Freedom of Religion or Freedom from Religion?

Amendment I of the Constitution of the United States begins with some famous words: "Congress shall make no laws respecting the establishment of a religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." This simple phrase has created storms of controversy, but oddly enough, very little controversy until the middle of the 20th century. In Engel vs Vitale, 370 US 421, the US Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a practice which had taken place in many US schools for years. This practice was the beginning of each day with a prayer that had been composed by the state and ordered to be recited by all students. While the prayer was faith neutral, the prayer nonetheless was a religious exercise. The Supreme Court held that the practice was unconstitutional and overturned the practice.

This decision has been decried by many churches, but none so much as the religious right. They have generally portrayed this decision as "banning prayer in schools", and "banning religion in schools". In this they are either deliberatly ignorant or are deliberatly misreading the opinion of the Court. The Court said nothing of the sort. The Supreme Court, in fact, has ruled over and over that religion is not banned in schools, nor is prayer. However, state-sponsored religion is not allowed because this violates the establishment clause of the 1st Amendment.

Most religious organizations, including churches, are organized as tax exempt entities under Section 501(c) of the Internatl Revenue Code. However, it should be noted that religious institutions are not the only types of organizations that are so organized. Schools and charities of many different types also hold 501(c) status. This is because, like a church or other religious institution, their income is tax exempt, and donations to those orgnizations is usually tax deductible. The income is tax exempt and (usually) deductible because the government has decided it is in the best interest of the state that those organizations be allowed to devote more of their resources to their stated goal: religious, educational or charitable. With this important exemption, comes a special caveat: Holders of a 501(c) tax status may not endorse any particular candidate without risking the revocation of their 501(c) status.

Many of the religious right see this as a violation of the 1st amendment in that it somehow infringes upon their exercise of their faith. On the contrary, this provision was placed in the code to protect churches and other organizations from being distracted in their mission. Their mission, if a church, is to spread the word of their religion. If they are advocating one particular political candidate, they are not spreading their faith, but the message of another. For instance, Jesus Christ is not running for office. To advocate the word of Christ is the duty of Christians everywhere, of any denomination. To advocate for any particular candidate (in the pulpit, etc) is a violation of the trust and special privileges granted to religious institutions.

In closing, let me point out one more thing: There is no "right" to be exempt from taxation for religious institutions written in the Constitution. The government has chosen, as a matterof public policy, that it is in the interest of society to do so. However, Congress could, if it so chooses, remove religious institutions from the 501(c) list, and as long as they were taxed the same as any other business, it would most likely survive constitutional muster. I am NOT saying that they would or could do so, but it would be constitutional.

As we listen to the leaders of our house of worship in this election time, let us remember that they should preach the beliefs of the faith, and then allow their congregants to decide how to vote on their own.

One Man in a Thousand

One Man in a Thousand, Solomon says,
Will stick more close than a brother...

So begin the words of a famous poem by Rudyard Kipling. For the full text, please go and look up http://www.kipling.org.uk/poems_thousandth.htm.

This poem is important due to its capture of the nature of human relationships. Many people, and this is especially true in our fluid society of the 21st century, are interested in the money a person has, or in their looks, or their great deeds or power. The degree of shallowness that is exhibited, and in some cases, even celebrated, by our culture is unheard of in the annals of history.

What Kipling's poem recognizes is that a person's spirit is the essence of what they are. It is this spirit that encompases good or evil, kindness or pettyness. Unfortunately, our society has seen more politicians with a spirit of pettyness, childishness, and outright evil. There are some politicians in our society today who not only would find Kipling's poem outdated, but would be mystified by the concepts of love, loyalty and brotherhood that it discusses.

As we start the run-up to our national elections, look at the politicians running. Look at their public statements, both about the other and about other people. Are they the persons you want making decisions which affect not only the economy of this nation, but the overall well-being of our people? Don't decide on this issue alone, but I urge you, consider this factor among the other facts as you make your decisions.

Father of Our Lord

Today is Father's Day. A day when we honor those who are our fathers, or who fill that role.

We also, on this Sunday, as always, honor and worship our Heavenly Father. This Father, like our earthly fathers, has a deep abiding love for His children, who are all of the people of the earth. However, our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He was willing to send His only son. John 3:16.

The Gospel of John has beend dated to approximately 90 to 100 AD, well after most of Christ's initial band of followers were dead. Unlike the other three gospels, John is written to a different audience. John appears to be written more as an evangelic gospel, intended for the greek-speaking jews. In it, the ethos and theology differs considerably from the other gospels, and the Gospel according to John contains no parables or other more simplistic teaching tools.

Nevertheless, John contains some of the most important passages, including one of my favorites which favorites contained John 3:16, which in a nutshell, clarifies the entire basis of Christianity.

On this Father's Day, let us give thanks to God for His gift to the world, Jesus Christ, our Lord!

Friday Thoughts

This Sunday's lectionary is Matthew 9:9-13. In it, Jesus calls Matthew to his service. Matthew, a tax collector, is sitting at his table when he is approached by Our Lord. With a few simple words, "Follow me", Matthew left his table and took up a whole new life as a follower of Christ.

As we are sitting in our offices, our homes, with our friends, who of us would uproot everything we have, leave all the we had behind, to listen to the words "Follow me"? Think about it for a moment. Matthew was leaving behind a lucerative business. Tax collectors, although they were despised (after all, don't many Americans despise the IRS and many of its employees?), were private businessmen who had entered into a contract with the Roman and Jewish authorities of the period to collect tax. Essentially, the tax collector collected tax and from the amount collected, had to pay the appropriate authorities the tax. Yes... the methods employed were sometimes brutal and insensitive. However, Matthew's alleged sins are nowhere recounted. In fact, many believe he was labeled a sinner merely because he conducted a lawful occupation under contract to the Roman administration.

Matthew put all of this aside to follow Jesus. He followed Christ throughout his ministry, and indeed, one of the Gospels is attributed to Matthew. The example we can learn from this is that as Christ calls us to follow him, we each must listen for the call and heed that call. It is through this following of Christ, and the belief in His sacrifice for us, that truly, we will enjoy eternal life.