proceed with eyes wide open.
Even with this IRS carve-out, your moral and spiritual accountability hasn’t changed. If anything, it’s heightened. The legal threshold that protects your tax status is narrow. The higher bar—living a life of consistent character—remains.🔍
Reflection Before You Endorse
Am I willing to stake my credibility on their future actions?
Do I genuinely know this person or just like their current stance?
Would I still champion this principle if their name weren’t attached?
Let’s lend our names—and our voices—with integrity. Legal permission doesn’t equate to moral imperative. Proceed with caution.
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Link: https://zachterry.substack.com/p/the-irs-policy-shift-reguarding-churches?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F86f764f9-6668-473d-b85f-de5102e877ae_1320x1918.heic&open=false
The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal Florida.
