Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

Archive for the 'separation of church and state' Category

Dec 15 2008

Freedom of Religion or Freedom from Religion?

Published by Kevin Bussey under Political Correctness, christmas, religion, religious freedom, separation of church and state

[Pittsburg Live]

At Penn-Trafford’s Harrison Park Elementary School last week, students could buy gifts for friends and family at the Secret Santa Shop, a fundraiser run by the Parent Teacher Organization. A decorated tree stood near the front door, and plans were in the works for a party on Dec. 23, the last day before Winter Break.

“But we don’t actually say the word Christmas,” said Lisa Tramuta, secretary of the PTO. “I guess you have to be politically correct.”

Many public schools approach December with trepidation, as they decide how to acknowledge Christmas, Hanukkah and other holidays in a way that includes everyone and alienates no one.

Atheists put up sign next to a nativity scene at Washington Capital

Published by Kevin Bussey under atheists, christmas, separation of church and state

[Seattle Times]

A group of atheists and agnostics has placed a sign at the Capitol building that says, in part: ”Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”

The sign, sponsored by the Madison, Wisc.-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, is in part a reaction to a Nativity scene put up in the Capitol by a private citizen.

“Non-believers are a part of the fabric of America and we claim our place at the table to exercise free speech and freedom of religion, which includes freedom from religion,” said Dan Barker, 59, the foundation co-president who came from Madison for the sign’s unveiling.

The foundation’s sign is the latest round in what’s become sort of an annual winter tradition: debating what are appropriate religious symbols to put up in the public square.

Should Pastors Endorse Politicians?

Published by Kevin Bussey under church, politics, separation of church and state

[Christian Post]

Popular megachurch pastor Rick Warren said he does not believe pastors should endorse political candidates in a recent interview held weeks ahead of his highly-anticipated leadership and compassion forum, which will feature presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama.

“I don’t think it’s right for pastors to endorse [a political candidate] in the first place,” Warren said on a recent CNN interview when asked if he thinks McCain was right to disavow controversial pastors John Hagee and Rod Parsley.

“I would never endorse a candidate. I would never campaign for a candidate,” he added.

“I think as a pastor my role is to pastor all the flock regardless of their political persuasion, so I wouldn’t have wanted endorsements anyways.”

Warren has, however, invited political candidates to speak at his church on the topic of HIV/AIDS. Past politicians that have spoken at Saddleback Church during its annual HIV/AIDS conference include Sens. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Sam Brownback.

Next month, Obama and McCain will appear together for the first time during the ’08 presidential race to answer questions from Warren about faith and moral issues such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, climate change and human rights.

“I believe in the separation of church and state, but I do not believe in the separation of faith and politics,” Warren said, “because faith is simply a worldview and everybody’s got a worldview.”

A person who says he can separate his faith and worldview is either an “idiot” or “lying” because it’s impossible, the influential Christian leader contends.

Would Jesus have answered Grassley’s questions?

Published by Kevin Bussey under Hypocrisy, IRS, government's role, health, heresy, separation of church and state, taxes, wealth

[From the Honorable Sen. Chuck Grassley]

GRASSLEY UPDATE ON MINISTRY RESPONSES, BACKGROUND QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS DOCUMENT

M E M O R A N D U M

To: Reporters and Editors

Re: Ministry responses

Da: Monday, July 7, 2008

On Nov. 5, 2007, Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Committee on Finance, wrote to six media-based ministries, seeking information about various issues related to tax-exempt policy. The Committee on Finance has exclusive Senate jurisdiction over tax policy. On March 11, Grassley and Sen. Max Baucus, committee chairman, wrote follow-up letters to four ministries that had not provided information in response to Grassley’s Nov. 5 letter. Grassley’s staff has conducted numerous meetings and conference calls with representatives of the ministries and with various religious groups and leaders to answer questions and concerns about issues such as confidentiality of sensitive information and to discuss the purpose of Grassley’s policy review. Here is an accounting of the responses so far:

Joyce Meyer Ministries provided extensive answers to all questions. Staff continues to review the materials submitted but generally is finding the responses to be in good faith and substantively informative.

Benny Hinn of World Healing Center Church provided extensive answers to all questions in a series of submissions. Staff continues to review the materials submitted but is finding the responses to be in good faith and substantively informative.

Randy and Paula White of Without Walls International Church provided only responses to the “general” and “real and personal assets” questions. Staff deems their submissions to be incomplete as a result and is engaged in dialogue with attorneys for the ministry to secure responses to the remaining questions.

Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church/Eddie L. Long Ministries submitted a response that contained only general information about the organization’s operations as well as copies of articles of incorporation and bylaws (which the committee did not request) for the organization’s affiliates and subsidiaries. Staff deems this submission to be not responsive as a result and is engaged in dialogue with attorneys for the ministry to secure responses to the remaining questions.

Kenneth and Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries submitted partial responses to the majority of questions but did not provide a response to any of the compensation questions. Staff deems this submission to be not responsive and is hoping to engage the attorneys for the ministry in a dialogue to secure responses to all of the questions. However, since Kenneth Copeland has declared publicly that he will not submit responses even if a subpoena is issued, staff also is consulting with Senate attorneys about next steps.

Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International/Creflo Dollar Ministries have declined to provide any of the requested information. Staff has engaged the church’s attorneys in a number of conversations but the attorneys have indicated that the church’s decision not to respond remains the same. Staff has reached out to church officials directly to confirm the church’s decision.

Here’s a Sen. Grassley comment on the status:

“Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn have engaged in open and honest dialogue with committee staff. They have not only provided responses to every question but, in the spirit of true cooperation, also have provided information over and above what was requested.

“Both Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn have indicated that they are also instituting reforms without waiting for the committee to complete its review. Self-reform can be faster and more effective than government regulation and is the hallmark of my oversight of The Nature Conservancy, the Smithsonian Institution, American University and the American Red Cross. These organizations are all going strong and are arguably better off than they were before. I support voluntary, independent accreditation programs like those sponsored by the Land Trust Alliance and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and encourage these ministries to pursue similar accreditation. The most successful non-profit organizations recognize the need for transparency about their operations and accountability to their donors and the taxpaying public. They appreciate that Congress has a responsibility to review the effectiveness and fairness of tax laws for taxpayers and tax-exempt groups alike.

“The ministries that continue not to cooperate appear to be heeding the advice of attorneys who are not familiar with congressional oversight in general and specifically the Finance Committee’s oversight and legislative work in the area of tax-exempt organizations over the last seven years. These attorneys who aren’t part of the ministries themselves have a natural incentive to prolong the process as long as possible.“

Here is a background questions-and-answers document regarding the ministries inquiry.

[From me]

Good for Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn. What could the others possibly have to hide? Would Jesus have answered the Senator’s questions? Well he paid His taxes and He was humble and not arrogant. I’m afraid that some of these ministries are going to turn the American public and the IRS laws against those of us who follow the law and are up front about our practices.

What do you think?

9 responses so far

Jul 08 2008

Render unto IRS?

Published by Kevin Bussey under Hypocrisy, church, health, money, separation of church and state, taxes, wealth

[Times Online]

“It is not yours, it is God’s, and you are not going to get it.” So saith Kenneth Copeland, the television evangelist, when asked to submit his ministry’s private financial records to Washington.

Mr Copeland is one of at least six American “televangelists” facing the scrutiny of a senate investigation for alleged financial wrongdoing. The Eagle Mountain International Church – otherwise known as the Kenneth Copeland Ministries – preaches a doctrine of financial prosperity, with the promise that God can make a follower both healthy and wealthy. The faithful are encouraged to dig deep and give to the Church, where donated dollars will provide a one hundredfold return in happiness and wealth.

As Mr Copeland’s televised congregation listen to their minister boom, “You are not created for poverty,” they deposit cash in a donation envelope across which is written: “I am sowing $____ and believing for a hundredfold return.”

Mr Copeland certainly practises what he preaches. According to a report into the pentecostal charismatics, commissioned by the Senate, the ministry built Mr Copeland and his wife Gloria a mansion “the size of an hotel” and enabled him to acquire a $20 million Cessna Citation to help him to spread the word of God across the US.

Speaking to his assembled congregation on the runway by his new aeroplane, Mr Copeland said: “The Lord spoke to me and said ‘you’re gonna believe for a Citation 10, right now’.” He also promised that the jet, one of four owned by the Church, “will never ever be used as for anything other than what is becoming of you Lord Jesus”.

The ministry also owns an airport capable of accepting jet landings, leases land for Mr Copeland’s cattle and horses and also leases land to the family so that it can operate oil and gas wells.

Read more here.

[From me]

I posted my views on church and ministries tax free status here last week. Churches and ministries aren’t guaranteed tax free status forever. If ministers and ministries start becoming arrogant towards the government, the tide could turn against all of us. I also mentioned this past weekend I don’t know whether or not they need private jets. As long as ministries are up front about their donations and gifts and they pay their income taxes, what they spend is between them and their donors.

But what about the arrogance of:

“It’s not yours, it’s God’s and you’re not going to get it and that’s something I’ll go to prison over. So, just get over it!” Kenneth Copeland

Is that really how ministers should respond to our government? I don’t see prosperity as a God given right. Jesus never promised us lots of money. In fact he promised us trouble.

Luke 9:23

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Jesus said if we follow Jesus we must give Him everything we have. Taking up one’s cross means one thing-Death! According to the Health/Wealth teachings I guess I must be living in sin. We are struggling financially as I type this. If I gave a large “seed” to one of these Health/Wealth teachers would I become rich? Would it change my life? No, but it would pad their pockets.

Look what Jesus said in:

Luke 12:41-44

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

How do the Health/Wealth teachers explain this? If I’m missing something please show me. Because I don’t like struggling financially. I would love to have lots of money so I can give a lot away. I would love to go on mission trips and support ministries. I don’t want a jet. I don’t want an expensive car. I would like to buy a motorcycle so I could save money on gas. I could go on and on. But I’m happy paying my bills and enjoying the ministry God has given me. I’m grateful for my family and friends. I’m convinced that God doesn’t promise us wealth. Abundant life is more than money. The widow mentioned above was rich in God’s eyes. Everything is different when we look at life the way the BIble lays it out. I doubt I’ll ever have a lot of money. That’s OK. I left the world of making money to become a vocational minister–not to get rich.

What do you think?

15 responses so far