This is part 1 in a 3 part series on Pulpit Freedom Sunday. Please read the article, Pastors Prepare to Defy IRS With “Pulpit Freedom Sunday”. This news article provides an opportunity to look again into the controversy surrounding the 501c3 Tax Exempt status for churches.
The writer of this article says, "The purpose [of Pulpit Freedom Sunday] is to make sure that the pastor, and not the IRS, decides what is said from the pulpit." Actually, it is, or should be, the Bible that decide what is to be said from the pulpit, but let's not split hairs!
There are 2 issues at stake in Pulpit Freedom Sunday. One is the pastors' first amendment right to freedom of speech, granted to them by the United States government. If (some say when!) that right is taken away, Pastors are going to have to decide whether they want to obey God (Acts 5:29) or the state.
The second issue, and really more to the point on this particular event, is whether or not a church can claim 501 c3 tax exempt status, and still expect the government to allow them to say anything they want (or they feel the Bible compels them to say) from the pulpit.
To me, this is like the church wanting to have its cake (501 c3 tax exempt status) and eat it too (be protected from the IRS).
In an effort to try to look at both sides of the issue, please take time to listen to these 2 great audio messages (I respect pastor Hammack, but on this issue, I agree more with Brother Slattery!).
501c3 Craziness, by Pastor Trevor Hammack
How the Corporate Church Violates all 10 Commandments, by Brother Michael Slattery
