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They have it as much as any other citizen. But a preacher is not a church and shouldn't be confused with one. The restriction is on the church (if it is a 501c3 organization), not on the preacher.Originally posted by church mouse guy:
I believe that preachers deserve total freedom of speech.
They have it as much as any other citizen. But a preacher is not a church and shouldn't be confused with one. The restriction is on the church (if it is a 501c3 organization), not on the preacher. </font>[/QUOTE]I doubt, Daisy, (and how are you?) that you want to take the tax exemption away from the thousands of Black churches that endorsed Kerry from the pulpit during services in the last cycle.Originally posted by Daisy:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by church mouse guy:
I believe that preachers deserve total freedom of speech.
But there are two different questions:Originally posted by Johnv:
It's wrong when Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton endorse political candidates from the pulpit. It's equally wrong when Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson endorse political candidates from the pulpit.
Daisy is correct, though, in saying that the restriction is on the church and not on the preacher.
Neither Roy Moore or Rosa Parks were following God's mandate in their civil disobedience and thus, there is no valid comparison between them and the apostles. If Paul was in jail for insisting that women have equal rights in that society, than he was wrong. But he was in jail for preaching the gospel.Folks seem to have a difficult time getting by the "he disobeyed a higher court's order". That's just the point...if he had simply "followed orders", he'd still be comfortably seated and drawing a nice salary.
Should Rosa Parks "just followed orders"?
Why was half the New Testament written from prison? Were Paul and Timothy bad Christians because they didn't "follow orders"?
Did Jesus "follow orders"?
I'm not suggesting anarchy, which would be very unChristian, but AM saying that when man's judgements run into a conflict with God's, we need to follow God. Not always a comfortable thought.
Bro. Scott, I defy you to find the term "separation of church and state" anywhere in the U.S. Constitution, The Bill Of Rights or The Declaration Of Independence. It does not exist. The First Amendment reads "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."Originally posted by Scott Emerson:
I don't like it - it goes against one of our Baptist distinctives of the separation of church and state. As a Baptist, I hope this bill doesn't become law. Even if it does, I still will not endorse a political candidate nor will I encourage other ministers to do so.
That's a complete falsehood. You might want to check out our own Baptist Distinctives.Originally posted by PastorLynn:
"Separation of church & state" is a phrase coined by a communist organization
Only if they say it from the pulpit. I'm not allowed to campaign for politicians at my workplace either, but both I and the preacher can say what we like off the job.Originally posted by church mouse guy:
The preachers do not have freedom of speech. If they say something political in the pulpit the church becomes taxed.
Yes it is. You said "Separation of church & state" is a phrase coined by a communist organization. It is not a phrase coined by a communist organisation. While I likewise have no love for the ACLU, this does not negate the fact that your opening statement was false.Originally posted by PastorLynn:
Johnv, it is not a "complete falsehood".