Update: John Kerry and I have had this “conversation” before. Back in March, I addressed his butchering of James 2 (my first Instalanche and generated about 60 comments on my old blog), and this was the follow-up. Also, I’ve edited the post below for clarity.
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Look at that photo. Only God can judge a man’s heart, but to me they all look like phonies, phonies, phonies! And look how Jesse’s rolling his eyes at Sharpton.
I read an article this morning that caused heartburn. According to the Washington Times, John Kerry “preached” in another black church yesterday and pandered about jobs and healthcare.
Tell me, what reasonable person isn’t concerned about his livelihood and his health? Even pagans are concerned about those things. But the Christian should be focused on so much more.
Despite the fact that some black churches are ignorant of why they are exempted from paying taxes, it is doubly sad that most black churchgoers will be voting for an irreverent huckster like Kerry while lending an ear to his discredited sidekick, Jesse Jackson.
Kerry, who stood before these men and women as a wolf while the “shepherd” watched, told them to cast off (their sins?) concerns about the degradation of the culture and vote for him so they could have someone-else-pays-for-it healthcare. Instead of kicking Kerry out on his rear end, Pastor Smith follows up with this:
“For every Goliath, God has a David,” he said. “For every Calvary’s cross, God has a Christ Jesus. To bring our country out of despair, discouragement, despondency and disgust, God has a John Kerry.”Mr. Kerry mostly sat stolidly during the 20-minute sermon, nodding slightly.
Mr. Smith said God can work His will through the election.
“If he did it for Clinton, he can do it for you…Maybe these are the folks from Jeremiah, who are reminded they have eyes but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear,” he said. (my emphasis)
Shameful, shameful, shameful! However…although the pastor deliberately misapplies the word of God in the Book of Jeremiah, it’s providential that he did so, for it gives me the opportunity to discuss the Bible with you again! What Kerry and his minions meant for blasphemy and racial strife, God meant for good. I’ll first deal with Jeremiah, who says:
Nevertheless in those days,” says the LORD, “I will not make a complete end of you. And it will be when you say, “Why does the LORD our God do all these things to us?’ then you shall answer them, “Just as you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve aliens in a land that is not yours.’
And this, among other things, is what God commanded him to do:
“Declare this in the house of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah, saying, “Hear this now, O foolish people, without understanding, who have eyes and see not, and who have ears and hear not: Do you not fear Me?’ says the LORD. “Will you not tremble at My presence, who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it?And though its waves toss to and fro, yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it. But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart; They have revolted and departed. They do not say in their heart, “Let us now fear the LORD our God, who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season.
He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.” Your iniquities have turned these things away, and your sins have withheld good from you. (Jeremiah 5: 18-25) (my emphasis)
Notwithstanding that David and Jeremiah were righteous men in God’s eyes and I don’t think Kerry and Jackson are, these men of faith didn’t deliver a political speech or ask the people to choose a child sacrifice-supporting king! They delivered God’s judgment, just as Jesus Christ will deliver his Father’s wrath when he returns. Kerry may be called by “whoever” to deliver something, but it’s not God’s wrath!
The great prophet Jeremiah received a calling from God to warn the nation of Israel of his coming judgment. He said: “Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (To you pro-infanticide “Christians” in the house, think about this verse next time you cast the ballot for a “pro-choice” candidate.)
When Jeremiah expressed doubt about his qualifications for such a task, God said:
[Y]ou shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you….Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.” (Jeremiah 1: 4-10)
God set him to the task and gave him the will and boldness to do it. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you.
The people of Israel, once again forgetting their God and his goodness and not fearing him, acted with a “defiant and rebellious heart” and “revolted and departed.” Revolted against and departed from what? God’s commands. And what are those? The law, i.e., the whole Bible, which wasn’t the complete book we have today. There were more prophets, and the Messiah, to come.
When Smith refers to “the folks from Jeremiah”, he’s talking about the Bush Administration, of course. More precisely, he is referring to those not voting for John Kerry. We can assume (I think) he’s read the Bible and knows God has the rebellious Jews in mind here.
By asking the so-called people of God in his church (and presumably the “black community?”) to ignore the decay in our culture (yes, I think homosexual “marriage” is decay) and turn away from concerns about marriage, decency and right living and vote for a pro-child killing candidate who speechifies on class envy in the pulpit, Smith is telling them to do exactly what the nation of Israel had done: rebel! How appropriate.
