Until 1954 AD, churches and church leaders were at the forefront of upholding righteousness in civil government. 1954 was pivotal in America in silencing First Amendment natural rights. What happened in 1954?
The Johnson Amendment is an addition, adopted in 1954, to the Internal Revenue Code, 501(c)(3). As a condition for maintaining exception from income taxes and other taxes, charitable organizations including churches and affiliated groups, were forbidden from participating or intervening in “any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office” (Davidson 1998, 17).
The amendment is named after then Senator (later President) Lyndon B. Johnson, who introduced the amendment out of concern about the Facts Forum and the Committee for Constitutional Government. Both were tax-exempt organizations that had imitated the tactics of Senator Joseph R. McCarthy (R., WI) in campaigning against politicians like Johnson who were more liberal in their political orientations.
Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, September 19, 2023
Democrat Texas Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson was a corrupt politician whose unlawful political activities were being exposed by Christian pastors. The 1948 Democratic primary runoff scandal resonates with voters who realize the corruption of the 2020 presidential election. “The final statewide count, including Box 13 votes, gave Johnson an 87-vote margin in a total tally approaching 1 million and earned him the tongue-in-cheek nickname: “Landslide Lyndon.”
In 1947, the Supreme Court’s opinion on Everson v Board of Education was on the basis of a statement by President Thomas Jefferson in a letter to the Danbury Baptists in October 1821. In Danbury, Connecticut, the Baptists were the religious minority. For the record, the opinions of U.S. Presidents are not a basis for the Supreme Law of the Land, as defined by the U.S. Constitution, the second clause of Article VI.
The constitutionally baseless idea of the separation of church and state served to silence churches in matters of civil governance. The original intent of the First Amendment was to prevent the federal government from interfering in or controlling religious organizations, whether Catholic, Baptist, or any other religious institutions.
Subsequent to the Supreme Court creating from thin air a legal precedent called the separation of church and state, homosexuality was changed from a biblical abomination, and so addressed by state laws as prohibited behavior. Public schools added ‘sex education’ which was the forerunner of the sexualization of public school students presently underway.
The Bill of Rights limits the government, not the people.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.—Text of the First Amendment
The IRS has never pursued removing a religious organization’s tax-exempt status due to a local church congregation or its leaders endorsing candidates to elective offices.
Case in Point: Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas. Read the story from the Texas Scorecard: North Texas Church Leader Urges Congregation to Vote in Local Elections
“I want you to know, Gateway Church does not support or endorse any candidate or any political party. But we do endorse biblical principles, and we do believe that as good citizens, we should vote in national, state, and local elections.
Many of you see what Satan has been trying to do, even in our school systems. We haven’t been voting for school boards and for city councils, and these are very, very important elections.”
Pastor Robert Morris addresses his congregation—Texas Scorecard, April 25, 2023
Video Introduction to Deuteronomy
Shema Yisrael (שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל) (“Hear, O Israel”) Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God. The Lord is one! And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Shema Yisrael (שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל) (“Hear, O Israel”) are the first two words of a section of the Torah that is the centerpiece of the morning and evening prayer services, encapsulating the monotheistic essence of Judaism:
”Hear, O Israel: G‑d is our L‑rd, G‑d is one.”
In its entirety, the Shema consists of three paragraphs: Deuteronomy 6:4–9, Deuteronomy 11:13–21 and Numbers 15:37–41.
Chabad.org: The Shema
Video Introduction to the Chronicles
- Chronicles and Ezra had the same author
- Some scholars discern the Chronicles are a continuation of the book of Ezra. “The first two and a half verses of the Book of Ezra (Ezra 1:1–3) (537 BC) are identical to the last two verses of the second Book of Chronicles (2 Chronicles 36:22–23) (609 BC).”Ref
- “Chronicles is the last Book in the Hebrew Bible as it summarizes the continued relationship between God and Israel through the blessing of Abraham. The arrangement of Chronicles invites the reader to explore the stories of each section that reveal interesting details about David, Solomon, God’s temple, the kings of Judah, and how they all work together. Chronicles is also an excellent historical reference for those studying specific facts in the Scriptures.” Bible Project: 1 & 2 Chronicles
Who was the intended audience of the Chronicles?
Facts were drawn from 3 Things You Should Know about 1 & 2 Chronicles, by T. Desmond Alexander
1. For the author of Chronicles, the Davidic monarchy is central to God’s plan of redemption for the entire world.
2. Chronicles holds out hope that God will raise up a descendant of David to establish God’s kingdom in the world.
3. The author of Chronicles highlights an intimate bond between the temple and the Davidic king.
By now, you probably understand the central focus of the Chronicles is the governance of the people.
The verb govern means (1) to rule by right of authority, as a king or queen or elected administrator does; (2) to exercise a directing or restraining influence over; control; (3) to hold in check; control
Video Introduction to the Kings
Structure of the Book of Kings Ref
- Many Jewish and Christian traditions hold that Jeremiah wrote 1 and 2 Kings. However, authorship is not explicitly stated within the book.
- 1 Kings 1-11 is about Solomon’s rise and fall.
- 1 Kings 12-16 detail the fracture of Israel’s northern and southern kingdoms.
- 1 Kings 17 to 2 Kings 17 follows Elijah and Elisha.
- 2 Kings 18-25 describes Israel’s final kings and the Babylonian exile.
Conclusion
Deuteronomy 28:1-14 lays out the blessings of God on an obedient, God-honoring people.
In the same book, Deuteronomy 28:15-68, God lays out the consequences on a people for dishonoring God through disobedience to his principles and his commandments.
The hierarchy of authority in the United States of America is clearly articulated in the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of the U.S. Constitution. Our form of government points to God, our Creator, as the supreme authority of our country. We, the People, are at the top of human authority.
Our republican government does not consist of ‘three co-equal branches.’ How does one know who his boss is? He or she is the one who can fire you. The Legislative Branch is the most powerful of the three branches. The Legislative Branch (Congress) can fire presidents and Supreme Court justices.
The point is simply this: We, the People, are ultimately accountable for the actions of our government, whether federal, state, or municipal.
All authority comes from God. Governments that ignore God’s laws and precepts become tyrannies that invite God’s wrath upon us.
Our local churches, those that claim to teach the Word of God, the Holy Bible, are responsible for teaching the people and encouraging them to choose their leaders and lawmakers according to God’s Word.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Yes, pastors, you will not lose your tax-exempt status for endorsing candidates and speaking against evil laws, but you will be rewarded for following God’s word.
The abortion of babies in the womb is murder; it’s not political.
Homosexuality is an abomination to God; it’s not political.
Endorsing GOOD political candidates is essential to motivating your people to vote; it’s not political.
Over the years of my life, I have taught engineers, technicians, Sunday School classes, and salesmen. I have even taught my dog tricks.
What must you know before you can teach a dog tricks?
YOU MUST KNOW MORE THAN THE DOG!
Just as you pastors and Bible teachers have studied and learned the Bible, you must also be well-informed on governmental activities and candidates before advising your congregation.
Pastor Robert Morris recognized the evil overtaking his local government school system. He intentionally learned about the problems and got to know the candidates. 100% of the people he endorsed were elected to the local school board.
The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. noted, “Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”
Knowledge is Power. Ignorance is a Choice.
John White
Rockwall, Texas
John N. White 