IRS Strikes Deal With Atheists To Monitor Church Sermons & Homilies

[Webster]

...what part of "freedom of religion" do these dunderheads not understand?

Government's assault on religious liberty has hit a new low as the IRS settles with atheists who sued the government over an alleged policy of not enforcing restrictions on churches' political activities.

A lawsuit filed by the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) asserted that the Internal Revenue Service ignored complaints about churches' violating their tax-exempt status by routinely promoting candidates from the pulpit. The lawsuit has now been dismissed without prejudice by a U.S. District Court in response to a joint request by the FFRF and IRS. The joint motion stated that the FFRF was "satisfied that the IRS does not have a policy at this time of non-enforcement specific to churches or religious groups."

The irony of the enforcement question is that it involves the same Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division of the IRS that was once headed by Lois "Fifth Amendment" Lerner and that openly targeted Tea Party and other conservative groups.

Among the questions that the IRS asked of those targeted groups was the content of their prayers. Those who objected to the monitoring of what is said and done in mosques for signs of terrorist activity have no problem with this one, though monitoring what's said in houses of worship is a clear violation of the First Amendment. Can you say "chilling effect"?

Congress can make no laws prohibiting the free exercise of religion. So it's not clear where the IRS gets off doing just that by spying on religious leaders lest they comment on issues and activities by government that are contrary to or impose on their religious consciences. Our country was founded by people fleeing this kind of government-monitored and mandated theology last practiced in the Soviet Union.

The FFRF cites as its authority the 1954 Johnson Amendment, which states that tax-exempt groups cannot endorse candidates. A 2009 court ruling determined that the IRS must staff someone to monitor church politicking. The FFRF claims that the IRS has not adhered to the ruling and that the settlement amounts to enforcing both the Johnson Amendment and the court ruling.

But is the Catholic Church "politicking" when it proclaims its "Fortnight for Freedom" dedicated to opposing ObamaCare's contraceptive mandate and the government's forcing schools and charities it considers an extension of its faith to include it in insurance coverage or face crippling fines?

Are Protestant and evangelical churches "politicking" when they participate in "Pulpit Freedom Sunday" this year on Oct. 5 to encourage congregations to "vote their faith," which they consider to be an exercise of free speech and freedom of religion?

The FFRF says that such events at "rogue churches" have "become an annual occasion for churches to violate the law with impunity." But doesn't the Constitution say that Congress can make no such laws? Rather than "rogue churches," it's the rogue IRS that needs to be stopped. (Investors Business Daily)

Thoughts?

 

[Nebulous]

What are your thoughts on churches being involved with politics?

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

No problem with it in the least. If not for churches talking politics we may have not had America win the revolutionary war and motivate us to fight.

 

[Webster]

What are your thoughts on churches being involved with politics?

If they want to get involved in politics...I say let 'em.
Just tell 'em to give up their tax exemptions and I wouldn't have a problem with it.
...and for the record, that applies to all churches, not just the ones on the right.

 

[Nebulous]

What are your thoughts on churches being involved with politics?

If they want to get involved in politics...I say let 'em.
Just tell 'em to give up their tax exemptions and I wouldn't have a problem with it.
...and for the record, that applies to all churches, not just the ones on the right.

Yeah that is sort of an unfair advantage isn't it?

 

[DrLeftover]

They can't touch black churches that campaign for Democrats because saying anything to them is racist, and the IRS knows it.

 

[+paradox]

They can't touch black churches that campaign for Democrats because saying anything to them is racist, and the IRS knows it.

which black churches are involved in politics?

if churches want to be political figure than they must forfeit all of their special exemptions and such, no?

well, then give up your exemptions and then have a political say in things, good luck...

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

They can't touch black churches that campaign for Democrats because saying anything to them is racist, and the IRS knows it.

Ain't that the truth!

 

[+paradox]

They can't touch black churches that campaign for Democrats because saying anything to them is racist, and the IRS knows it.

Ain't that the truth!

just like how if anyone says anything to the jewish people they are "ani-semtic"?

again, which black churches are currently in politics?

thank you...

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

What are your thoughts on churches being involved with politics?

If they want to get involved in politics...I say let 'em.
Just tell 'em to give up their tax exemptions and I wouldn't have a problem with it.
...and for the record, that applies to all churches, not just the ones on the right.

The churches have been Americas motivators and spiritual leaders to win the revolutionary war, the civil war and so on. The Churches were and still are in many cases Americas way of helping the people who need a hand up instead of a hand out like the American government does now at the destruction of our society.

I have no problem with the churches speaking there mind in politics. But what I do have a problem with is if they are not helping the community they live in and is still taking the tax break. I have no problem with strict rules in that regard.

 

[+paradox]

What are your thoughts on churches being involved with politics?

If they want to get involved in politics...I say let 'em.
Just tell 'em to give up their tax exemptions and I wouldn't have a problem with it.
...and for the record, that applies to all churches, not just the ones on the right.

The churches have been Americas motivators and spiritual leaders to win the revolutionary war, the civil war and so on. The Churches were and still are in many cases Americas way of helping the people who need a hand up instead of a hand out like the American government does now at the destruction of our society.