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Sidebar: Truth and wisdom abounds in the Bible. Even if you’ve studied it cover to cover dozens of times, its beauty unfolds like layers before you. For example, when God sets Jeremiah “over the nations and over the kingdoms,” what does it mean? He obviously has other nations in mind, along with Israel. Jeremiah’s words serve not only to warn Israel but all of us. Some people believe God’s laws are the Ten Commandments, and that’s all (aren’t they enough?). But the whole Bible is the law, and all nations are commanded to obey it.
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Hear this now, O foolish people, without understanding, who have eyes and see not, and who have ears and hear not: Do you not fear Me?
John Kerry’s answer to this question should be, “No, I do not,” but if asked, he’d probably say, “Yes.”
There is more I can say about the Times article and this section of Chapter 5 in Jeremiah, and I may do so later today. I trust you will fill in the holes, add more insight about Jeremiah and edify each other. I look forward to reading your comments.
Time has rushed away from me again. This week I’d planned to blog about voter fraud and the “acting white” study. Perhaps I’ll get to those things, but what I’m doing now is much more important. Based on the number of comments on the “Grace and You” post (125!), people are hungry for “God talk” and spiritual things.
In subsequent posts, I’ll write about Smith’s blasphemous utterance of “Kerry” and “Jesus Christ” in the same sentence. Smith and pastors like him are a disgrace, but it’s only fair I give him credit for the one biblical tenet he handled properly. He said that God can work His will through the election.
He not only can, Mr. Smith. He will.
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I also got very upset with this latest scam they pulled in a black church (I call it “Another One Bites the Dust” at the-other-point.com/v-web/b2evolution/blogs/index.php?blog=12&title=another_one_bites_the_dust&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
These three just make my stomach turn and something else pucker everytime I see them together:-)
I was wondering when you would comment on this one:-)
You had a link in there, Renee, and my spam filter prevents posts with links from going through. I’ll check out your post!
I liked Jackson’s comment about
“How many of you — someone from your family — married somebody of the same sex?” Mr. Jackson asked of the congregation of about 500. After nobody raised a hand, he asked, “Then how did that get in the middle of the agenda?”
Here’s my question — what’s that got to do with anything? This is a bad analogy, but I don’t have any terrorists in my family, so how did that get in the middle of the agenda? This has got to be one of the dumbest arguments I’ve ever heard.
And to do it in a church is particularly repulsive — “Forget about your values, you’ve got to back the guys you always back because of your race.” Yeah, I’m sure Jesus will look kindly upon that — luckily for them, the forgiveness of God is unbounded. But you’ve got to repent to get it.
One article that I read about almost two weeks ago says that Kerry’s campaign wants him to speak at a black church every Sunday up until the election.
Apparently, La Shawn, Kerry and Edwards are not only courting the black vote at churches, but they are also running for the position of part time Reverend. Here’s a quote from Edwards today:
“When John Kerry is president, people like Christopher Reeve are going to walk. Get up out of that wheelchair and walk again.”
So far only Drudge is reporting it (with the line “Be healed!”) but I expect it’ll be picked up by the mainstream press soon (or maybe not).
So, they’re going to be raising the dead? I think that’s taking the analogy to Jesus a little too far… blasphemous, even.
I’m with you on this one LB. When JFK called Coretta to hep spring Martin, his life was in jeopardy (though RFK did turn around and approve wiretapping of MLK’s hotel rooms). This strategy grew old w/ Teddy Kennedy’s visits to Ebenezer in Atlanta, a tradition Clinto continued. Do something innovative (Black talk radio, HBCU visit,TransAfrica, Africare), or simply appeal to issues that disproportionately affect poor whites, the uninsured, Native Americans and Blacks. It’s about sincerity, originality.
And why isn’t Americans for the Separation of Church and State foaming at the mouth over this one? I guess they’re only for separation when the person in the pulpit isn’t a liberal.
Remember earlier in the year, when the Bush campaign asked Catholic republicans to reach out to their parishes, and discuss why Bush was a better candidate in light of Catholic values? The DNC and prominent secular libs (Soros, et al) pitched a fit, crying about church and state separation.
I am always amazed how the same group can condone the black pulpit pandering that their own candidates resort to…
Bijan,
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with regard to why many people who frequent this blog despise the unholy alliance that is the DNC and many black churches.
