This week I received a form letter from Barry Lynn president of "Americans United for the Separation of Church and State." The attempt to stop churches to influence the culture and political dealings in America. they are terribly liberal and they work under the false notion of being concerned with keeping religion pure. They are not born again and they are really attempting to marginalize true believers. In response I wrote the following editorial to the Intell newspaper:
October 21, 2008
Dear Editor:
As a pastor, I have been waiting for my quad-annual “extortion-like” letter from Barry Lynn and his anti-God, anti-Christ, anti-Church organization – Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. Well, it arrived yesterday. In his mass-produced letter to pastors, Lynn sends his veiled threat to clergy to cease from any political involvement in this year’s election, whereby we might use our influence to encourage people to vote a certain way. Obviously, pastors are well-informed that churches, because of their tax-exempt status, are restricted from endorsement of any candidates. However, there is an abusive attempt to apply this restriction personally upon pastors and to silence ministers from explaining what the Bible says about certain issues that candidates hold. It is the task of a pastor to rightly divide the Scriptures and assist parishioners to develop Biblically sound convictions that should direct their decisions (i.e. voting decisions). When we highlight clear violations in the Bible where candidates are in conflict, Lynn and the rest of his AUSCS cronies cry foul and want the IRS to take away our tax favorable status. This is a sophisticated way of silencing the Bible and the preachers called to proclaim the truths of God’s Word.
What is troubling is that this pressure is usually applied to more conservative pastors and churches who are more likely to support positions on pro-life, protection of traditional marriage, and limited government, especially concerning welfare and selection of judges. What is interesting is that the 501c3 organizations or churches that are pro-abortion and pro- gay marriage, promote socialistic forms of welfare, and defend “living constitutional” Supreme Court nomination positions usually get a pass and are not viewed as IRS violators. Isn’t that odd?
During this past primary season, a well-known, influential pastor in our city wrote an article in the Intell on his decision to vote for Obama. Did anyone from AUSCS or the IRS question that endorsement? Did any separation of church and state watch dog call the Intell and want that removed? Did that pastor get called on the carpet by the IRS? Unlikely! There is a frightening movement afoot in our country to silence the clergy but only those who consistently point out when candidates are not in step with the Bible. There is a fear among the liberal element in our country that, if clergy speak authoritatively from the Scriptures, we may turn the light on the morally-depraved positions of some candidates and turn voters away. Who knows? Voters may begin to think righteously on Election Day when they cast their ballot and not just politically, financially, racially, or self-servingly? How novel. Speaking to the moral conscience of a person is so threatening to people like Lynn and other liberals that they must attempt to silence pastors like me. It won’t happen! I call on all pastors to preach authoritatively from the Bible on what God says about the issues of the day and turn God’s light on each of the candidates who espouse positions that are in conflict with God and then let God’s spirit work in the hearts of men and women.
Just a little history lesson...when the media is no longer without bias (look at this election season coverage), when the election process is no longer trustworthy (can you spell ACORN?), and when socialistic agendas are pursued as an answer to a nation’s problems (bailout anyone?) – the only thing left is to silence the clergy and to repeat the frightening steps that will usher in fascism and communism.