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 effectively legal since 1973. While some corners of the Church have voiced opposition from time to time, this opposition comes nowhere 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 evidenced by the reaction of some churches on life-related referendums in various states, the first place many turn to is IRS regulations rather than the Word of God.
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. 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 NIV).