The right to remain impartial

Before we “totally destroy” something, we might ask why it’s there to begin with.

President Trump has pledged to use all the tools at his disposal to get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment. In 1954 then-Texas Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson proposed an amendment to the IRS tax code that prohibited charitable organizations (including religious ones) from endorsing political candidates or collecting money to support candidates for public office, while at the same time claiming tax-exempt status. This rule reinforces the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which prevents the government from establishing religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

Nowadays some preachers argue they are being denied religious freedom by this restriction. They believe the First Amendment only applies to government interference in religion and does not restrict pastors from endorsing candidates or churches from engaging in partisan politics.

The dangers of abolishing the Johnson Amendment are legion, but consider what is already permitted under current law. Religious leaders may speak boldly and unapologetically about social and political issues. We may with no fear of prosecution speak for the right of a woman to have a legal abortion or against that right. We may speak for the proposal to build a wall on our southern border or not to. We may advocate for increased public school funding or for a voucher program that would subsidize private and religious schools with taxpayer funds.

What’s more, our communities of faith may organize, rally and take positions on matters of moral and ethical concern that we believe strengthen our civic life or undermine it. We may without fear of the loss of our tax-exempt status advocate for public policies that reinforce our spiritual values or oppose them when they don’t.

If religious leaders and their institutions were to endorse candidates and become partisans in the political process, we would become only one more special interest group for politicians to pander to. Some politicians crave the support of religious leaders and organizations. After all, when it’s not just human endorsement they can claim, but also divine approval, what more could you ask for? Some politicians already curry favor with pastors by putting them on advisory councils, attending their prayer breakfasts and sometimes even speaking in their churches.

Worship

Anglican

ALL SAINTS EAST DALLAS / allsaintseastdallas.org

Sunday worship 5:00 pm / Live in God’s Presence. Live Out His Love. Meeting at Central Lutheran Church / 1000 Easton Road

Baptist

PARK CITIES BAPTIST CHURCH / 3933 Northwest Pky / pcbc.org

Worship & Bible Study 9:15 & 10:45 Traditional, Contemporary, Spanish Speaking / 214.860.1500

WILSHIRE BAPTIST / 4316 Abrams / 214.452.3100

Pastor George A. Mason Ph.D. / Worship 8:30 & 11:00 am

Bible Study 9:40 am / www.wilshirebc.org

Bible Churches

NORTH HIGHLANDS BIBLE CHURCH / nhbc.net / 9626 Church Rd.

Sun: LifeQuest 9:00 am / Worship 10:30 am / 214.348.9697

Wed: AWANA and Kids Choir 6:00 pm / Student Ministry 6:30 pm

Disciples Of Christ

EAST DALLAS CHRISTIAN CHURCH / 629 N. Peak Street / 214.824.8185

Sunday School 9:30 am / Worship 8:30 am - Chapel

10:50 am - Sanctuary / Rev. Deborah Morgan-Stokes / edcc.org

Lutheran

CENTRAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA / 1000 Easton Road

Sunday School for all ages 9:00 am / Worship Service 10:30 am

Pastor Rich Pounds / CentralLutheran.org / 214.327.2222

FIRST UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH / 6202 E Mockingbird Ln. Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am / Call for class schedule. 214.821.5929 / www.dallaslutheran.org

Methodist

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH RICHARDSON 503 N Central Exwy / fumcr.com / 972.235.8385 / Dr. Clayton Oliphint

8:45, 9:45, 11:00 am sanctuary / access modern worship 11:00am

The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. wisely said, “The church must be reminded that it is neither the master nor the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state.” When we give up our power to speak prophetically to those with political power, we give up the one precious gift that is ours. We would be like the foolish Esau who hungered to be fed in the moment and gave up his birthright to Jacob for a mess of pottage.

Calling upon political leaders to act wisely is part of our calling. Applying that same standard to ourselves will keep us from hypocrisy. We shouldn’t need an amendment to remind us of that, but happily we still have one just in case.

George Mason is pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church. The Worship section is underwritten by Advocate Publishing and the neighborhood businesses and churches listed here. For information about helping support the Worship section, call 214.560.4202.

LAKE HIGHLANDS UMC / 9015 Plano Rd. / 214.348.6600 / lhumc.com

Sunday Morning: 9:30 am Sunday School / 10:30 am Coffee Worship: 8:30 am & 11:00 am Traditional / 11:00 am Contemporary

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

LAKE POINTE CHURCH – WHITE ROCK CAMPUS

Classic Service at 9:30 & Contemporary Service at 11:00 am lakepointe.org / 9150 Garland Road

Presbyterian

LAKE HIGHLANDS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 214.348.2133 8525 Audelia Road at NW Hwy. / www.lhpres.org

9:00 am Contemporary, 9:55 am Christian Ed., 11:00 am Traditional

NORTHRIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 6920 Bob-O-Link Dr. 214.827.5521 / www.northridgepc.org / Welcomes you to Worship

8:30 & 11:00 am / Church School 9:35 am / Childcare provided.