Church Tax Exempt Status- Blackmail?

[R.James]

Lately I've been pondering the tax exempt status of the church. Some instances I've heard people question "This church did XYZ, should their tax exempt status be yanked if they do it again?" It seems to be a card that the government can play in order to hold the church 'in line.' There are many serious issues that effect the church that are in the government/political realm. Why should Christians allow tax-exemption to hold us back from being active in the communities we live in? Maybe I'm way off the mark, I'd just be interested to hear what others think.

[New_Wineskin]

I consider that group's using the tax exempt status as a means to cheat the American people . They own huge tracts or land that they don't need and build huge buildings that they don't need and want to forgo what all other Americans must do . If they want to own property and property is taxed , then they should be willing to do pay the taxes .

[Wisdom's Child]

Render unto Ceasar what is Ceasars...

The Church shouldn't be about Tax Exempt Finances or Property Ownership anyway. Instead of building a huge multi-million dollar sanctuary, how about meeting at the local public park (like Jesus did) and covering some medical bills for the elderly, or giving to the poor, or feeding the hungry, or clothing the naked, or...

[DanielRB]

Lately I've been pondering the tax exempt status of the church. Some instances I've heard people question "This church did XYZ, should their tax exempt status be yanked if they do it again?" It seems to be a card that the government can play in order to hold the church 'in line.' There are many serious issues that effect the church that are in the government/political realm. Why should Christians allow tax-exemption to hold us back from being active in the communities we live in? Maybe I'm way off the mark, I'd just be interested to hear what others think.
Several years ago the church of which I was a member refused to allow a pro-life group to use its facilities for a meeting, because they feared it was "too political" and that the government might revoke their tax-exempt status if they did so. (Keep in mind that the tax-exempt Unitarian Church in our community NEVER was threatened by the government, though for years the Republican party used its facilities for meetings.) The Church didn't have a problem letting other groups use the facilities, so long as they weren't "political". Of course, this action led me to discuss it with the elders, who I found out were pro-choice (I had attended the church for years without knowing this).

For a church to make a decision based upon their keeping their precious "tax-exempt" status is, IMO, a cowardly bowing to Ceaser. Let Ceaser tax us. We must do what God tells us to do, regardless of the consequences.

I think we've come a long way from Peter's bold statement:

"So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done." (Acts 4:18-21, NKJV)
[1] (http://www.christianforums.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=8777844#_ftnCitation)
[1] (http://www.christianforums.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=8777844#_ftnrefCitation) The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

I won't equate the pro-life cause with preaching the name of Jesus (though we could start a thread about that); but whenever we make decisions on the basis of what Ceaser might or might not do (regardless of the issue), then we are not recognizing Christ as Lord of the Church, but rather Ceaser.

In Christ,

Daniel

[didaskalos]

I think the "tax exempt status" should be revoked except for a very few instances such as an agency where 90% or more of collected $ goes directly to the needy. This includes government agencies such as social security and welfare. All these should be in the private sector.

We do not need govenment help.... in every instance where the gov "helps" people, they end up losing freedom, integrity, self respect, honor, and power. When the gov helps you, they take your freedom and power away and use it for their own purposes.
I amy be old fashion, but no thanks.

Think House Church!