Houston Demands Oversight of Sermons

Recommended podcasts:

Houston Demands Oversight of Sermons, by Pastor David McManus
Houston City Subpoenas Sermons: The Nero Thing Heats Up, by Pastor Kevin Swanson
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Also Recommended reading/listening:

"I'm From the Government and I'm Here to Rewrite Your Sermon"
IRS to Churches: Exersize Your Free Speech and Give Up Your Tax Exempt Status - cnsnews.com
Pulpit Freedom Sunday - What's it All About? Part I
Pulpit Freedom Sunday - What's it All About? Part II
Pulpit Freedom Sunday - What's it All About? Part III

Atheists Sue IRS for ‘Pulpit Freedom Sunday’

Atheists sue IRS for ‘Pulpit Freedom Sunday’:

What? You didn't hear about "Pulpit Freedom Sunday?" Why don't you take a minute to catch up:

Pulpit Freedom Sunday: What's It All About? Part I
Pulpit Freedom Sunday: What's It All About? Part II
Pulpit Freedom Sunday: What's It All About? Part III

The Lord's Table? Or the Table of Devils? One More Reasons Churches Need to Drop 501c3 Tax Exempt Status

Probably most churches celebrate some version of the Lord's Supper, or Communion.  Many of these churches offer this sacrament to anyone who walks in the door. Others, especially those that still believe the Bible, try to restrict this sacrament to those who profess to be Christians.

And then there are churches who offer the Lord's Supper only to those who are members of that church and are in good standing (not under church discipline) in that church.  This practice is called closed communion.

The New American has an article about a Plymouth Brethren Church in England that is facing the loss of its tax exempt status because of its practice of closed communion (see British Gov't: Closed Communion Means Brethren Church Not a Charity).

There are good arguments for and against both open and closed communion. Personally, I lean toward closed communion. But the issue this article brings up is really more broad than who may or may not be admitted to the Lord's Supper. The issue is this: Can the state dictate what Christians believe?

If Churches ask the state for special treatment (tax exempt status), then they are placing themselves in a position where the state can indeed dictate what that church believes (open or closed communion, for example).

Please take some time to listen to Dr. David Murray's sermon:

Communion Table Address

Also Recommended reading/listening:

Pulpit Freedom Sunday - What's it All About? Part I
Pulpit Freedom Sunday - What's it All About? Part II
Pulpit Freedom Sunday - What's it All About? Part III

Render to Obama, unless...

On November 9th, 2008, Dr. David Murray of the Free Reformed Church preached a sermon titled: Render to Obama.  The text for his sermon was Jeremiah 29:5:

"Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens and eat fruit of them;"

This sermon was preached just a couple of days after Barack Obama had been elected president. The Prophet Jeremiah was writing these words to the children of Israel who had been taken captive into Babylon around 600 B.C.

The Israelites did not like their new King, Nebuchadnezzar, any more than most Christians like our new King/President, Barack Obama. But that does not mean we do not have to continue to live our lives and be the best citizens we can be.

The Bible tells us very specifically that we are to obey those in authority:

"Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man, for the Lord's sake," - I Peter 2:13

And also Romans 13: 1-7:

"Let every soul be subject to the higher powers.  For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid, for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor."

But the Christian's obligation to obey the state is not without qualification. Our first allegiance is not to Barack Obama, but to our Lord Jesus Christ. And when Barack Obama tells us to disobey our Lord, then we have to stand up to him and say with the Apostle Peter:

"We ought to obey God rather than men." - Acts 5:29

Recommended reading and listening:

Pulpit Freedom Sunday - What's it All About? Part I
Pulpit Freedom Sunday - What's it All About? Part II
Pulpit Freedom Sunday - What's it All About? Part III

Pulpit Freedom Sunday 2012 - What's it all About? Part III

In part 2 of this 3 part series on Pulpit Freedom Sunday, I posted a link to a sermon by Dr. Dennis Ingolfsland. In that sermon, Pulpit Freedom Sunday, Dr. Ingolfsland shares his views on some of the issues that brought about Pulpit Freedom Sunday .

Now, I want to conclude with a link to a sermon by Pastor Joey Faust on this same topic. The title of his sermon is:   Not a Jezebel State Church.

Recommended reading:

Pulpit Freedom Sunday - What's it All About? Part I
Pulpit Freedom Sunday - What's it All About? Part II

Pulpit Freedom Sunday, 2012 - What's It All About? Part II

 This is part 2 in a 3 part series on Pulpit Freedom Sunday. To find out what this is all about, please read Dr. Dennis Ingolfsland's Pulpit Freedom Sunday, 2012

And after you read this article, if you are still unsure who to vote for in November, please listen to the following audio message:

Democrats Affirm Everything God Hates

Pulpit Freedom Sunday 2012 - What's it All About? Part I

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