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In Russia, the government started to pay the pastors' salaries. What a relief not to rely on the gifts of the congregation! But then the government started telling the pastors what they could and could not preach. They could not say anything against the government. So, above ground, you had beautiful empty church buildings where pastors served their employer, the government, and didn't say anything controversial or meaningful, and underground, you had pastors and congregations smuggling in Bibles and teaching youth in remote places, risking their very lives if they got caught! Many pastors and believers risked imprisonment and torture to be obedient to God.Â
God outlines in Scripture various levels of authority. There are different levels of authority for the individual, family, church, and government. All authority is given by God, not a government. The church doesn't get its authority from government; the bride of Christ gets her authority from Christ. In the highest law of our nation, the US Constitution prevents our government from infringing on the rights of individual states, the church, and individual people, including expression of one's religion, which at that time meant whether you wanted to worship as a Methodist, Baptist, or Presbyterian.
Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom to peacefully assemble, etc. are recognized in our highest national law because this country was founded by pastors and congregations fleeing persecution. Even as late as 1965, 93% of all Americans considered themselves to be "Christian".
In the United States of America, churches have always been exempt from paying taxes. Churches have saved the government money by providing benevolence, helping people rise above needing benevolence, and teaching people self-governance which prevents the need for external governance.
Churches have historically had no limitations on what they speak because they are a church. It was in these churches where colonists met and created law consistent with the laws of God. And where a pastor famously recruited an army to help the colonies become a self-governing nation under God. A decade ago, when pastors in Houston, Texas were told to produce their sermon notes to a government entity, they rightfully refused.
At some point in the last century (according to Google 1954), someone came up with the idea of a 501c3. While churches already did not have to pay taxes, and individuals giving to the church could get credit for gifts to the church in lieu of taxes to the government, this allowed parachurch organizations doing benevolent activities a similar status as churches.
For pastors, teachers, and believers, our only limits are those we place upon ourselves. Likewise, the only rights we will retain are those we exercise. We can be afraid of offending a person, or we can be afraid of offending our God. God loves people enough to confront us with our sin, to tell us the truth about ourselves, and to offer a way out of our natural sinful condition.
Many pastors and believers have forgotten to lead the culture and have settled for following it. God's Word is a constant standard like the discovered scientific law of gravity. God's Word does not change. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Public opinion can change overnight. People are fickle. The heart is deceitful. But the call of the pastor, teacher, and every believer is to stand on the firm rock of obedience to Christ.
The Bible has a lot to say about child sacrifice, how we treat children, how God views children in the womb, about justice and just laws, and about how God judges nations and our sin. With every abortion, a child is being sacrificed to someone or something more important to that mother than the law of God that says, "Thou shalt not kill (murder an innocent human being)". The right thing to do is simple, just not necessarily easy. God promises that with every temptation - such as the temptation to abort a child, He also provides a way out. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
The hope for this nation and every individual lies where it's always been - in the repentance of our people and the reliance on our God. Pastors, teachers, and believers have the God-given responsibility to lead and the free will to speak.
May God be found true and every man a liar. (Romans 3:4)
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Here is a blog written by a retired attorney about 501c3 status:Â https://www.gotaheart.org/post/why-501-c-3-is-not-a-valid-excuse
Here are two examples of pastors preaching, available through our Church Toolkit:Â https://www.gotaheart.org/toolkit
Related Scriptures you can find through our website:Â https://www.gotaheart.org/scriptures
Here are your Bill of Rights: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights-transcript
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