Meep, you might eerily be close to the mark with regards to miracles…
Rev 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Conservatives in general condemned efforts to attack Bush by using his facial expressions during the debate. And now this, which is exactly the same thing. What happened to ’substance over style?’
I don’t mind candidates visiting black churches per se, as long as all parties get a chance to address the congregation. And they keep their talk to 5 minutes or less. However, ministers advocating for a politician’s election or re-election from the pulpit - as did this minister - violates the church’s tax-exempt status. Sounds like an IRS case to me…
Hi LB,
I was wondering when you were going to comment on the trio at large (I understand about my hyperlink). The minute I read this yesterday, I thought of you.
What got me most was how he quoted Luke 10 (didn’t say the verse)…
and then failed to read the entire verse (as usual). I love when they pick out the parts that they like and throw away the parts the don’t like (they ususal tend to be the most important parts).
The three pimps in the picture offer nothing but misery. They are so obviously corrupt that it is difficult to look at them without bursting out into laughter.
The condemnation, Omar, is in politicking from the pulpit, which happens predominantly in black churches. If churches want to mix politics and religion, then they have to sacrifice their tax exempt status. The church is not the place for politics, it is a House of God, and its people are there for worship and not election speeches!!!
I always wonder why Dem. candidates even bother to address black churches, or predominately black audiences anywhere. The candidates know they’re going to get 90%+ of the black vote anyway.
How often has Kerry been in California? He’s got it sewed up there, and has for awhile. IOW, no need to hang there. Same situation.
“Tell me, what reasonable person isn’t concerned about his livelihood and his health? Even pagans are concerned about those things. But the Christian should be focused on so much more.”
Well, some people are in a position where they don’t have to be concerned about that. People like the presidential candidates. Others are concerned for the situations of others. I hear catholics are into solidarity and labor issues because of exactly that.
Hube:
“I always wonder why Dem. candidates even bother to address black churches, or predominately black audiences anywhere. The candidates know they’re going to get 90%+ of the black vote anyway.”
I think its due to turnout.
Please please let the IRS revoke that church’s tax-exempt status.
You know, I’m sure that’s been done before, Jeff, to no avail. But I’m going to look into it anyway.
actus,
Actually, I think that it is in Kery’s interest to court the Black vote this time around. I saw an article which said polling is predicting 12-15% for BUSH! Now, 12-15% for a Republican is a whole lot. I mean alot. While in another article, I saw that the former campaign manager for Al “Wildman” Gore stated that Kerry was in jeopardy of losing the Black vote. So Kerry has to attempt to pimp,peddle,hustle and patronize the Black electorate.
La Shawn,
The Bible and your blogs for me are a daily read (in that order). Why ? Because your Christian and conservative cause aligns so well with mine. God’s work through you is truly being manifested. Also, because I am the only white man member of a predominately black church, serving God with my precious black wife by my side. This blog strikes a sensitive chord with me. I have witnessed politicians come to our church, seeking votes, expounding partisan rhetoric laced with sprinklings of scripture (routinely misquoted) to patronize us churchfolk. I never experienced this before becoming a Christian and joining the same church as my wife. Every politician has been a Democrat (unlike me), a liberal (unlike me) and usually white (just like me). One might say to me, “well brother, what do you expect?” Before, I would not have had as good an understanding until now, as is so poignantly addressed in this blog by Miss Barber.
This issue is more about freedom of speech than where Kerry campaigns.
I agree with the Family Research Council. In an e-mail they say “…it would be a mistake for more conservative Christians to urge the same type of crackdown on liberal churches [revoking tax-exempt status]. Instead, we should favor a single standard that defends religious liberty and freedom of speech for all–including (especially) pastors who want to address the moral dimension of political decisions from the pulpit, regardless of their views.”
Freedom of speech, no matter the source, is more important than stupid IRS rules. Especially those rules that are only enforced on conservatives or the so-called “religious right.” Reorganize the IRS so that the same rules apply to everyone.
I disagree, Stephen. Freedom of speech is not absolute. Having said that, if churches want to allow politicking in the pulpit, great. Here’s the catch: revoke their tax-exempt status, and they can bring in whoever they want. Certain rules attach when an organization accepts a tax obligation waiver.
Stephen,
i agree 100% with LB(ok ok, yeah I’m sucking up, i’ve always been a teachers pet). The issue isn’t freedom of speech. The issue is that one political party, routinely makes public speeches at black churches. These churches are tax exempt. Thus, they have pledged to be non political. This particular church, has done the opposite.
