This may not be a popular thought but it seems like churches should be fighting this so much more. Whatever happened to gods law over Caesars? People being forced to worship in a Walmart or casino is just a concession. Gathering and expressing faith peacefully should never be restricted for free citizens!
It's time to quit bending rules and stand up for your God given right to worship.
Being a 501(c)3 gives the state complete dominance over churches. Churches which are in this category are regulated by the state, not God. States can shut down churches that attempt to influence government or politics by preaching. However, God grants us the right to preach, not the state! It is completely corrupt and backwards!
He signed an Executive Order barring the IRS from financially burdening churches which preach politics. However, there are many more ways the state controls churches through 501(c)3 classification.
As it should. Churches should pay taxes like every other business. They should pay the property taxes that pay for the police and fire that protect their houses of worship, and for the roads and bridges the parishioners use to get there, etc.
They should be treated like every other business.....allowed to deduct all the money they use on charitable endeavors from their bottom line, so money spent on misionaries, or food banks, or other charitable endeavors? Charitable deduction.
Even if you want to say OK, non profits shouldn't pay federal or state income taxes, they still should pay property taxes. Why should I have to pay for flood control, but the big megachurch with a shitload more acreage than I have pays nothing?
Sucks about the mega church, but not all churches are mega. My church, a true center for God community and spirituality that has been fighting government overreach and has never shutdown would have to shutter if it was made to pay these taxes. Real churches are not businesses.
Agreed. I'm not very religious as with the other poster above, however God given rights is something every CITIZEN should understand. Stop allowing the corrupt state to regulate what our ancestors and God enshrined for us.
Good. Glad to see some are. I guess I just expected some serious outrage and blatant noncompliance from organizations en masse. Hell a couple congregations arrested en masse would have put an end to this real quick and cemented protections for decades.
Most churches have been infiltrated at this point, resulting in a bad situation.
Protestants are soft, thinking faith alone will solve things, and while Catholics would have fought in the past, they're subservient to the Church hierarchy which is currently deeply corrupted.
This is perhaps the single greatest illustration of the hypocrisy of demanding churches close but letting Walmart and it's ilk to remain open. Essential services my butt... POTUS declared mass an essential service, and it is.
What a beautiful way to resist the blue state authoritarians. Man does not live by bread alone!
I don't know if you've been watching the polls, but it seems more and more likely that Trump is going to get a gigantic portion of the black vote.
I just saw a poll yesterday that said 80% of blacks want police funding to continue. Every poll I see lately shows nothing but good signs for Trump in the black community. The radicals are a small minority being propped up by MSM.
Dare to dream. If Trump gets 15%, it will be really shocking to people. And don't even count on low turn out, since Biden will have a black woman VP. Even though Biden is a befuddled old man, the excitement of a black woman and the Biden name will make this Obama's 3rd Term, and how exciting will that be?
Hillary couldn't close the deal, in part because of lower black turnout in those all important swing states. A black VP will pump those numbers back up.
I'm just hoping that Trump peels off a few percent from the last go round, and that those additional Trump votes offset the increased overwhelming black vote for Biden. Best we can hope for here is a push, IMHO.
Ours is open. Social distancing but no masks. Pastor basically said if anyone who felt like it could wear one and if your immune system is at risk catch the service online.
Only trouble is no nursery... And I've only got one that's old enough to sit through preaching. So we just watch on video for now.
Easier to practice sitting still and listening with them at home anyway.
Yes, this is how you resist. Bend their rules til they break.
amen
This may not be a popular thought but it seems like churches should be fighting this so much more. Whatever happened to gods law over Caesars? People being forced to worship in a Walmart or casino is just a concession. Gathering and expressing faith peacefully should never be restricted for free citizens!
It's time to quit bending rules and stand up for your God given right to worship.
I've been shocked and appalled at the lack of push back from the churches and I'm 90% agnostic.
Where are the Christian warriors?
Leftists infiltrated the church a long time ago.
Depends on the church. My church never stopped fighting and never will.
Bingo.
It's amazing what a little manufacturered fear has done to people.
Leftists took over the church long ago.
This. Our church bent right over and took it.
Being a 501(c)3 gives the state complete dominance over churches. Churches which are in this category are regulated by the state, not God. States can shut down churches that attempt to influence government or politics by preaching. However, God grants us the right to preach, not the state! It is completely corrupt and backwards!
I seem to remember that an early action by Trump was removing the restriction on churches from losing their 501(c)3 status if they discuss politics.
