Because of the failure of America’s Christians to impact the culture and impress upon the Supreme Court a sense of decency and law, we are about to see the equivalent of a world war: the clash between the nation and the churches. When the nation and faith have been in conflict, American Christians have often modified their faith rather than confront the authorities. This is not the time to modify anything. It is a time for courage, commitment, and confrontation.

Recently the U.S. Supreme Court declared, contrary to thousands of years of almost unanimous belief, that same-sex “marriage” was constitutional. Well, if everyone agrees that it is constitutional, it is a convoluted, controversial confrontation with a holy God who spoke authoritatively long ago. Moreover, all dedicated Christians who are more concerned about offending a sovereign God than offending pathetic pompous politicians and judges will disobey that illogical, illegitimate, and illegal ruling.

Here is one citizen who, on the first day it becomes illegal to preach that homosexuality is an abomination or that Islam is a politically protected religion, will preach on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court (or declare on a national television talk show) that the U.S. has overstepped its bounds and is a rogue government. Resistance may mean persecution, prosecution, and prison so I’ll have my toothbrush with me since I may be dragged off to jail. Maybe Christians should “fill the jails” in civil disobedience as they are obedient to the Bible.

Preachers and church leaders have been bowing before the golden calf of tax deduction for many years and the idolatry must stop. While no church should ever pay a tax to a government (since a sovereign never pays taxes to another sovereign), the personal tax deduction is not a biblical principle. Some churches have already repudiated their 501 (c) (3) status and are continuing without problems. Many nations don’t permit citizens to deduct gifts to their churches when figuring taxes and that policy hasn’t harmed churches. In fact, it liberates church leaders from bowing before the golden calf. Let’s stop all, and I mean all, tax deductions for all charitable (religious and secular) giving! No Christian should give because of a tax advantage anyway.

The Chinese philosopher Confucius (551-479 B.C.) and some of his disciples were expelled from one state and traveled to another, and came upon a woman weeping beside a newly dug grave. Confucius asked her why she wept, and she told him that a tiger had killed her husband, father-in-law, and now her only son. Confucius asked why she lived in such a dangerous place, and she replied, “Because there is no oppressive government here.” Walking away, Confucius told his disciples, “My children, remember that oppressive government is worse than a tiger.” That is one time that what “Confucius say” is what I say. Governments in Canada and the U.S. are getting more and more oppressive.

I’m not surprised at the arrogance of Canadian and American politicians and judges, but I am surprised at their lack of shame. Proponents of such laws strut through government buildings wearing jackboots and Canada and America are only a goose step away from the formation of miniature Mussolinis who will try to control all churches. Even those who reject 501(c) (3) will not be safe for long.

An old dog may not learn new tricks but a dedicated Christian can and should learn to do right rather than wrong. It’s a matter of the will not the mind. Maybe our failure is a result of a faulty mind and a feeble will.

No, church leaders must not always obey intrusive laws and it is time to fill the jails in peaceful protest. Like the Disciples in Acts, we must obey God rather than man.

Copyright 2013, Don Boys, Ph.D.

It is time for religious leaders to tell the politicians and federal judges, “Come and get us, because we will not comply with your orders.” Such leaders will be more likely to get away with that resistance if they repudiate their tax-exempt status which is the modern-day golden calf before which most pastors bow. Frankly, a church should not be a tax deductible organization and incorporated “creature of the state” even if there were no threats of censure, control, or closure.

A Jewish leader said of proposed intrusive legislation, “You cannot tell a church how it can govern itself. The church is entitled to govern itself any which way it wants.” Well, that is both true and false! When a church forms into a corporation and receives tax exempt status, it places itself under the authority of the state. However, the states and the feds are going after churches whether or not they are 501 (c) (3). Politicians must understand this principle: “We must obey God rather than men.” And obeying God sometimes means disobeying man.

Church leaders must not obey any political authority if that authority seeks control of their church unless, of course, they have placed that church under the control of that political authority by incorporation and/or licensure. That is a mistake that about 90% of American churches have made! By incorporating they have invited state control. In a court battle, an incorporated church can plead “excessive entanglement” but not “no jurisdiction.” If a church is organized simply “as a church,” not a corporation, then they can declare to the courts, “We have not come to the state for any benefit that would place us under your control. Furthermore, our members do not get a tax deduction from their taxes for their financial gifts; therefore the state (or fed) has no jurisdiction over us.” More and more churches are taking that correct, courageous position.

Hugo Grotius (1583-1645), the “father of modern international law,” wrote in The Law of War and Peace, Book 1: “Among all good men one principle at any rate is established beyond controversy, that if the authorities issue any order that is contrary to the law of nature or to the commandments of God, the order should not be carried out. For when the Apostles said the obedience should be rendered to God rather than to men they appealed to an infallible rule of action.” Grotius provides excellent support for both incorporated and unincorporated churches to resist state and federal control.

Government is about control, and officials cannot abide religious leaders telling them “No, I won’t obey that law.” According to Christian philosopher Francis Schaffer, if you affirm that government must be obeyed under all circumstances then you have made government your god and you are a slave. It amounts to state worship.

The first temple erected to a Roman Emperor was built in Pergamum in 29 BC. Caesar worship had begun, and it accelerated in various parts of the Roman Empire following the resurrection of Christ. There are “Neros” in every government who demand that personal beliefs cannot conflict with the state’s positions. The government will try to get Christians to comply, even bribe them; but, in the end, it will be an order similar to Nebuchadnezzar’s: bow or burn. I may burn but I will not bow!

In 2007, the media reported on a move in Canada to force Christian churches to conform to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as defined by the Supreme Court in Canada. The government “will seek to force the churches to accept gay rights, abortion and (in the case of the Catholic and Orthodox churches) female priests.” Their threat: obey national policy or lose all tax advantages. It is incredible that there are not a hundred pastors in Canadian jails! Canadian pastors, where are you?

I wrote a few years ago that the Bob Jones University case would come back to haunt us and it’s here. The Bob Jones ruling said, if non-profits want to enjoy the benefits of tax deduction then they must comply with public policy, i.e., abortion, homosexuality, hate crime laws, etc. Christian leaders will be told that we can believe what we want but if those beliefs are practiced, even advocated, there will be retribution: all tax advantages will be lost! If pastors capitulate to that law, they will be expected to surrender on other matters until the state has total control.

I expect Canada to continue down the road of oppressive government and I expect the U.S. to follow right behind them. Sorry, but I won’t capitulate to such an intrusive statute. In 1662, the Act of Uniformity was passed in England, and 2,000 Puritan preachers refused to sign, consequently losing their pulpits with many going to jail. Do you know many preachers who would be willing to lose their pulpits and go to jail for doing right? Many preach that truth, but just how many are willing to practice it. I’m afraid there are few.

Genuine Christians may be driven underground and be forced to meet illegally  in homes, barns, and garages within a few years.

Copyright 2013, Don Boys, Ph.D.

Next Column–The Gathering Storm: Church Control and Capitulation!