From a spiritual standpoint I believe that these churches in some cases prove to be harlots to the Beast. Not to speak against the Church. It’s a fine line between ones civic duty and being a political stump for the liberal view.
I tend to believe that some Christians who are liberal tend to see the Bible only through the lenses that they put on. A womans right to choose, tolerance for homosexuality, assault on marriage,etc.
There was a Washington Post story on the same thing, with this interesting tidbit:
“The Massachusetts Democrat… was repeatedly called ‘the next president’ and even ‘president.’”
Thank you for expressing my feelings so well.
People critique Bush for his faith, but I have never heard him spin scripture.
Hi Lashawn…this is my first time by your website…I’ve only read this first entry so far, and I definitely agree with this one! I’ll stop by again to check out the rest
I consider Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton to be enemies of our society as much as any foreign national who would wish us ill. That John Kerry appears to be so chummy with these men ought to give one a clear picture of the direction he would attempt to bring our society.
*Why* are they doing this? They know that spiritual leaders in our land (in this case, the Black churches) still are very influential with many of us; and, being the kind of people that they are, have no problem with going into houses of worship for petty politicking.
There is a movement in the world and I realize even more today lean on the Lord more for comfort and peace. What does Jesse and Al stand for and how can the both of them sleep well at nite?
It’s just like when Slick Willy got caught doing something bad where did he run??? Always to a Black Church - I can’t remember seeing him in to many White churches when he was a really bad boy!
Jesus entered the holy temple and found the money changers had turned His Fathers’ house of prayer into “a den of thieves.” He drove them out. Self-appointed reverends and pastors who use Gods’ house for the selling of votes and political agendas will have to give an account to the same Lord they “claim” to worship. “Be not deceived, God is not to be mocked.” (ref; Galatians 6:7).
All of a sudden Clinton was holding “Prayer Breakfasts” and walking around with a Bible! At the same time, his “spiritual advisor”, Jesse Jackson, had his pregnant-out-of-wedlock girlfriend on the payroll. I wonder how his little daughter is doing, by the way?
Dave - Thanks for coming on the blog, Dave. Good to “see” you!
In August of 1992, exactly 0.4 miles north of Hatton, Missouri, the following quote was “seared–seared in my memory”:
“The Scriptures say, ‘eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has it entered into the mind of man what we can build’.”
I knew then Clinton, who was giving his nomination acceptance speech, was going to win; he had just sewn up the Baptist and Black Baptist vote.
BTW, are my closing quotes arranged vis-a-vis the period? Miss Ella Fanning (my 8th grade English teacher) would be so disappointed in my slow but sure loss of all she taught me (as well as the children who sailed on the Mayflower in 1620).
Thanks for commenting, Jim. I think your commas are correct, but I’ll have to look up the rule. Good question! Another grammar dilemma. Interesting…
Dear LaShawn Barber,
I thought I heard that Kerry asked Rev. Jackson was asked to join the Kerry campaign. Star Parker has article that Kerry was losing some black vote, so paying Jackson to join would seem reasonable. You can be black, educated, and over sixty. Jesse Jackson seems to appeal to the non college educated. From Colin Powell to Rod Paige there are a lot of educated blacks with rank and influence. Condi Rice will be fifty next month. Who was booed by the NBC down in New Orleans? Most blacks are Christian and conservative except for Politics.
Also the Army needs more geeks and does not want to reinstate the draft. Playing the draft card or race card is Democrat politcs.
JMB
Politicians should not be prostelitizing in churches, PERIOD.
“John Edwards has just stated that “When John Kerry is president, people like Christopher Reeve are going to walk. Get up out of that wheelchair and walk again.”… ”
John Kerry as Jesus Christ? I don’t think the Catholic church is going to approve.
We’ve got one Reverend on the “Thou Shalt not Commit Adultery” and one Reverend covering the “Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness.” Actually, both of them do a pretty good job of “Thou shalt not Covet” as well, plus as a bonus some Greed, Envy, and Lust for the deadly sin bonus pack.
