Making America Great Again

[Jim_Alaska]

Alan, here is one that I have been involved with from the beginning. I am a gold miner, as well as a property and mining rights advocate. The state of California has banned suction dredge mining for gold for the last nine years. This is a direct violation of the rights that congress gave to this nations miners. I am working with the new administration's new agency heads to get this situation turned around.

Just today Pacific Legal Foundation agreed to take this case the the US Supreme Court for miners. They are a very high profile legal firm, with many impressive wins to their credit. The link below is their announcement and brief concerning the illegality of the state's actions.

http://blog.pacificlegal.org/plf-asks-supreme-court-review-challenge-californias-mining-ban/

[Alan]

Jim Alaska,

I listened, and read, about the Supreme Court challenge concerning the suction dredge mining in the State of California. Keep us informed of major developements. It will be very interesting how the new (hopefully new), supreme Court Justice, Gosuch, would affect his law.

Brethren,

Every election cycle the IRS, and the liberals, use the Johnson Amendment (named after former Senator L.B.Johnson), in an effort to force churches (pastors), from speaking their Consitututional right to Free Speech, in an effort to nullify the churches political viewpoint.

In the following video Huckabee explains the situation more fully.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/5308628565001/?intcmp=ob_footer_video&intcmp=obnetwork

President Trump, during his National Prayer Breakfast speech, has declared that he will eliminate this ammendment. I believe that this would help churches (pastors from the pulpit), again have the legal right to express their political beliefs as guaranteed by the Constitution. Truly, this would help america become great again.

[Invicta]

11 hours ago, Alan said:

Jim Alaska,

I listened, and read, about the Supreme Court challenge concerning the suction dredge mining in the State of California. Keep us informed of major developements. It will be very interesting how the new (hopefully new), supreme Court Justice, Gosuch, would affect his law.

Brethren,

Every election cycle the IRS, and the liberals, use the Johnson Amendment (named after former Senator L.B.Johnson), in an effort to force churches (pastors), from speaking their Consitututional right to Free Speech, in an effort to nullify the churches political viewpoint.

In the following video Huckabee explains the situation more fully.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/5308628565001/?intcmp=ob_footer_video&intcmp=obnetwork

President Trump, during his National Prayer Breakfast speech, has declared that he will eliminate this ammendment. I believe that this would help churches (pastors from the pulpit), again have the legal right to express their political beliefs as guaranteed by the Constitution. Truly, this would help america become great again.

Problem with that view Alan is that Churches will be considered as nothing more than political mouthpieces. 

[Jim_Alaska]

7 hours ago, Invicta said:

Problem with that view Alan is that Churches will be considered as nothing more than political mouthpieces. 

While this may be true of some churches, it has no place among Independent Baptists. Our first priority is to preach the Gospel. But we are to also warn against evil that threatens our people, our churches and anything that would hinder our mission in this world

Freedom of speech is of utmost importance and if it does not apply to all it is not freedom at all. Just because we are a church does not mean that we should be muzzled when it comes to speaking out against unjust political practices and corruption in high places.

[Invicta]

28 minutes ago, Jim_Alaska said:

While this may be true of some churches, it has no place among Independent Baptists. Our first priority is the preach the Gospel. But we are to also warn against evil that threatens our people, our churches and anything that would hinder our mission in this world

Freedom of speech is of utmost importance and if it does not apply to all it is not freedom at all. Just because we are a church does not mean that we should be muzzled when it comes to speaking out against unjust political practices and corruption in high places.

You are correct Jim.  I was thinking, for instance, of the Arcbishop of Canterbury, who is always making political statements, but I have never heard him say anything remote/ly  biblical.  

[1Timothy115]

9 hours ago, Invicta said:

Problem with that view Alan is that Churches will be considered as nothing more than political mouthpieces. 

Yes Invicta, some will be political mouthpieces. Most of us and our pastors will continue to put Christ ahead of all this 'stuff'.

I would suggest with all the vetting and vetting discussion going on that we never forget to vet all this political hubbub through God's Word.

[Alan]

According to the Constitution of the United States, Amendment 1 states, "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."

The Johnson law prohibits the free exercise speech, or abridges the free exercise of speech, of the minister in the pulpit; whether the minister miss-uses that right is not the question.

Also, we can all agree that a church is an assembly of people: the Johnson law prohibits the free exercise of the speech of a minister while he is in an assembly. Whether the minister is right or wrong is immaterial according to the Constitution of the United States.

The Johnson law is unconstitutional and should be nullified by Congress. That is the point that President Trump is making. I agree with President Trump. President Trump is trying to make America great again by getting rid of laws and regulations that are not in accordance to the Constitution.

If the members of Congress wants to make America great again, as President Trump is trying to do so, than the members of Congress needs to back him up and nullify the Johnson law.

Edited February 7, 2017 by Alan
grammer

[swathdiver]

There are limits to the Johnson Amendment, such as a pastor may preach on politics or engage in politicking if it does not take up 10% of his time or 10% of his employees, something like that anyway.  Whatever it is, you're right, it's not constitutional.  In addition, this only applies to 501C3 churches, not 508C1A churches. The 508C1A is established by default without paperwork, the other is established by ignorance and government trickery.  So a 508C1A can talk all they want about politics and host fundraisers, etc.

