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They are challenging the 1954 "Johnson Amendment" which states that tax-exempt organizations cannot "participate in, or in opposition to ---any candidate for public office."
Lyndon B. Johnson was running for re-election to the senate at the time he got this amendment to the tax code passed.
While it was probably not directed specifically at churches per se, rather at 2 businessmen who were running against him who headed up non-profit organizations, it has had a devastating effect on the culture and the church.
And it is not Constitutional, in the opinion of many.
It is a piece of legislation that defies freedom of speech and freedom of religious expression and must be abolished.
The pastor and the church had been the guiding light to American culture from our Founding. Following Johnson's political shenanigan, prayer has been removed from the classroom, abortion legalized, expanded and celebrated, marriage redefined in some states and massive and crushing debt has been attached to the next generation of Americans.
Religious freedom has been eroded and publican education has become a cesspool of advocacy for deviant behavior and social experimentation. And mediocrity.
And the church has been, in great part, silent.
If your pastor has the courage to step forward and speak the truth in this way, be sure to give him your full and public support.
If not, perhaps you could make your pastor aware and suggest he consider it.
Pulpit Freedom Sunday is led by Alliance Defending Freedom.
As a pastor, I personally had several such Sunday's each year. I, along with other Northwest pastors, stood for what we believed was right. There was no organized effort of this nature until 5 or 6 years ago.
I would encourage the many pastors who read this blog to give careful and prayerful consideration to this responsibility.
Be Vigilant. Be Strong. Be Discerning. Be Informed. Be Prayerful. Be Blessed.