I have no problem with the churches speaking there mind in politics. But what I do have a problem with is if they are not helping the community they live in and is still taking the tax break. I have no problem with strict rules in that regard.

actually, a lot of religious people and churches were loyalists to the crown...

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

What are your thoughts on churches being involved with politics?

If they want to get involved in politics...I say let 'em.
Just tell 'em to give up their tax exemptions and I wouldn't have a problem with it.
...and for the record, that applies to all churches, not just the ones on the right.

The churches have been Americas motivators and spiritual leaders to win the revolutionary war, the civil war and so on. The Churches were and still are in many cases Americas way of helping the people who need a hand up instead of a hand out like the American government does now at the destruction of our society.

I have no problem with the churches speaking there mind in politics. But what I do have a problem with is if they are not helping the community they live in and is still taking the tax break. I have no problem with strict rules in that regard.

actually, a lot of religious people and churches were loyalists to the crown...

Okay? And they obviously picked wrong. But the rural areas with farmers and away from the cities were not near as loyal to the crown.

 

[+paradox]

What are your thoughts on churches being involved with politics?

If they want to get involved in politics...I say let 'em.
Just tell 'em to give up their tax exemptions and I wouldn't have a problem with it.
...and for the record, that applies to all churches, not just the ones on the right.

The churches have been Americas motivators and spiritual leaders to win the revolutionary war, the civil war and so on. The Churches were and still are in many cases Americas way of helping the people who need a hand up instead of a hand out like the American government does now at the destruction of our society.

I have no problem with the churches speaking there mind in politics. But what I do have a problem with is if they are not helping the community they live in and is still taking the tax break. I have no problem with strict rules in that regard.

actually, a lot of religious people and churches were loyalists to the crown...

Okay? And they obviously picked wrong. But the rural areas with farmers and away from the cities were not near as loyal to the crown.

yeah, because you know that how again?

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

What are your thoughts on churches being involved with politics?

If they want to get involved in politics...I say let 'em.
Just tell 'em to give up their tax exemptions and I wouldn't have a problem with it.
...and for the record, that applies to all churches, not just the ones on the right.

The churches have been Americas motivators and spiritual leaders to win the revolutionary war, the civil war and so on. The Churches were and still are in many cases Americas way of helping the people who need a hand up instead of a hand out like the American government does now at the destruction of our society.

I have no problem with the churches speaking there mind in politics. But what I do have a problem with is if they are not helping the community they live in and is still taking the tax break. I have no problem with strict rules in that regard.

actually, a lot of religious people and churches were loyalists to the crown...

Okay? And they obviously picked wrong. But the rural areas with farmers and away from the cities were not near as loyal to the crown.

yeah, because you know that how again?

I call them books.

 

[+paradox]

What are your thoughts on churches being involved with politics?

If they want to get involved in politics...I say let 'em.
Just tell 'em to give up their tax exemptions and I wouldn't have a problem with it.
...and for the record, that applies to all churches, not just the ones on the right.

The churches have been Americas motivators and spiritual leaders to win the revolutionary war, the civil war and so on. The Churches were and still are in many cases Americas way of helping the people who need a hand up instead of a hand out like the American government does now at the destruction of our society.

I have no problem with the churches speaking there mind in politics. But what I do have a problem with is if they are not helping the community they live in and is still taking the tax break. I have no problem with strict rules in that regard.

actually, a lot of religious people and churches were loyalists to the crown...

Okay? And they obviously picked wrong. But the rural areas with farmers and away from the cities were not near as loyal to the crown.

yeah, because you know that how again?

I call them books.

lmao, okay, which books did you read that from?

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Well slight correction most are audio books I listen to in my van all day. The ones I can remember.

1776

Washington a life.

Washington: The Indispensable Man

An Imperfect God: George Washington, His Slaves, and the Creation of America

John Adams

Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power

The Original Argument: The Federalists' Case for the Constitution, Adapted for the 21st Century

The Federalist Papers - James Madison, Alexander Hamilton

James Madison: A Life Reconsidered

The Making of America: The Substance and Meaning of the Constitution

 

[+paradox]

more than 2/3 of religious people and churches were loyalists, period...

and the main reasons for the success of the revolutionary war was due to the top military officer's motivation and france... not the churches...

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

more than 2/3 of religious people and churches were loyalists, period...

and the main reasons for the success of the revolutionary war was due to the top military officer's motivation and france... not the churches...

Everyone in the revolution played a vital role to win it. Just like if there was no Washington it would have gone another way. And just like if there were no spiritual leaders saying on the pulpit to rise up and fight the tyranny Washington would have never had troops to fight the British.

The people yes the preachers no. But yes 10 to 15 percent of the population supported revolution and won it for the rest of the people who either did not support or just stayed on the sidelines out of fear. And it was the preachers and there pulpit more then anything else in the 13 colonies that inspired those colonists to rise up for freedom. Plus it was the preachers who helped create the Minute Men which would have never existed without them.

“There is a time for war,
and a time for peace; there is a time to pray and a time to fight!”
Upon which he dramatically pulled open his clerical robes, revealing
the uniform of a colonel in the Continental Army.

