Jude’s Threshold

Separation of church and state requires a basic ability to discriminate between the two.

Yet there are churches in America now blurring the line once again, from the well-meaning member passing out leaflets in the parking lot, to voter guides being promoted from the dais.

This is a slippery slope used by cynical political groups to divide and conquer the electorate and garner votes for politicians who’ll say anything to gain office, even “Amen.”

Candidates attend churches to make political speeches and no one seems to bat an eye!

Four million evangelical voters who (supposedly) stayed home in 2000 were needed to gain George Bush the Oval Office in 2004, as Karl Rove understood and implemented with wedge-creating ’social issues’ like abortion, gay marriage, and such, meant to rile up the churches to vote for George Bush who gave lip service to religious concerns.

Now this blogger may be perceived at this point as being anti-choice and who knows what, so allow me to clarify, as a Christian, my beliefs on these two issues:

1. Abortion used as birth control is a crime, but Congress and the courts do not belong in the exam room–the decision to abort should be between a woman, her partner if available, her conscience, and her doctor and his medical recommendations for each case; rape or extreme fetal distress should be decided on a case by case basis.

The lives of children already here–and of adults–matter, too; babies who don’t live–for whatever reason–will happily grow up in heaven (earth’s inhabitants have a lot of maturing to do there as well, if that’s where they choose to spend eternity. Miscarried and aborted babies have the choice made for them.)

So I agree with pro-life religious activists up to the point that they take the law into their own hands and commit the crime they say they detest…any previous moral high ground is lost there, my friends.

2. Marriage is for man and woman as the Bible defines it, yet social contracts between gay partners which guarantee the legal rights which any partnership would necessitate are okay by me and seem only logical to support the social fabric–inheritance, hospital visitations, financial benefits, etc. Charity should come into the picture here, not cold-heartedness which belongs nowhere.

And perhaps the logical reason (and I believe the Scriptures to be logical) that the Bible says that no homosexuals shall enter the kingdom of God is quite simple–there will be no sexual gender in heaven, no ‘need’ for sex since all will be One. Gender was made for our dualistic world, and heaven will not be dualistic. Plus, the sexual act is an animal function, unnecessary on a higher plane.

And since God is all merciful, He will not condemn anyone for being born how they are….it’s the dwelling on naughtiness that’s gets us ALL into trouble if we make no effort to develop our higher minds and better ourselves above our animal natures.

Okay, I’ll hush now, but I do want to include this list of prohibitions on political pulpiting for churches who wish to protect their tax exempt status with the IRS:

Under IRS code all 501(c)(3) organizations (churches) are prohibited in a very strict manner from participating either directly or indirectly with any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for elective public office. This includes any official running in local, state, or federal elections.

Prohibition goes beyond candidate endorsements; prohibition includes contributions to campaign funds, plus public statements of position, either written or verbal.

Allowing a candidate to use the Church’s assets or property (facilities) is also prohibited.

Church leaders cannot make partisan statements in publications (including websites) or at functions.

In an election year, always check the IRS rules for specific issues involving candidate appearances at your church–IRS rules detail what is permissable and prohibited.

In the mid 90s, ‘voter guides’ became popular and new rules have been issued on voter guides. The best idea is to refrain from passing them out in church or on church property.

This list is not complete so contact http://www.irs.gov   if you have any questions about church activites which may jeopardize your church’s tax exempt status.

When at church, concentrating on the spiritual realm will always stand you in good stead–bringing in the political realm? not so much.