• logo


logo

Timely and Inspiring Prophetic Analysis so you can Prepare.


  • Home
  • Monthly Messages
    • Pastor Mayer
    • Pastor Nelson
    • 2025
    • 2024
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
    • 2009
    • 2008
    • 2007
    • 2006
    • 2005
    • 2004
    • 2003
    • 2002
    • 2001
    • 2000
    • 1999
    • 1998
  • Briefings
    • Prophetic Intelligence
    • Nature Knows Best
    • Prophetically Speaking
    • Articles of interest
  • Events
  • Videos
    • KTF News
    • KTF Live
    • Interviews
    • Sermons
    • Promo Video
  • Store
  • Make a Gift
loading...
  • Post
  • Similar Posts
  • Post Icon
  • author
  • Pastor Hal Mayer

    Speaker / Director

U.S. House of Representatives Quietly Passes Change Johnson Amendment

Friday September 29th, 2017
Print This Post Print This Post

On September 14, by a margin of 211 to 198, the U.S. House of Representatives quietly voted to change the Johnson amendment in relation to churches. The Johnson Amendment prevents churches and other non-profits from endorsing political candidates or supporting political campaigns with their money. The change only applies to churches and their related entities. The change was embedded in the 2018 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill, a massive spending bill. On page 21 it says:

“SEC. 116. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used by the Internal Revenue Service to make a determination that a church, an integrated auxiliary of a church, or a convention or association of churches is not exempt from taxation for participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office unless.

(1) the Commissioner of Internal Revenue consents to such determination;

(2) not later than 30 days after such determination, the Commissioner notifies the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate of such determination; and

(3) such determination is effective with respect to the church, integrated auxiliary of a church, or convention or association of churches not earlier than 90 days after the date of the notification under paragraph (2).

In essence, if the IRS decides to withdraw tax-exempt status of churches because of its involvement in a political campaign, it must inform Congress and give Congress an opportunity to respond. Why it was done this way is unclear, but if passed by the Senate, it would essentially make the Johnson Amendment redundant, at least as it applies to churches.

Political campaign donations are not currently tax-deductible, but, presumably, gifts to churches that engage in political campaigns would be tax-deductible, or at least protected from scrutiny by IRS.

This bill will jeopardize the separation of church and state in America. We are now on the precipice of major changes to the religious climate of the United States.

Many pastors and other religious leaders claim that the Johnson Amendment is a burden on their religious freedom and their freedom of speech, and they often insist that it must be repealed or at least curtailed for them to be able to get involved directly in politics as part of their pastoral office (as opposed to personal involvement). However, churches, pastors, priests and other religious leaders have been very adept at getting around the amendment. It is important to note that while the Johnson Amendment is being changed in the name of religious liberty, it is actually setting the state for the rise of political power of the churches, which will lead to worship laws.

“Heretofore those who presented the truths of the third angel’s message have often been regarded as mere alarmists. Their predictions that religious intolerance would gain control in the United States, that church and state would unite to persecute those who keep the commandments of God, have been pronounced groundless and absurd. It has been confidently declared that this land could never become other than what it has been—the defender of religious freedom. But as the question of enforcing Sunday observance is widely agitated, the event so long doubted and disbelieved is seen to be approaching, and the third message will produce an effect, which it could not have had before.” Great Controversy, pages 605 and 606.


Source References

  • US House votes to defund IRS investigations of church political endorsements
  • 115TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION

Prophetic Intelligence Briefings are provided to show a link between current events and Bible prophecy only. The reposted articles, which are not intended as a commentary in support of or in opposition to the views of the authors, do not necessarily reflect the views of Pastor Mayer or of Keep the Faith other than to point out the prophetic link.

Comments

    • schubert grimm

      Friday September 29th, 2017 at 05:20 PM
    • Reply

    many dont believe this can happen, but it was 1888 that a bill was before congress to pass a federal law makeing sunday a sacred day of worship. the bill failed, but its ghost has reapeared in our time as we are seeing signs of renewed church, state union with the pope calling for national sunday laws. you say thats obsurd. go to the library look up the story about the good hard working citizens of tennessee who were working their farms and the law threw them in prison and fined them for violateing sunday sacredness


    • David

      Monday October 2nd, 2017 at 12:11 AM
    • Reply

    The manipulation of the law is to allow the union of church and state whichever way the Bill is worded.

    Prophecy has to be fulfilled to the letter.

    We have embarked on a slippery slope long ago that will give all churches power to enact laws or if not influence the law makers at the least to bring about the Sunday law.

    This has to happen, it must happen so that the chain of prophetic events can follow.


    • Kevine

      Monday October 2nd, 2017 at 03:24 AM
    • Reply

    The curtains are coming down


    • Michael Bisson

      Tuesday October 3rd, 2017 at 12:44 PM
    • Reply

    I think Hal Mayer makes a good point here, that churches will be the means of collecting contributions for political candidates as way of taking advantage of the tax deduction when giving to a charitable contribution. However I think he’s missing what the real problem is and that being the tax deductibility of charitable contributions. With that sword held over the churches head the IRS always has the possibility of taking away a churches 503-C filing as a means of controlling the church. Our Religious liberty department should campaign to have income tax rates lowered and have the 503-C removed from the I.R.S. code. The leverage it gives the state over church is a true violation of church and state.
    Mike Bisson


    • john dixon

      Sunday October 8th, 2017 at 06:23 PM
    • Reply

    i say it will soon happen
    SUNDAY LAW IS WAITING ON THE CORNER


    • Ellen

      Saturday October 28th, 2017 at 05:43 PM
    • Reply

    May the Lord hasten all that needs to be done so that we can go home. Those who still want to wallow in this world are welcome to it. As for me and my household we are ready for His coming in the clouds of glory according to His will and grace.


    • lavin

      Tuesday November 7th, 2017 at 11:50 PM
    • Reply

    Each day is of equal significance, and if should be bothered about any day, then it is ” Today”.
    *[[Heb 4:7]] KJV* Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
    If there is any commandment, that we should really be bothered about, then it is the commandment of Love, which we all seem to be failing. *[[Joh 13:34]] KJV* A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
    Watch out, lets you be deceived into trivialities, and omit the major issues, and be found wanting in the sight of God.


    • NAVRAJVIR

      Sunday January 12th, 2020 at 11:19 AM
    • Reply

    Great move! It’s time for a show.



Post a Comment!

Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


  • Request your free subscriptions now

    • English
    • Deutsch
    • Español
    • Português
  • Latest Message

    Request CD | View Transcript
  • Make a Gift

    Or click here to send a check
  • Prophetically Speaking…

    “The most odious of all oppressions are those which mask as justice.” more…

  • Recent Posts

    • ’Something has gone terribly wrong’: ‘Church’ stuns with ‘worship anthem’ featuring LGBT F-bomb
    • At least 52 dead in Texas flooding; search and rescue ongoing
    • Prophetically Speaking…
    • Israel considers new Gaza offensive unlike previous invasions as hostage talks falter
    • Prophetically Speaking…
  • Tags

    Catholic Church church and state Donald Trump government LGBTQ natural disaster politics Pope Francis Prophetically Speaking Quote of the Day religion religious liberty United States Vatican
  • Recent Comments

    • William Stroud on Brazilian court to hear case of Christian mother prosecuted for homeschooling son
    • William Stroud on The SWIplus app: your connection to Switzerland
    • William Stroud on Hungary: Pride Parade Held in Budapest in Defiance of Ban from Conservative Orbán Government
    • William Stroud on LA riots: When chaos becomes policy
    • William Stroud on First mouse with two biological FATHERS has its own babies – in breakthrough that could pave the way for gay men to have children
  • Follow



logo
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Store
  • About KTF
  • Meet the Team
  • Terms of Use
  • RSS Feed
  • Contact
top

© 2024 Keep the Faith. All Rights Reserved.  Webmaster »



Share
Send Email
  • Send
close