1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Renewed call for ending tax exempt status for the Church

Discussion in 'News & Current Events' started by McCree79, Jul 4, 2015.

  1. McCree79

    McCree79 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2015
    Messages:
    2,232
    Likes Received:
    305
    Faith:
    Baptist
  2. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2004
    Messages:
    25,823
    Likes Received:
    1,167
    Faith:
    Baptist
  3. church mouse guy

    church mouse guy Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 23, 2002
    Messages:
    22,050
    Likes Received:
    1,857
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Leftist do not believe in freedom of conscience. For example, if you do not believe that s0d0my is natural, then you must be regulated by the state and there is no freedom of conscience for you. The Democrats, the party of slavery, Jim Crow, KKK, abortion and s0d0my will be your conscience.
     
  4. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2008
    Messages:
    18,441
    Likes Received:
    259
    Faith:
    Baptist
    If churches tax exemption is taken away we will find out who loves the Lord more than their money.
     
  5. poncho

    poncho Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2004
    Messages:
    19,657
    Likes Received:
    128
    The church will never lose it's tax exempt status.

    Once the government has taken control it never gives it up. Christians may love Jesus but we fear the IRS. Fear is a more powerful motivator than love.
     
    #5 poncho, Jul 4, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 4, 2015
  6. McCree79

    McCree79 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2015
    Messages:
    2,232
    Likes Received:
    305
    Faith:
    Baptist
    A little Machiavellian philosophy there......"Love is held by a chain of obligation, which mean being selfish, is broken when it serves their purpose. Bit fear in maintained by a fear of punishment, which never fails."

    Some truth to that. However, the world should be very afraid of God. His wrath will be much greater than that IRS.
     
  7. McCree79

    McCree79 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2015
    Messages:
    2,232
    Likes Received:
    305
    Faith:
    Baptist
    You will find doors of churches close. A lot of congregations will not be able to afford the property taxes. Especially in churches were the majority are no longer in the work force.
     
  8. poncho

    poncho Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2004
    Messages:
    19,657
    Likes Received:
    128
    Tell it to those who crowned the government head of the church.

    I've studied Machiavelli BTW. The "noble lie" is the foundation on which this government and the corporate media builds "consensus". Left and right.
     
    #8 poncho, Jul 4, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 4, 2015
  9. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2008
    Messages:
    18,441
    Likes Received:
    259
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Not if everyone tithed. Not if everyone loved the Lord more than their money. And maybe we would go back to the house church that worked well in the 1st century.
     
  10. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2003
    Messages:
    38,982
    Likes Received:
    2,615
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Standard of living was much lower in NT times.
    House churches are nice when everyone lives close by. ( I visited a "house church" last month )- took me 10 minutes to drive there
     
  11. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2002
    Messages:
    9,405
    Likes Received:
    353
    Faith:
    Baptist
    What will not be regulated by the state if churches lose their tax exemption is their parti.cipation in politics. Churches could band together and become political machines. They don't do it now because of the agreement to not take part in partisan politics if they want 501c.3 status That is, they don't do it officially. But those vying for the Democratic nomination for an office do make the black churches before the primaries. And in '76 when Pres. Ford came to Dallas he was invited to the First Baptist by Criswell, who did not say to vote for him, but put his hand on his shoulder and said, "He's my president!" A clever bird was old Wally Amos! But with removal of the exemption, candidates would fight to speak at churches before elections and there would be no subtlety about it.
     
  12. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2004
    Messages:
    7,406
    Likes Received:
    101
    As an ordained minister who leads a local church...I doubt this will ever happen. Lots of saber rattling right now, but little actual initiatives to do something.

    Here's the thing, if they do this to churches then they also have to do it synagogues and mosques. Far left advocates of this don't want to mess with those two bodies.
     
  13. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2002
    Messages:
    9,405
    Likes Received:
    353
    Faith:
    Baptist
    That's very true. Americans United for Separation of Church and State is (at least ostensibly) a strong supporter of tax exemptions for religious bodies for the purpose of disallowing campaigning in churches. Many of their supporters are not, of course, and that includes the most outspoken, the atheists, or "free-thinkers." Years ago, I used to post on their web site; not getting a lot of agreement, as you probably expect, but nevertheless getting some support for my cutting humorous remarks and sarcasm-- they at least understand that. But they canceled that discussion board and went with Facebook. I did post on their Fb site for a short time, but any Christian who believes the Bible will very soon be kicked out-- they don't tolerate opposition.
     
  14. church mouse guy

    church mouse guy Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 23, 2002
    Messages:
    22,050
    Likes Received:
    1,857
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Freedom of conscience means freedom of religion and churches already have freedom of speech and the right to engage in political activity in spite of the lies of Lyndon Johnson. Black churches openly supported Jackson years ago and took up collections for him. A preacher should have freedom of speech and that should include political speech if he so desires. Most preachers consider partisan politics unworthy of them except for moral issues such as denouncing abortion, gambling, same-sex marriage and the upcoming legalization of polygamy.

    I doubt if very many Democrats would stand up for freedom of conscience--I never have met one who believed in freedom of conscience. As a Southern Baptist, I believe in individual competence--the ability of every person to decide to accept or reject Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
     
  15. poncho

    poncho Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2004
    Messages:
    19,657
    Likes Received:
    128
    As soon as someone goes on the public dole, for the most part, the government has successfully and thoroughly purchased their SILENCE.

    In the second place, the vast majority of pastors and churches have voluntarily placed themselves directly under the supervision and authority of the federal government by accepting the 501c3 non-profit organization status from the Internal Revenue Service. And by so doing, the vast majority of pastors and churches will consciously do or say NOTHING that could jeopardize that non-profit tax status. And, once again, the federal government has successfully and thoroughly purchased their SILENCE.

    http://newswithviews.com/baldwin/baldwin848.htm
     
Loading...