2025 September news-letter article

Greetings friends!

I am not a single-issue voter.  We have a very large, complicated system of governments, and I try to sift and weigh a number of policy factors as I consider how to vote.  On the majority of ballots, we are choosing between humans (vs. referenda) where decisions are further complicated by personalities and trust-worthiness.  Among the issues I weigh highly, is that of religious liberty.  It should surprise none of you that I am a big fan of a “high wall” separating the Church and the state (as defined by Roger Williams in the 1600s).  The state (government) need not fear the influence of good and godly people living out their faith, even in the public square.  The Church, however, should always be leery of governmental encroachment into the affairs of the soul, or groups of believers intending to nourish one another’s souls.

Thanks be to God that we have a country with a Constitution.  It’s very first amendment recognizes our right to freely exercise whatever system of beliefs we have.  As a pastor, I am especially sensitive to social, political, and legal issues surrounding religious liberty.  I want to protect our church, and all other religious groups, from the heavy hand of government getting into our spiritual business.

In July, the Internal Revenue Service shifted its definitions of how to interpret and enforce a specific amendment to our federal tax codes.  To be clear, the law is still the law, and stands in effect, but the I.R.S. (at least for the moment) is choosing to enforce it differently (or not enforce it at all, but that is another conversation for another day).  This tax code amendment was signed into law by President Eisenhower in 1954, and was named for Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson (Texas-Dem.).  I would argue that the “Johnson amendment” to our tax code was a well-meaning endeavor.  It states that any non-profit organization that campaigns for (or opposes) a political candidate stands in jeopardy of losing its tax-exempt status.  This applies to lots of different kinds of organizations, and would have been enforced by the I.R.S.  Churches are basically afforded the status of a 501(c)(3) organization (it’s a bit more complicated, but roll with me), so over the past 7 decades, this rule in the tax code has been widely understood to apply in this way: churches can’t endorse political candidates, so preachers can’t talk about politics in the pulpit.  Though it has never been that simple, enforcement of this law has been selective, highly subjective, and held over the heads of pastors for a long time.  Supposedly, the new definitions within the I.R.S. (at least for the moment) will give greater latitude for preachers and churches to publicly speak in favor of candidates now.

I appreciate a government agency actively loosening restrictions on religious organizations, and I will always advocate for the liberty to say whatever God lays upon my heart from our pulpit (or anywhere else), but frankly, whether or not the federal government gives our church tax-exempt status is irrelevant to me.  I am going to preach what God’s Spirit tells me to preach, and strive to be as faithful to His Word as I can be, regardless of consequence.  I appreciate our church being afforded certain legal and financial privileges, but whether we have them or not, our mission remains the same.

I know of WAY too many churches that spend WAY too much time talking about political issues already.  I know of pastors who have been openly spouting their political opinions (from both sides of the aisle) for far too long.  While I respect and appreciate their right to preach whatever they feel compelled to preach, I would humbly submit that they preach a different “gospel” than I do.  It breaks my heart that far too many pews are full of people who hear their preacher dilute, and hi-jack, and twist scripture to fit their personal agenda (political or otherwise).

To be clear, “male and female He created them (Genesis 1:27)”.  The idea that such a sentence is even viewed by some to be a political statement in this country today, probably has Presidents Eisenhower and Johnson rolling in their graves.  To be clearer, “God created man in His own image (same verse)”.  If human life has value, it is because we have been created as image-bearers of God.  I would argue that human life is measurably more valuable than all other creation; and that we do not begin to bear His image at birth.  I will always proclaim a message of the dignity and sanctify of human life.  Why?  Because the God of the bible proclaims such a message.  We may disagree over the finer points of application, but we are an unapologetically pro-life church because our God is a pro-life God.  In Genesis 2, God embeds in institution of marriage within creation.  He gives it to us, He defines what “marriage” is.  He has never given anyone else the right to redefine His institutions.  Theologically down-stream from this truth, are further teachings on the family and human flourishing, on human sexuality, and on the doctrine of the church.  God’s Word is clear, therefore, I shall strive to be clear.  Where the bible speaks, let’s speak!  I’ll go a step farther: I want us all as followers of Jesus to think biblically about issues, and I strive to apply God’s Word in everyday aspects of life.

That being said, while I am glad to be able to discuss anything and everything from God’s pulpit without fear of financial punishment (I mean, I would do it anyway!), I won’t.  Though I refuse to self-censor, I hope you agree with me that I have too many important things to say, than to waste our time with politics.  When I stand behind God’s sacred desk and proclaim “thus saith the Lord”, may He have mercy upon me if I water down, or distort, or add to, or detract one bit from exactly what He has to say!

Tell it!  Tell it out with gladness, God’s good news to every man,
sin forgiven, lives transfigured, all in God’s great loving plan.
In the Book is found a witness to His mighty acts of yore;
listen, heed, obey, and serve Him, kneel before Him and adore,
--A.J.