What is the word Spike Lee uses? Our brothers and sisters of the black persuasion are always wondering about and speaking against the white man. Is this not blinders on the eyes of those who are always hood winked and bamboozled. We fall for it every election, but let’s see how many African Americans are hired if the Dems win! None of course. Again, the Dems have never played fair, so look out for another voters fraud claim, and felons voters disinfranchised, most of these whining Dems will be blue in the face. Three more weeks and the pot is black. We are a country that is on the verge of trouble. Hatred loves Division. Wake Up America…Wake Up Black America! Tradition make the word of God of none effect. Get out and Vote for Bush 2004. The popular vote will not win this election for the Dems.
“When John Kerry is president, people like Christopher Reeve are going to walk. Get up out of that wheelchair and walk again.”
So far only Drudge is reporting it (with the line “Be healed!”) but I expect it’ll be picked up by the mainstream press soon (or maybe not).
Michael Savage spoke about it today.
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 5:10
and
“Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.” — Amos 5:23-24
This is probably steering the debate a little away from the Church/Politics question; but, I am a bit peeved by the constant blind allegiance of Blacks to cameleons like Kerry,Edwards,Clinton and Jackson.
Whenever someone with a “D” next to their name does something out of the way, Blacks are oh so forgiving. Whereas, let someone with an “R next to their name step out of place, Blacks and the Churches start a campaign. I think that much of the problem exist with how some church leaders view the Scriptures. I am reminded of an instance in which there was a forum being held on “The State of Black America” on CSPAN; you should’ve heard some of the drivel coming from some of the mouths of these “men of God”. It was down right disgusting.
Even, the pastor of the church that I attended at one point, thought that the church in the Black Community possess more of a meeting place/community center purpose as defined in the Sixties with the Civil Rights Movement. I tend to disagree, the Church(Universal)possess the function of being the physical presence of of God in the world. Rev. Jessie Peterson is correct in his assessment that the moral fabric of the Black community is directly affected by the moral morass in the church leadership.
Kerry can heal the sick? Why are you surprised? He is raising the dead to get people to vote for him?
This quote comes from a caller to the “Tony Snow Show” this morning.
I caught a little of “Savage Nation” as well, Joshua - Michael made the statement that after Nov. 3rd, don’t expect to see any politicians anywhere NEAR a black church. I’m not gonna bet against that!
I just want to know if Al Sharpton was praying for a Kerry victory. If he was, he definitely crossed the line between church and state.
great discussion! while i can’t think of many things worse than a Kerry presidency, i would be opposed to the church losing it’s tax exempt status. just wouldn’t be right to do that to the congregation, most of whom probably had no voice in Kerry’s visit. and i think Kerry has to visit black churches. that is where he is most likely to lose likely voters. i have heard (cannot remember where) that he may lose up to 20% of the black vote over the gay marriage issue in his home state. that is a staggering percentage!
I have really had with these last minute church visits by all politicians. It’s just so fake and pandering. To me it suggest that we are so simple and easy that all one has to do is show up at church and that’s it. You know us black folks love us some Jesus!
We know about Jesus. Talk to us about economic empowerment, the AIDS crisis, inner city schools, academic standards.
The whole Jackson/Sharpton thing adds to the fake feel of the whole event. Everyone knows they hate each other because they can’t compete with the spotlight. I’m curious to find out how it was decided that Sharpton would be in front? A coin toss, maybe?
Can’t wait to see Sharpton, Jesse and Kerry start dancing down the church aisle just like in the Blue’s Brother’s movie.
“Yes we’re on a mission from GOD!”
The Unholy Alliance, that’s what it brings to mind with me. Reminds me of the nursery ryhme; “Three Blind Mice”.
By the way they should start calling John Edwards “Dan Qualye Lite”.
LaShawn writes:
>>>Notwithstanding that David and Jeremiah were righteous men in God’s eyes and I don’t think Kerry and Jackson are, these men of faith didn’t deliver a political speech or ask the people to choose a child sacrifice-supporting king!
Lashawn, exactly when did God tell you John Kerry and Jesse Jackson weren’t “righteous men?” Was that before or after God ‘told George W. Bush he would become President?” Was that before or after, according to Pat Robertson, God sent hurricanes to destroy Disneyworld over gay hiring policies? Was that before or after, according to Jerry Falwell, God let the 9/11 attacks happen because of lesbians?
And, of course, the ultimate question…Do you believe that God is a Republican?
–Cobra
A righteous man is known by his deeds…
Jesus said ye shall know them by their fruits. Bombing innocent Iraqui civilians and destroying/looting Biblical archaeology sites, when N. Korea, Iran and Pakistan are known to possess WMD, is strange fruit.
