I also wonder..if people didn't receive tax deductions for their "giving to
the church" would they continue to give?  The church I used to  attend did
not keep financial records, they pretended to, but no one knew for sure
where all the money went.
Rhonda

-----Original Message-----
From: The Electronic Church [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Phil Scovell
Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 9:00 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: This is Scary!

I have a problem with the religious philosophy that is often found in
information and petition like this.  First of all, the ACLJ is a great
organization and they do some wonderful things.  I frequently listen to
their radio program here in Denver.  The problem I have with all this is
that we want the government to give us a license, that is, tax free status
called a 501C3 so we can get out of paying property tax and so we can
receive a small deduction on our offering which we can apply to our income
tax responsibilities to the government each year.  First and foremost, we
have never needed a license to preach.  churches that think they need a
govern issued license to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ fell for the
oldest trick since time began.  What you have read, or now can read below,
can only happen to churches licensed as tax exempt organizations.  It cannot
keep Christians from preaching, speaking out on political issues of the day,
baptizing, worshiping, or anything else.  Now, if you are licensed by the
government, you could have a problem.  This is exactly why I will never
incorporate.  I don't need my church name registered with the local state
government, with a bank, with the county clerk, or even with the A C L J for
any reason.  I list all my income as income each year to the IRS and I pay
taxes on what I have earned.  Remember, our founding fathers believed in
less government and more freedom and liberty.  Churches registered under any
government issued tax exemption are subject to the that governing body and
if you don't think it can happen, read the below message again.

Phil.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sharon Hooley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 6:36 PM
Subject: This is Scary!


> ACLJ
>
> WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2006
>
> Dear Sharon,
>
> Don't allow the Internal Revenue Service to close your church and silence
> your religious leaders!
>
> Recently, I sent you an email to inform you of a vague, half-century-old
law
> which enables the IRS to shut down your house of worship.
>
> This obscure law is being used by Americans United for Separation of
Church
> and State (AU) and others to intimidate churches into silence on moral
> issues.
>
> Join our nationwide campaign to give our religious leaders back their
voice
> for morality by adding your name to our Houses of Worship FREE SPEECH
> PETITION.
>
> It all began in 1954 when then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson sought political
> retribution against an opponent who was assisted in his campaign by two
> non-profit
> organizations.
>
> As a bill to revise the tax code was being debated on the floor of the
> Senate, LBJ pushed a little-noticed amendment that barred all tax-exempt
> groups -
> including churches - from participating in political activity.
>
> The penalty:  loss of tax-exempt status.  A heavy price to pay for
> exercising their free speech rights.
>
> Today, churches in America ARE paying the price.  They are threatened with
> lawsuits and the revocation of their tax-exempt status.  Intimidation is
> silencing
> our ministers on crucial topics like abortion and same-sex marriage!
>
> In other words - churches are putting their tax-exempt status at risk
> whenever they speak out on issues of the day.
>
> We must put an end to this!  This is a blatant violation of our First
> Amendment free speech rights.
>
> But we need your signature to help stop this injustice and protect our
> ministers and houses of worship.
> Add your name to our online FREE SPEECH PETITION and make your voice
heard!
>
> Religious leaders not only have a constitutional right to address the
moral
> issues of the day, many believe they also have a responsibility to do so -
> especially
> in the context of political campaigns.
>
> This country has a rich and welcomed history of turning to churches and
> houses of worship during the debates of the great moral issues of the day.
>
> Why have we put the IRS - which is designed to collect revenue for the
> general treasury - in the position of being the speech police?
>
> At the ACLJ, we have an important opportunity to correct the errors of the
> past.  That's why the Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act is so
> vital!
>  But we must have your help.
>
> Lend your name to our FREE SPEECH PETITION today.
> Your name will be added to tens of thousands of others in this nationwide
> campaign.  With it, we will stand together and protect the rights given to
> us
> by our Founding Fathers.
>
> I encourage you to forward this email on to family members, friends, and
> church members as well to get the word out on this issue!
>
> Thank you for your immediate action to further the cause of freedom.
>
> To ensure that you continue to receive e-mails from the ACLJ,
> please add [log in to unmask] to your address book.
>
> American Center for Law and Justice
> P.O. Box 90555, Washington, D.C. 20090-0555
> Phone: (800) 296-4529
> CopyrightC2006, ACLJ |
> Privacy & Security Policy |
> Unsubscribe
>
> American Center for Law and Justice is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit,
> religious corporation as defined under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
> Revenue Code,
> specifically dedicated to the ideal that religious freedom and freedom of
> speech are inalienable, God-given rights. The Center's purpose is to
> educate,
> promulgate, conciliate, and where necessary, litigate, to ensure that
those
> rights are protected under the law. The organization has participated in
> numerous
> cases before the Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeals, Federal District
> Courts, and various state courts regarding freedom of religion and freedom
> of
> speech.
>
> As always, let us know of threats to freedom in your area by calling (757)
> 226-2489.  And tune in to our daily radio program, "Jay Sekulow Live!"
>
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