As a Christian and former pastor, I’m 100% in favor of taxing religous organizations that exist to serve political interst in theory. Separation of church and state makes both institutions better. But it’s difficult in practice. Short of a preacher saying to vote a certain way, it’s difficult to nail down if they’re being political.
Sometimes there are issues relevant to churches that become super political.
Matthew 25 says that Christians will be judged on their treatment of the poor, the hungry, the sick, the imprisoned, and the foreigners. It’s pretty much the only time when Jesus directly threatens damnation. Our government is committing atrocities against all these groups. Should Trump have the power to effectively close churches that preach messages he doesn’t like by taking them out of existence?
As a Christian and former pastor, I’m 100% in favor of taxing religous organizations that exist to serve political interst in theory. Separation of church and state makes both institutions better. But it’s difficult in practice. Short of a preacher saying to vote a certain way, it’s difficult to nail down if they’re being political.
Sometimes there are issues relevant to churches that become super political.
Matthew 25 says that Christians will be judged on their treatment of the poor, the hungry, the sick, the imprisoned, and the foreigners. It’s pretty much the only time when Jesus directly threatens damnation. Our government is committing atrocities against all these groups. Should Trump have the power to effectively close churches that preach messages he doesn’t like by taking them out of existence?
If they are promoting a petition, then it is political.