If we were intentionally bombing innocent people (see the Beslan school massacre, though I may be misspelling it), you might have a point. However, what does it matter if archaeological sites are destroyed? Their existence and condition don’t affect my faith. Do you have proof that we (and by “we” I mean coalition partners) are looting important sites? What is your definition of “important”?
Hmmm, let’s see. If these countries are known to possess dangerous weapons, perhaps we’re planning our course of action. It’s just like a liberal to say on one hand, “Even if Iraq has/had WMDs, we shouldn’t force them to comply with 14 years worth of Security Council declarations and we shouldn’t take out their leader, regardless of how many crimes against his own people he’s committed,” and then on the other hand say, “Hey, wait! These other countries have WMDs! Why aren’t we taking them out?!” I don’t know if you’re a liberal, but your words (fruit, for those of use who know each other only by our online words) sure do indicate something along that line.
La Shawn,
You write “Here’s the catch: revoke their tax-exempt status, and they can bring in whoever they want.” True enough. But I think you missed my point. Why should any church have to go begging the IRS for permission to speak out on the issues of the day? A pastor is the shepherd of his congregation and is obligated by God’s Word to preach not only spiritual truths but also moral truths. Much of what happens in politics today deals with the morality of mankind, the abortion issue, for example. If I am a pastor, why should I fear the IRS when I say Kerry’s stand on abortion is wrong? My point is that the IRS needs to get out of the business of monitoring what is said from the pulpit. The law needs to be changed to allow any pastor the freedom to speak out, without fear of reprisal from the IRS, on issues that are meaningful to him and his church.
I do understand the limits of free speech. It’s the old adage “you can’t yell Fire! in a crowded theater.” That does not apply here. IRS rules forbid churches to endorse political candidates. Groups like “Americans United for Separation of Church and State” make sure that rule is applied only to conservatives. I don’t care where either Bush or Kerry campaign. Again, it’s time to change the rules. The IRS should not be restricting freedom of speech in a church. If the government today has the power to tell a church not to endorse a candidate for public office, what’s next? Will the church have to get IRS approval for each sermon to insure it’s politically correct? Look no further than what’s happening to churches in Canada today.
So what responsibilities should tax-exempt organizations have? They’re exempt for a reason. If there’s a rational basis for prohibiting the endorsement of political candidates, then it should stand and apply to all such organizations.
You do have a point about what’s happening in Canada, but endorsing a politician in the pulpit (one party over another) while benefiting from tax exemptions seems foul to me. If a particular church or denomination wants to preach and pander, they should pay taxes like everyone else. The issue turns on taxes, Stephen, not whether their FA rights are being violated. They can say what they want and endorse who they want. And pay taxes.
Stephen,
Look at it this way… the government agrees to keep out of the affairs of organized religion, and in return, organized religion keeps out of the business of government.
What a preacher says on his own time, is fully protected by the 1st ammendment. What a preacher says in his capacity as a representative of God, is not.
…she’s obviously got a firm foundation in modern reformation theology, and she wields it well. here’s a recent, lengthy, involved post in which she takes the blending of john kerry…
SCSI - I still don’t understand why a pastor couldn’t say something along these lines w/out fearing the loss of tax-exempt status: “The Bible says X. Candidate A says Y, and Candidate B says X.” No, I don’t think the pastor should necessarily tell his flock to vote for one party or for one particular candidate, but informing the congregation where the candidates in a race stand in relation to moral/Biblical issues seems almost like an obligation for a pastor who takes his role as shepherd and overseer seriously.
Stephen has a point. Today, churches cannot endorse candidates (something they should not do anyway, but that is an ecclesiastical matter). Tomorrow, churches are forbidden from citing key scripture verses for being “hateful”. Oh, and abolish the IRS.
La Shawn,
As far as I can tell there is no “rational basis for prohibiting the endorsement of political candidates…”. The current IRS rules are, as I understand them, a product of the Johnson administration in the 1960’s. Finding specific information is a little difficult. It seems that LBJ was unhappy that some pastors across America were uniting in opposition to some of his Great Society programs. LBJ had his friends in Congress add rules to the IRS code forbidding endorsement of political candidates. These rules were inserted into a bill (that may have had nothing else to do with the IRS) simply to silence the voices of dissent. The rest, as they say, is history. Maybe somebody with better access to 1960’s records can either verify or deny my memory of this.
