For a long time, the U.S. has exempted religious organizations from paying taxes. The main reasoning has always been that much of their activity includes helping poor people and thereby being a humanitarian organization. Another reason is that many politicians have believed that religious organizations have a positive moral and ethical influence on society. Since the federal government has many programs to aid the poor, it is thought that religious organizations simply further this goal. Some voters think religious organizations do it better economically than the federal government does.
In more recent decades, as a part of this law to exempt religious organizations from paying taxes, the U.S. has required they cannot publicly endorse political candidates. If they do, so says the law, such religious organizations lose their tax-exempt status and therefore must pay taxes on income received. I have always thought that this both of these laws are good for both religious organizations and our society.
Today, Donald Trump signed an executive order that relaxes the law restricting religious organizations from publicly endorsing political candidates running for elections. I think this is a mistake. The reason I say that such a law is good for religious organizations is that when they get more political, they get divisive. People say, “Don’t talk about religion or politics because they divide.” Well, I think politics divides churches. Churches should be in the business of aiding people and being a positive influence spiritually on the community. I think they should leave politics out of it.
Believe me, I know what I’m talking about due to experience. I was in a very politically-oriented church for twelve years. I don’t want any part of that anymore. Also, I was closely associated with The Fellowship in Washington D.C., even an associate staff member during the 1980s. The Fellowship has had by far more influence on members of the U.S. Congress with the teachings of Jesus than any other group has. And I’ve seen first-hand how The Fellowship has wisely not allowed politics to be divisive in its ministry. In fact, it has been just the opposite. The Fellowship is well known for so many members of Congress testifying that Republicans and Democrats would join together in prayer and Bible study groups, learning to love each other and pray together. When they walk in the door, they leave their politics outside.
Jesus wan’t political. He just said, “Follow me.” That’s what we Christians need to do. Yet I believe in our democratic system of voting.
Having said all of this, some who read this blog will know that I was pretty political with it last year regarding this election. I was doing that because of my concern that our president be a person who people can respect for what we know of that person.
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