Is your church government approved? Are you aware that the federal government has established rules governing what your pastor is allowed to say from the pulpit? And if these rules are routinely violated the government can seize all church assets. It has happened before, and it will happen again. Better than 90% of the churches in East Tennessee have incorporated under the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules. By doing so, these churches have placed themselves under the thumb of governmental rule. .
Allowing the government to dictate what is preached in church is wrong, from both biblical and constitutional perspectives. Federal involvement in religious affairs is in clear violation of the "separation of Church and State" that we hear so often.
A church that incorporates under Title 26 Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Code {501c3 hereafter}, agrees to be governed by those rules and regulations. By law, the 501c3 church may not preach politically incorrect sermons, attempt to influence legislation, endorse or oppose political candidates, publish or distribute political positions, nor involve itself in matters of public policy (read "politically correct"). The reason for this is simple, money. In return for incorporating under 501c3, the church is issued a certificate confirming that donations made by individual are tax-deductible. Unfortunately, along with the tax-exempt status comes a muzzle. The sad thing is that it is totally unnecessary. IRS Publication 557 clearly states that churches are not required to apply for the 501c3 tax-exempt status to be tax-exempt.
In our local area there is little, if any, retribution for violations of political incorrectness, yet. But the tools are in place, in their utility belt, ready for action, when the time is right. Say, when a gay couple wants to be married and a pastor refuses. Or, maybe, an abortion mill opens in our area and a local church group organizes a protest.
