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From
LifeDate -
Winter 2004.
The
Holiest Number?
by Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb, Executive Director - Lutherans For Life
 What is the holiest
number? Some say 7, for it is the number of God. Some say 777, for
it is the holy Trinity as opposed to the unholy trinity of 666. It
appears to me, however, that the holiest number is 501(c)(3). I came
to that conclusion as I was pondering the possible answers to this
question. “What will it take to get the Church to rise up and boldly
take a stand for God’s truth?”
Will the Church rise up
when the government takes away the right to life of the most
vulnerable of our children?
Evidently not.
Abortion has been legal
for 32 years. While some corners of the Church have voiced
opposition from time to time, this opposition comes no where close
to a united rising up of Christendom to stand on God’s Word of Life
and oppose this great evil. Besides, abortion is such a political
issue, and we would not want to violate our 501(c)(3) status by
talking about it in the pulpit.
Will the Church rise up
when the government gives the right to homosexuals to marry and
tells the Church they must bless same sex unions?
Evidently not.
Homosexuality is
acceptable to more and more denominations. Some have already blessed
same sex unions and have opened their pulpits to homosexuals.
Besides, homosexuality is such a political issue. We might be
charged with hate speech and lose our 501(c)(3) status if we address
this in the pulpit.
Will the Church rise up
when the government says we can no longer proclaim the Word of God?
Evidently not.
The Church has been the
leader in removing the Word of God from herself. A six-day Creation,
miracles, the virgin birth of Jesus, the bodily resurrection of
Jesus—these and more have been relegated to a “take it or leave it”
status. Many “Christian” sermons have become “feel good” speeches
offering at best mere morsels of morality. Besides such preaching
would never run the risk of endangering our 501(c)(3) status.
Will the Church rise up
when the government says we can no longer have 501(c)(3) status?
Oh yes!
Christendom would unite
with such a loud voice that the granite blocks and marble dome of
the U.S. Capitol would shake as if the San Andreas Fault had moved
east. Sunday services would be cancelled so that congregations could
travel in bus loads to Washington D. C. to lobby Congress. With a
single voice the Church would demand its 501(c)(3) status so that it
could continue to defend the truth of . . . Hmmm? What truths would
be left to defend I wonder?
Now I hope you have
been reading this with that proverbial “grain of salt.” I really do
not believe that 501(c)(3) is the holiest number, and I am not
advocating that churches give up their 501(c)(3) status. Indeed,
tax-exempt status is a blessing in that it allows more funds to be
used for sharing the Gospel. However, as was particularly evident
prior to the recent election, many hide behind this status and
refuse to take a stand where God’s Word clearly speaks. I thank God
for LFL’s 501(c)(3) status. But I also pray to God that we would
never allow it to weaken our resolve to stand on and proclaim God’s
truth. The results of the recent election show that when we do, we
can make a difference.
Therefore put on the
full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be
able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to
stand.” (Ephesians 6:13) |
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