First Amendment – The Peanut Gallery

Peanut Gallery: Preaching politics from the pulpit? Nothing new here – in fact, America has a long tradition of political pulpit pounding dating back to the Revolutionary War. One of the chief advocates for rebellion was Scots Presbyterian minister John Witherspoon (Wikipedia link) who was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence. It wasn’t easy then, and it’s not easy now.

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Pastors pledge to defy IRS, preach politics from pulpit ahead of election
By Cristina Corbin – Published September 23, 2012 -FoxNews.com

More than 1,000 pastors are planning to challenge the IRS next month by deliberately preaching politics ahead of the presidential election despite a federal ban on endorsements from the pulpit.

The defiant move, they hope, will prompt the IRS to enforce a 1954 tax code amendment that prohibits tax-exempt organizations, such as churches, from making political endorsements. Alliance Defending Freedom, which is holding the October summit, said it wants the IRS to press the matter so it can be decided in court. The group believes the law violates the First Amendment by “muzzling” preachers.

“The purpose is to make sure that the pastor — and not the IRS — decides what is said from the pulpit.”
– Erik Stanley, Alliance Defending Freedom

“The purpose is to make sure that the pastor — and not the IRS — decides what is said from the pulpit,” Erik Stanley, senior legal counsel for the group, told FoxNews.com. “It is a head-on constitutional challenge.”

Stanley said pastors attending the Oct. 7 “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” will “preach sermons that will talk about the candidates running for office” and then “make a specific recommendation.” The sermons will be recorded and sent to the IRS.

“We’re hoping the IRS will respond by doing what they have threatened,” he said. “We have to wait for it to be applied to a particular church or pastor so that we can challenge it in court. We don’t think it’s going to take long for a judge to strike this down as unconstitutional.” Continue reading “Pastors pledge to defy IRS, preach politics from pulpit ahead of election – Fox News” →

Peanut Gallery: Yesterday I watched the film – “Last Ounce of Courage.” I would describe it as a B Movie with an A+ message… it received a standing ovation from the dozen or so people at the early afternoon showing.

It’s the message that prompts me to ask you to pray for American believers: American believers have been, and are now, undergoing a “soft” – but systematic – persecution that has gradually eroded our First Amendment “free exercise of religion” rights.

“Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.” Galatians 5.1 MSG

Consider, for example, the Christmas celebrations and displays of 25-30 years ago – in schools, parks, market places, on TV and other public spaces – with those of today’s non-descript “Winter” Celebrations. We have become so brainwashed that a simple “Merry Christmas” in the grocery store feels like some major act of civil disobedience. What has happened to us?

Religion in America: The majority of Americans (76-80%) identify themselves as Christians… 36% say that they attend worship services every week or more… and a majority of Americans report that religion plays a “very important” role in their lives, a proportion unique among developed nations (see Wikipedia “Religion in America”).

The text of the First Amendment to the country’s Constitution states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” It guarantees the free exercise of religion while also preventing the government from establishing a state religion. The Supreme Court has also interpreted this as preventing the government from having any authority in religion.

Please pray that American believers: