Brother Ron Barnes Founder and Pastor Statement of Faith About Brother Ron Weekly Sermon Daily Devotional Devotional Archive Our Ministries Ask Brother Ron Brother Ron answers your questions about religion, spirituality and ministry Gatebuilder Ministry A ministry to ministries. We want to help you become a more effective servant of our Father and your community. Living Smart Outreach Ministry Equipping people to be positive, productive members of the community. Prayer Ministry Prayers and prayer resources for Baha'i, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Native Americans, New Age, Pagans and other faiths. Please submit your Personal Prayer Request Religious Education Resources to expand your knowledge and understanding of the world's major religions Music Ministry Ron's original gospel songs and links to Christian music web sites. Resource Directory Where to find help for medical problems, abuse, finances and other issues. Career Planning How to identify the right career, locate potential employers and get the job you want. for visiting our ministry! |
May the Lord continue to bless and preserve you. |
The Bible and Political Office Dear Brother Ron I know there is a separation between church and state. But that does not mean that we should stand by and do nothing. Strong Bible Christians should be raised up in the church to run as politicians in order to save this country of ours Why Not? Churches and syna- gogues have a lot of money to raise up their own. Jetrose Dear Jetrose While I agree that elected officials should have a strong spiritual foundation, there are some problems with churches breeding political leaders to serve their dogmatic agendas. First, the founding fathers of this country learned from history what happens when a religious organ- ization gains political and military power. The Catholic church of a thousand years ago used its political and military power to carry out the crusades and the Inquisition. The damage from these episodes is still being felt hundreds of years later. Actually, we need look no further than today's news reports to see what happens when a religious organization aspires to political goals. Each day, we hear of new horrors inflicted by Islamic fundamentalists in the name of God. Every year, homosexuals and other "undesir- ables" are persecuted and killed by those who think they are carrying out the will of God. If a religious organization was to gain political and military control in this country, the United States as we know it would cease to exist. But there is a more practical reason why your idea is impractical. If there is anything the churches fear more than the pains of hell, it is the loss of their tax-exempt status. IRS Publication 1828, Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations, clearly lays out what political activities are allowed and prohibited for churches. If a church violates these regula- tions, they can be forced to pay taxes on their income (including tithes and other contribu- tions), properties and other assets. Churches have tried for years to get around these regulations. Every effort has failed. I'm afraid you are just going to have to find candidates who reflect your ideals and support them. The government will not allow churches to grow their own politicians. Best always Brother Ron |