Preacher
Peter von
Muhlenberg


Plus the ministers and preachers in these small towns were usually the only ones that had a formal education so when they preached people listened to what they had to say.

When Paul Revere did his famous ride it was the preachers home of Rev. Jonas Clark the head of the Minute Men in his town he went to meet Hancock and Sam Adams.


France did not help until later in the war with any real important value. And even if they would have not helped the war would have just dragged on longer with the patriots going more towards gorilla tactics wearing out the British.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

I knew there were some good stories out there I read years ago but could not remember well enough to give them proper due. So here are a few I found.

Chaplains of the Revolutionary War



Fearless in Fulfillment of His Duty
One chaplain, Baptist minister David Jones, also served as a missionary to the Indians of the Ohio Valley for two years. He was so outspoken about his views on the Revolutionary War that "he became obnoxious to his Tory neighbors" and was compelled to leave the Freehold Baptist Church where he served as pastor. After this episode, David Jones moved to Chester County, Pennsylvania, to become the pastor of the Great Valley Baptist Church. He soon realized, however, that he needed to help the colonial struggle for freedom. He entered the army as a chaplain and served in this position until the end of the war. It was Chaplain Jones' custom to preach as often as possible before entering battle, and he preached to the troops at Valley Forge, following the arrival of the news that France had recognized American independence. Jones served under the command of General "Mad Anthony" Wayne, a Chester County native. General Wayne earned his nickname for the bravery and fearlessness he displayed on the battlefield. David Jones was a good fit with his commanding officer in this regard. He was so heroic on the battlefield that British General Howe offered a reward for his capture, and many plots were laid to capture him. In addition to his military and chaplain's duties, Jones also served as courier for General Wayne from time to time. In a letter to Benjamin Franklin, written from Ticonderoga on July 29, 1776, Wayne writes:

We are so far removed from the seat of Government of the free and independent states of America, and such an Insurmountable Barrier, Albany, between us that not one letter, or the least intelligence of anything that's doing with you can reach us. Through the medium of my Chaplain (David Jones) I hope this will reach you as he has promised to blow out any man's brains who will attempt to take it from him.



A Unique Use for a Hymnal
Rev. James Caldwell was a Presbyterian minister who served the Continental Army as a chaplain between the years 1776 and 1781. When his company ran out of musket wadding at the battle of Springfield, New Jersey, Caldwell ran to the nearby Presbyterian Church and carried several Isaac Watts hymnals to the troops. He is reported to have shouted, "Now put Watts into them, boys!"

Caldwell was called "The Rebel Priest" and "The High Priest of the Rebellion" by the British, who offered a reward for his capture. After his church was burned to the ground by Tories, Caldwell started preaching with his pistols lying on the pulpit, one on each side of his Bible.

Caldwell was intrepid in the face of enemy threats to his safety, but was much more concerned by the threat to his family. These concerns were well founded. While he was away on a mission, his wife was shot by a British soldier in front of their children, and his house was destroyed. James was devastated by the death of his wife, and met his own death the following year in service to his country.

Surgeons and Ministers
On May 27, 1777, Congress appointed one chaplain to each brigade, with the same pay and rations as an army colonel. They often bore arms, and several chaplains who had professional medical training also served as surgeons. One such chaplain was David Avery, who owed his conversion to the ministry of George Whitefield. After his conversion, Avery was determined to further his education and become a minister. He entered Yale as a freshman in 1765 in the same class as Timothy Dwight, a brilliant thirteen-year-old who would also later serve as an army chaplain. Trained as a surgeon as well as a minister, Avery brought his own medicine and instruments to supplement what was lacking in the Army's supplies. He was reported to be "intrepid and fearless in battle, unwearied in his attentions to the sick and wounded." David suffered the hardships and deprivations of army life with a cheerful attitude, no doubt bolstered by his patriotism and love for his country. It was said that he was "everything Washington wanted in a chaplain." Avery often rode with General George Washington and took meals with him.

Committed to God's Service
Avery's fellow-student, Timothy Dwight, graduated from Yale at the age of seventeen. After his conversion at age nineteen, he committed himself to God's service. He was licensed as a minister in 1777 at the age of 25, and soon after, offered his services to the army as chaplain. Dwight was assigned to the Parson's brigade, a regiment commanded by General Putnam.

Timothy Dwight quickly gained the respect of both the General and his army. After Putnam led his men to a key victory on October 7, 1777, Dwight preached a memorable message to the General and his principal officers. His text was Nebulousl 2:20, which states: "I will remove far off from you the northern army." Both the General and his officers were delighted by this message and its perceived significance regarding their recent victory. Putnam, however, believed that Dwight had taken the liberty of revising the text to make his point. When an officer brought a Bible to show Putnam that his chaplain had not altered the words, Putnam exclaimed: "Well, there is every thing in that book, and Dwight knows just where to lay his finger on it."

Timothy Dwight left the army to pastor churches in Massachusetts and Connecticut. He was elected president of Yale College in 1795 and went on to become one of America's theological leaders.



READ THE REST HERE
http://www.christianity.com/11633060/?p=3

 

[DrLeftover]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWRoEpYuHwI