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 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.