The Political Pulpit

The last couple of days the newstalk circuits have been discussing some of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's comments during sermons preached at Trinity United Church of Christ. I am not as interested in what Rev. Wright said as I am the issue of political speach from the pulpit.

Jerry Agar, on AM WLS, was discussing the current tax laws that essentially give churches an ultimatum: stay out of politics or pay taxes. Agar is taking the position that the tax laws are unfair, and they essentially put a price on free speech. Rather than silencing opposition by force, as happens in China, Venezuela, or Cuba, the United States has chosen to silence the church through a subtle kind of bribery. If a church decides to participate in the political discussion, they taxed.

A caller to the radio show stated that a pastor ought to have a right to say whatever they want in public, but she would be offended if a pastor tried to tell her how to vote, so she concluded that the law was appropriate. I'm sorry, but has America completely lost it's grasp of the concept of personal liberty? The question is NOT, "Do you think pastors should support particular candidates?" The question is, "Should the GOVERNMENT be interfering in what is said from the pulpit?" The Government is clearly offering incentives and disincentives to churches to affect what is and is not said from the pulpit. Is this appropriate? Is this constitutional?

Entirely too often I hear the argument of the caller: "Well, I don't think it's right for a pastor to tell the congregation how they should vote." I'm really glad that YOU don't think it's right, but why in heaven's name have you allowed the GOVERNMENT to determine what is acceptable and not acceptable.

Aside from the obvious violation of free speech, and a clear violation of the separation of church and state. This is an extraordinarily dangerous precedent. I have used this argument a dozen times for different issues, and it is no less significant in this case. What happens when a particularly illiberal politician decides that non-profit organizations should lose their tax-exempt status if they engage in "hate speech"? My presumption is that most of American society will march along like sheep to the slaughter and hail the decision. The reality is that such legislation will turn any church that preaches a biblical stance on homosexuality into a "hate organization", and they will lose their tax exempt status. Right now a church has to make a pretty specific statement regarding support for a particular candidate or particular legislation. But what happens if churches lose their tax exempt status for opposing abortion?

It is a mistake to think that just because a particular law doesn't affect us, that subsequent laws will not. When we allow precident such as this, we open the door to further government interference and potentially outright tyranny.