Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Separation of church and noise

As the 2008 campaigns limps into the final days, more preachers, ministers and other people of various religious persuasions are opening their mouths on matters FAR from the word of God - their alleged job. Many conservative preachers, part of a movement called, the Alliance Defense Fund (sounds like some old 1960s radical groups that William Ayers might like to have had coffee with), have been overtly partisan in their sermons and homilys about telling/instructing/brow-beating parishoners who specifically to vote for and who NOT to vote for.
Hiding behind the red herring of "freedom of speech," they are challenging the traditional belief that politics has no place in a house of God and the pulpit should not be used for political attacks of one kind or another.
Opponents of such practices want the IRS to look into the tax-exempt status of these churches since it is illegal for corporations or non-profits to engage in political activities. These preachers want it both ways and that ain't right.
If they want to exercise their "freedom of speech" from the pulpit, go right ahead. Speak your mind and say your piece - attack all the Democrats you want and kiss all the Republican as you can find.
But give up that tax-exempt status. Pay your fair share to the government you keep attacking but hide behind its tax shelters, forcing the membership to pay more of the freight because you won't.
In the Bible, Matthew 22:21 states, "They say unto him, Caesar's. The saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."
Politics belong to Caesar, not God; it has been created by mankind. If they want to dabble, pay the piper to hear or sing the tune.

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