Freedon from Intimidation?

Today in my local paper (Tacoma News Tribune) there was an article from the Washington Post by Peter Sledin reporting that the Alliance Defense Fund was going to challenge/protest the IRS “rule” regarding Pastors commenting on political issues/candidates from the pulpit. Rather than wait for some action from ambiguous threats, a group of pastors will be preaching on 09/28/08 in defiance of that rule. The ADF Attorney is Eric Stanly.

A second group (Rabbis and pastors) is intending to file a petition to stop that protest on Monday (today). I am searching for a link to the original article and to the Tacoma news Tribune article to review/post.

I do not know how to search sites very well. Sorry.

God may be answering prayers regarding “intimidation” as well as “asleep.” [u]Psalm 119:126[/u] [It is] time for [thee], LORD, to work: [for] they have made void thy law.

The full artical

[b]Group of pastors set to defy IRS, endorse candidates[/b]
PETER SLEVIN; The Washington Post
Published: September 8th, 2008 01:00 AM

CHICAGO – Declaring that clergy have a constitutional right to endorse political candidates from their pulpits, the socially conservative Alliance Defense Fund is recruiting several dozen pastors to do just that on Sept. 28, in defiance of Internal Revenue Service rules.

The effort by the Arizona-based legal consortium is designed to trigger an IRS investigation that ADF lawyers would then challenge in federal court. The ultimate goal is to persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out a 54-year-old ban on political endorsements by tax-exempt houses of worship.

“For so long, there has been this [b]cloud of intimidation over the church,[/b]” ADF attorney Erik Stanley said. “It is the job of the pastors of America to debate the proper role of church in society. It’s not for the government to mandate the role of church in society.”

Yet an opposing collection of Christian and Jewish clergy will petition the IRS Monday to stop the protest before it starts, calling the ADF’s “Pulpit Initiative” an assault on the rule of law and the separation of church and state.

Backed by three former top IRS officials, the group also wants the IRS to determine whether the nonprofit ADF is risking its own tax-exempt status by organizing an “inappropriate, unethical and illegal” series of political endorsements.

“As religious leaders, we have grave concerns about the ethical implications of soliciting and organizing churches to violate core principles of our society,” the clergy wrote in an advance copy of their claim obtained by The Washington Post.

The battle over the clergy’s rights and responsibilities in the political world isn’t new. Politicians of all stripes court the support – explicit or otherwise – of religious leaders. Allegations surface every political season of a preacher crossing the line.

What is different is the Alliance Defense Fund’s direct challenge to the rules that govern tax-exempt organizations. Rather than wait for the IRS to investigate an alleged violation, the organization intends to create dozens of violations and take the U.S. government to court on First Amendment grounds.

“We’re looking for churches that are serious-minded about this, churches that understand both the risks and the benefits,” Stanley said, referring to the chance that they could lose their coveted tax-exempt status or could set a precedent.

Stanley said three dozen church leaders from more than 20 states have agreed to deliver a political sermon, naming political names.

“They will make a specific recommendation from the pulpit about how the congregation would vote,” he said.

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[b]I pray these men have heard from God. [u]Psalm 119: 126[/u] It is time for thee Lord to work: for they have made viod thy law.[/b]

God may be answering prayers regarding “intimidation” as well as “asleep.” Psalm 119:126 [It is] time for [thee], LORD, to work: [for] they have made void thy law.

[u]I agree with you, HeartSong[/u]. [i]“If we would only turn back to Him we would not need tax-exempt status - nor would we need to argue and debate for we would all know what it is that He would have us to do.”[/i]

Unfortunately your “If we would” has increasingly been in our land “We will not.” So what are those who “will” to do? Since last September, the only thing that is alive to me is prayer, the Word of God, watching and things related to these.

I am persuaded that we need a real God-sent revival. I pray for that specifically as He leads in His Word and according to His Word because He says to ask (John 15:7) and there because there are many times the Word of God indicates that our prayer is part of His working. One example is found in Matthew 9:38. Why ask the disciples to pray?

To me, this is not about money (tax-exempt status) but about silencing truth and how the love of money/fear of man crept in. I do not know what is moving this organization or the individual pastors as the end of my posts indicated. The same with the Sarah Palin choice. I have no interest in the flesh prevailing (anyone’s).

The question is what is God’s perspective? [u]Is He answering specific prayer[/u]? I guess I watch to see if “there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea.” If pastors are experiencing the conviction of sin, dealing with the sin of intimidation, it is one thing (the sheep may also). If pastors are asserting the rights of their “professional” flesh, it is another thing. A lawsuit, won or lost, will certainly provide the occasion for many to face the issue of Truth verses mammon. Even persecution (Jesus is Lord.). I agreed with God on that issue long ago including regarding the IRS “charitable deductions.” [u]Even ministries would be wise to get clear with God on this[/u].

I do not know what is moving this organization or the individual pastors as the end of my posts indicated.

Unfortunately your “If we would” has increasingly been in our land “We will not.” So what are those who “will” to do?

Thank you for all of your encouragement dear sister.

that the Alliance Defense Fund was going to challenge/protest the IRS “rule” regarding Pastors commenting on political issues/candidates from the pulpit.

This happens all the time in the south, specifically in Missippi - I mean preachers are using their pulpit to preach 'politics'. If this rule would be enforced in our state there would be no jail large enough to hold all the offenders - well, maybe this was a tad bit exaggerated, but not much.

**sigh**

ginnyrose