I think much of it is wasted time and of little profit.  Adults know what to do.  A mature christian will size up the best man for the job according to the scriptures and his testimony.  In this instance, his testimony includes his character, work ethic, and past statements, in addition to his walk with Christ, if he has one.

 

On another note, I think Americans are going to need to overwhelm the switchboards and tell those losers, McConnell and Ryan, that they need to repeal and replace Obama Care and make those tax cuts, NOW.  

Gotta get that judge on the bench too, and that other one impeached.  Come to think of it, a bunch of them should be impeached.

[fastjav390]

5 hours ago, Alan said:

According to the Constitution of the United States, Amendment 1 states, "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."

The Johnson law prohibits the free exercise speech, or abridges the free exercise of speech, of the minister in the pulpit; whether the minister miss-uses that right is not the question.

Also, we can all agree that a church is an assembly of people: the Johnson law prohibits the free exercise of the speech of a minister while he is in an assembly. Whether the minister is right or wrong is immaterial according to the Constitution of the United States.

The Johnson law is unconstitutional and should be nullified by Congress. That is the point that President Trump is making. I agree with President Trump. President Trump is trying to make America great again by getting rid of laws and regulations that are not in accordance to the Constitution.

If the members of Congress wants to make America great again, as President Trump is trying to do so, than the members of Congress needs to back him up and nullify the Johnson law.

It seems the Johnson Amendment only applies to churches that back conservative candidates or politicians. I see liberal churches all the time holding some kind of gathering for politicians or political movements. 

[Alan]

The, 'sanctuary cities,' that the liberal, democratic, socialist, flock of politicians created for the illegal aliens, is unconstitutional and a deliberate attempt by these liberal politicians to flaunt U.S. Laws concerning illegal aliens.

President Trump is going to make America great again by getting rid of these sanctuary cities by withholding Federal funding. And, hopefully, by the force of stronger   immigration laws, Congress will act behind him.

Already, thankfully, some of the politicians of some of the sanctuary cities are backing down and in the light of President Trumps stated position and is helping the Federal Government authorities, as the law demands, instead of hindering the Federal Government.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/10/were-going-to-see-more-sanctuary-cities-cave-in-face-trumps-funding-threats.html

I do pray for our government. It is my hope that the Lord above helps President Trump make America great again by abiding by the laws of our land, and a return the Constitution, instead of the whims, and socialist agenda, of our politicians, and the activist judges, in our land.

 

 

[weary warrior]

On 2/6/2017 at 5:32 PM, Alan said:

According to the Constitution of the United States, Amendment 1 states, "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."

The Johnson law prohibits the free exercise speech, or abridges the free exercise of speech, of the minister in the pulpit; whether the minister miss-uses that right is not the question.

Also, we can all agree that a church is an assembly of people: the Johnson law prohibits the free exercise of the speech of a minister while he is in an assembly. Whether the minister is right or wrong is immaterial according to the Constitution of the United States.

The Johnson law is unconstitutional and should be nullified by Congress. That is the point that President Trump is making. I agree with President Trump. President Trump is trying to make America great again by getting rid of laws and regulations that are not in accordance to the Constitution.

If the members of Congress wants to make America great again, as President Trump is trying to do so, than the members of Congress needs to back him up and nullify the Johnson law.

The whole problem is not that a church is prohibited to engage in politics, it is that a church applies for recognition from the government as a non-profit corporation, 501C3 status, for financial purposes. When you look to the government for official recognition from that government, you place yourself under the authority of said government. Since that government is made up of opposing political views, and you have become a de-facto ward of the state, (look it up, you applied, i.e. "asked" for them to please put you under the benevolent umbrella of their recognition of you as a corporation) then they have the right to require you to not take political sides. Any church that is truly simply nothing more than a gathering of believers can make all of the political statements they want. Those that have been granted permission from the state to be recognized by the state have placed themselves under the authority of the state, simply so they would not have to pay the state's taxes on all of the ridiculous money they often take in to pay for their million-dollar properties.

 

[Alan]

I want to thank all of you for the information on 501C3 and the 508C1A status' for churches.

[...]

Can a 501C3 church legally renounce its 501C3 status and change to 508C1A, or does that church have to legally dissolve and start anew?

[weary warrior]

Our former church looked into renouncing our 501C3 status, and were told by the attorney at CLA that to do so would make us liable for all of the back property taxes we had been exempted from since the inception of the church. We also were advised by CLA that if a church is a 501C3, don't look to get out of it, and if you are not one, don't look to become one.

CLA is the Christian Law Assoc.

[...]

9 minutes ago, weary warrior said:

Our former church looked into renouncing our 501C3 status, and were told by the attorney at CLA that to do so would make us liable for all of the back property taxes we had been exempted from since the inception of the church. We also were advised by CLA that if a church is a 501C3, don't look to get out of it, and if you are not one, don't look to become one.

CLA is the Christian Law Assoc.

Sounds a bit like what a drug lord might tell his dealers.  No switching from one status to the other... got it.   However, if that is true, I would imagine that if the church legally closed or dissolved or whatever, that they could start a brand new one and just not file for 501C3 status.  

Edited February 11, 2017 by Brother Stafford