You have some really good points. I would add that this structure has created vocations for people in the business of religion and not callings. Tax exemption status has in effect, muzzled its voice. I agree that our houses of worship should be self sufficient and should consider community businesses, taxed like any other business, to help with operational costs and also as a service to the community apart from just a place to worship.
We wonder why our houses of worship are so powerless and weak. What you stated is a big part of why the churches are so ineffectual. The threat of losing that tax status keeps them quiet. The Great Awakening of our country back in the day through the churches helped set the stage for the people throwing off tyrannical government overreach. Those churches were not affiliated or controlled by the governmental authorities and were some of the biggest voices speaking truth to power. Until our houses of worship break the government's censoring influence through these tax structures, they will continue being controlled.
Thank you. For many to have any concern about loosing it is really absurd, a lack of writing it down and thinking it through.....taxes are on profits and real estate. There would not be any "profit" once all the widows and orphans had been cared for.
A large percentage of congregations use properties that are small and older. (Not to mention the churches that rent a place, is that rented slot in the strip mall excluded from property taxes while the tenant is a church?).
There are many in low cost areas of their towns and counties, so the value of the facilities would not be exuberant.
The pastor is already bi-vocational.
It is like you have observed, vocations in the business of religion. Further, by people that have been trained in the secular education system for 13 to 17 years to not challenge the "system".....not really what you want for someone that can stand between you and a lake of fire.
Very well stated. For our houses of worship to be healthy and strong, they need to break away from any type of government subsidy. Tax exempt status qualifies as a government subsidy. I like your idea about taking care of the widows and orphans because that is what the Master charged us to do. So much focus has been diverted to feed the beast and grow the number of seat decorations that our mission to take care of the community around us has been lost. They will send missionaries out in the field to foreign countries while those in their own communities are lost. This makes no sense. The body of believers given so much in this country will have much to answer for.
You have some really good points. I would add that this structure has created vocations for people in the business of religion and not callings. Tax exemption status has in effect, muzzled its voice. I agree that our houses of worship should be self sufficient and should consider community businesses, taxed like any other business, to help with operational costs and also as a service to the community apart from just a place to worship.
We wonder why our houses of worship are so powerless and weak. What you stated is a big part of why the churches are so ineffectual. The threat of losing that tax status keeps them quiet. The Great Awakening of our country back in the day through the churches helped set the stage for the people throwing off tyrannical government overreach. Those churches were not affiliated or controlled by the governmental authorities and were some of the biggest voices speaking truth to power. Until our houses of worship break the government's censoring influence through these tax structures, they will continue being controlled.
Thank you. For many to have any concern about loosing it is really absurd, a lack of writing it down and thinking it through.....taxes are on profits and real estate. There would not be any "profit" once all the widows and orphans had been cared for.
A large percentage of congregations use properties that are small and older. (Not to mention the churches that rent a place, is that rented slot in the strip mall excluded from property taxes while the tenant is a church?).
There are many in low cost areas of their towns and counties, so the value of the facilities would not be exuberant.
The pastor is already bi-vocational.
It is like you have observed, vocations in the business of religion. Further, by people that have been trained in the secular education system for 13 to 17 years to not challenge the "system".....not really what you want for someone that can stand between you and a lake of fire.
Very well stated. For our houses of worship to be healthy and strong, they need to break away from any type of government subsidy. Tax exempt status qualifies as a government subsidy. I like your idea about taking care of the widows and orphans because that is what the Master charged us to do. So much focus has been diverted to feed the beast and grow the number of seat decorations that our mission to take care of the community around us has been lost. They will send missionaries out in the field to foreign countries while those in their own communities are lost. This makes no sense. The body of believers given so much in this country will have much to answer for.