He signed an Executive Order barring the IRS from financially burdening churches which preach politics. However, there are many more ways the state controls churches through 501(c)3 classification.
As it should. Churches should pay taxes like every other business. They should pay the property taxes that pay for the police and fire that protect their houses of worship, and for the roads and bridges the parishioners use to get there, etc.
They should be treated like every other business.....allowed to deduct all the money they use on charitable endeavors from their bottom line, so money spent on misionaries, or food banks, or other charitable endeavors? Charitable deduction.
Even if you want to say OK, non profits shouldn't pay federal or state income taxes, they still should pay property taxes. Why should I have to pay for flood control, but the big megachurch with a shitload more acreage than I have pays nothing?
Sucks about the mega church, but not all churches are mega. My church, a true center for God community and spirituality that has been fighting government overreach and has never shutdown would have to shutter if it was made to pay these taxes. Real churches are not businesses.
Agreed. I'm not very religious as with the other poster above, however God given rights is something every CITIZEN should understand. Stop allowing the corrupt state to regulate what our ancestors and God enshrined for us.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-coronavirus-newsom-churches-sue-lawsuit-stay-at-home-order-social-distancing-first-amendment
https://www.christiantoday.com/article/dozens.of.christian.leaders.sue.government.over.closure.of.churches.during.lockdown/135121.htm (UK)
https://thefederalist.com/2020/07/25/john-macarthurs-church-defies-california-orders-to-close-doors/
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/if-we-die-then-were-going-to-heaven-10-oregon-churches-sue-for-in-person-services
https://www.christianpost.com/news/some-kentucky-churches-refuse-to-close-in-wake-of-coronavirus-despite-warnings-from-governor.html (I seem to remember a follow-up on this one, that the KY Gov ordered cops to take down license plates and tow any cars in the parking area, which iirc was fought and overturned)
https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/legacy-church-sues-state-after-governor-includes-churches-in-mass-gatherings-ban/5699764/
People are trying.
Good. Glad to see some are. I guess I just expected some serious outrage and blatant noncompliance from organizations en masse. Hell a couple congregations arrested en masse would have put an end to this real quick and cemented protections for decades.
Doesn't help if the media barely reports it happened.
Most churches have been infiltrated at this point, resulting in a bad situation.
Protestants are soft, thinking faith alone will solve things, and while Catholics would have fought in the past, they're subservient to the Church hierarchy which is currently deeply corrupted.
All according to communist plans.
This is perhaps the single greatest illustration of the hypocrisy of demanding churches close but letting Walmart and it's ilk to remain open. Essential services my butt... POTUS declared mass an essential service, and it is.
What a beautiful way to resist the blue state authoritarians. Man does not live by bread alone!
I love this! Come on people! Resist!
This exactly
LOL just a fuck you to the stupid politicians. I love it.
Oh how wonderful.... now watch every single one of those people go vote for the exact people who shut the churches. What a joke.
I don't know if you've been watching the polls, but it seems more and more likely that Trump is going to get a gigantic portion of the black vote.
I just saw a poll yesterday that said 80% of blacks want police funding to continue. Every poll I see lately shows nothing but good signs for Trump in the black community. The radicals are a small minority being propped up by MSM.
Dare to dream. If Trump gets 15%, it will be really shocking to people. And don't even count on low turn out, since Biden will have a black woman VP. Even though Biden is a befuddled old man, the excitement of a black woman and the Biden name will make this Obama's 3rd Term, and how exciting will that be?
Hillary couldn't close the deal, in part because of lower black turnout in those all important swing states. A black VP will pump those numbers back up.
I'm just hoping that Trump peels off a few percent from the last go round, and that those additional Trump votes offset the increased overwhelming black vote for Biden. Best we can hope for here is a push, IMHO.
But muh welfare
We're rolling back sin.
Ours is open. Social distancing but no masks. Pastor basically said if anyone who felt like it could wear one and if your immune system is at risk catch the service online.
Only trouble is no nursery... And I've only got one that's old enough to sit through preaching. So we just watch on video for now.
Easier to practice sitting still and listening with them at home anyway.
Outstanding!
Praise Lord Jesus!
[Orders 2 lbs. of roast beef at № 2 thickness]
Glory be His name!
[Grabs two 12 Packs of Bounty paper towels]
May the Lord guide and protect us from Democrats!
[Raids the veggie section because meat is now 200% overpriced]
Yes, we can multitask just fine. Let's do this!
JESUS FUCKING CHRIST FINALLY. I've been advocating for churches to do exactly this for months!!
fuck yeah... America!