I do know for fact that before Johnson the church I attended sometimes discussed political matters. Nobody back in those days was worried about the government revoking their tax-exempt status. That’s the problem with being an old guy like me … memories … but hey, I’m having fun!
God Bless you La Shawn, and the great work you do on this blog! We love ya in Nevada!!!
I made a mistake. It was Johnson but the year was 1954. Johnson was angry with a couple of non-profit organizations - not chruches - that had backed his opponent in 1954. Johnson got his revenge by amending the IRS code to prohibit all tax-exempt organizations from endorsing political candidates.
I found this quote: “On July 2, 1954, the Congressional Record reveals Senator Johnson proposed an amendment to a house bill that was under consideration by the Senate. His amendment called for a change in section 501(c)(3) of the tax code. Johnson told the Senate: “This amendment seeks to extend the provisions of section 501 of the House bill, denying tax-exempt status to not only those people who influence legislation but also to those who intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for any public office.””
Sorry for the mix-up!
Stephen, nonetheless, that is interesting and I certainly won’t mind if that issue is revisited and struck out as it appears to be the part and parcel of illiberal attempts to stifle dissent. Especially since the notion of non-profit organizations being tax-free predates the incumbent’s right to cruise thru reelections — can you hear me now McCain-Feingold?
Senator/President Johnson made a career of stepping on his opposition. He would make laws and orders for his own aggrandisement and all would have to live with the far-reaching consequences. Thanks, ‘old man’ Stephen for your research.
Oh, were it forty years ago and we had a *real* choice for presidential leadership. We chose wrongly.
“Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.”
Another thoughtt: LBJ is an example of an “unelected” President that probably wouldn’t have made it on his own. And now we have Edwards who, if elected, would be just a heartbeat or a Botox-Gone-Bad away from CinC.
I was just trying to say that churches and politics co-existed quite well prior to 1954. Johnson’s attempt to silence his personal opposition had unintended consequence.
In today’s world it gives rise to such group as “American’s United for the Seperation of Church and State” which is nothing more than a tool for the irreligious left to mute conservatives. There is no equivalent group on the right monitoring leftist churches.
As I tried to say in a prior post, when pastors can’t teach their congregation the Biblical truths for fear of government backlash, then government has effectively muzzled freedom of speech and freedom of worship.
La Shawn - You are in my prayers daily. God Bless.
Kerry is a phony he pretends to be progun and prosecond amendment but he is a big gun control freak he wears blaze orange as camouflage now he its trying to be a man of god? what a dweeb he is he dont fool old firebird at all
IRS Asked To Investigate Miami Church
A church-state group has asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate another church for appearing to endorse a presidential candidate this election season.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State has asked the IRS to investigate Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Miami for hosting a rally with Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee, in a worship service Oct. 10.
The service featured Kerry as well as African-American Democratic leaders Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Introducing Kerry, the church’s pastor, Gaston Smith, called Kerry “the next president of the United States” and said to the congregation, “To bring our country out of despair, despondency and disgust, God has a John Kerry.”
Tax-exempt non-profit groups, such as churches, organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax codes are not allowed to endorse political candidates or parties.
Barry Lynn, Americans United’s executive director, told IRS officials the church appeared to have breached the law. “This appears to have been a clear case of a church hosting a partisan political rally,” Lynn said, in a letter to the agency. “I believe the obvious aim of this event was to endorse Kerry’ s candidacy and spur congregants to vote for him. As such, the church has run afoul of federal tax law.”
The letter marks the eighth time this year that Americans United has complained to the IRS about churches engaging in partisan campaigning. The other incidents have involved complaints about the pastor of a conservative Southern Baptist church in Arkansas appearing to endorse the re-election of President Bush, and an African Methodist Episcopal church in Massachusetts appearing to endorse Kerry.
Source is Maranatha Christian News Service at mcjonline.com
La Shawn…..
You are a shining light….please continue sharing your perspectives as you listen to that Inner Voice.
Best wishes always’
Helen Cochran
Going to church is sacred, and very personal. It is beyond disgusting that Kerry would use the church to try to get people to vote for him, but also to make himself seem appointed by a “higher power”. And doesn’t Sharpton have any pride? I read an article where Clinton was called the “first Black president” and Kerry commented to Amer. Urban Radio Network that “he would like to be the second”. Kerry will stoop to any level to get people to vote for him…what’s next, putting on a skirt & makeup?
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