Kaye Grogan
Tithes are tax exempt . . . so pass the offering plate!
By Kaye Grogan
Evidently, when Howard Dean chairman of the Democratic party goes on record attacking churches for being involved in politics, he is conveniently forgetting that only the tithes are tax exempt, not the members of the church. So, pass the offering plate!
And since paying taxes is mandatory, those who attend church should not be penalized or gagged, because the tithes they give to their church escapes taxation. Mr. Dean should be reminded that the salaries of ministers are also taxed.
If around 85 percent (unless that's an exaggeration) of the church population didn't pay taxes, the government would come to an inoperable standstill unable to operate. And maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea, considering their legislating abilities are capricious!
The government for about 30 years has been incorrigibly obsessed with devising cumbersome taxation plans, and most without justification, and most definitely without proper representation. Heck, even passing laws seems to be secondary to raising taxes, even though legislating should be their primary goal. But then again, passing laws with the haphazard current group of legislatures can be risky — and have about zero chance of being enforced.
Just look at the ridiculous senate immigration bill!
Why would anyone want to silence the voices of those who attend church? As taxpayers they have just as many rights as those who wouldn't think about darkening the door of a church.
Now, my curiosity is up about Howard Dean. Can he be found warming a pew on Sunday mornings at church? If Mr. Dean attends the church of his choice, shouldn't he practice what he preaches about members of churches not having a voice in politics? And heaven knows Dean is about as vocal, uh — screeching (holding my ears) as they get, when it comes to politicking.
Let's look at what is perhaps the hidden agenda here. Since the majority of congregations in churches denounce abortion, same-sex marriages, etc. — and the Democratic party embraces this platform, naturally, the next step is to try and silence the sheep and their Shepherd.
Evidently, Mr. Dean believes the biggest majority of churchgoers are Republicans, otherwise he is cutting his nose off to spite his face, when he rudely threatens that churches must make the decision to either stop endorsing certain candidates or face penalties. Does this threat sound like one that might be proactive in China where the Chinese have to be silent about their beliefs if they are underground Christians? I guess Dean hasn't figured out yet: it's not nice to fool with God or his people.
When President Bush went to the middle-east recently, he told the people who had gathered to hear him speak, that they deserve the same rights as Americans to have freedom of religion in their country. Has the president been in a fog somewhere or just plain ignoring how Christians are under attack by groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and atheists on a daily basis? Maybe he's been listening to the music on his ipod too much, and ignoring how religion is being suppressed more every day, among other urgent issues.
Evidently, DNC chairman Dean believes the way to get on the favorable side of Christians is to threaten them. Now that's like trying to keep a dog from biting, after it has already sunk its teeth into the jawbone of its victim. If Dean keeps up with the threatening rhetoric, there is not a snowball's chance the Democrats are going to be the majority again, except in their dreams.
By the way, Mr. Dean, do you tithe? And since you are championing the movement to muzzle churches from being politically active or give up their tax exempt status, how does your own pastor/priest/minister — feel about this?
Now after pointing out that tithes are not taxed, I think the churches need to get out of the business of purchasing property, malls, paying big salaries, etc., and give the tithes to the needy. The only business churches should be in is spreading the "gospel of Jesus Christ" along with clothing and feeding the needy.
By the way: has any of the black churches the Democrats rush to at the first sign of trouble, been threatened to lose their tax exemption status? At least the majority of the Democrats join hands and sing Amazing Grace and We Shall Overcome during election time. Hopefully, if they take this route often enough they will be shouting hallelujah, and actually praising God too, in earnest.
My best unsolicited advice to Howard Dean . . . is to wise up and chill out!
And oh yes — attend the church of your choice this Sunday!
And that's just my opinion!
© Kaye Grogan
Evidently, when Howard Dean chairman of the Democratic party goes on record attacking churches for being involved in politics, he is conveniently forgetting that only the tithes are tax exempt, not the members of the church. So, pass the offering plate!
And since paying taxes is mandatory, those who attend church should not be penalized or gagged, because the tithes they give to their church escapes taxation. Mr. Dean should be reminded that the salaries of ministers are also taxed.
If around 85 percent (unless that's an exaggeration) of the church population didn't pay taxes, the government would come to an inoperable standstill unable to operate. And maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea, considering their legislating abilities are capricious!
The government for about 30 years has been incorrigibly obsessed with devising cumbersome taxation plans, and most without justification, and most definitely without proper representation. Heck, even passing laws seems to be secondary to raising taxes, even though legislating should be their primary goal. But then again, passing laws with the haphazard current group of legislatures can be risky — and have about zero chance of being enforced.
Just look at the ridiculous senate immigration bill!
Why would anyone want to silence the voices of those who attend church? As taxpayers they have just as many rights as those who wouldn't think about darkening the door of a church.
Now, my curiosity is up about Howard Dean. Can he be found warming a pew on Sunday mornings at church? If Mr. Dean attends the church of his choice, shouldn't he practice what he preaches about members of churches not having a voice in politics? And heaven knows Dean is about as vocal, uh — screeching (holding my ears) as they get, when it comes to politicking.
Let's look at what is perhaps the hidden agenda here. Since the majority of congregations in churches denounce abortion, same-sex marriages, etc. — and the Democratic party embraces this platform, naturally, the next step is to try and silence the sheep and their Shepherd.
Evidently, Mr. Dean believes the biggest majority of churchgoers are Republicans, otherwise he is cutting his nose off to spite his face, when he rudely threatens that churches must make the decision to either stop endorsing certain candidates or face penalties. Does this threat sound like one that might be proactive in China where the Chinese have to be silent about their beliefs if they are underground Christians? I guess Dean hasn't figured out yet: it's not nice to fool with God or his people.
When President Bush went to the middle-east recently, he told the people who had gathered to hear him speak, that they deserve the same rights as Americans to have freedom of religion in their country. Has the president been in a fog somewhere or just plain ignoring how Christians are under attack by groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and atheists on a daily basis? Maybe he's been listening to the music on his ipod too much, and ignoring how religion is being suppressed more every day, among other urgent issues.
Evidently, DNC chairman Dean believes the way to get on the favorable side of Christians is to threaten them. Now that's like trying to keep a dog from biting, after it has already sunk its teeth into the jawbone of its victim. If Dean keeps up with the threatening rhetoric, there is not a snowball's chance the Democrats are going to be the majority again, except in their dreams.
By the way, Mr. Dean, do you tithe? And since you are championing the movement to muzzle churches from being politically active or give up their tax exempt status, how does your own pastor/priest/minister — feel about this?
Now after pointing out that tithes are not taxed, I think the churches need to get out of the business of purchasing property, malls, paying big salaries, etc., and give the tithes to the needy. The only business churches should be in is spreading the "gospel of Jesus Christ" along with clothing and feeding the needy.
By the way: has any of the black churches the Democrats rush to at the first sign of trouble, been threatened to lose their tax exemption status? At least the majority of the Democrats join hands and sing Amazing Grace and We Shall Overcome during election time. Hopefully, if they take this route often enough they will be shouting hallelujah, and actually praising God too, in earnest.
My best unsolicited advice to Howard Dean . . . is to wise up and chill out!
And oh yes — attend the church of your choice this Sunday!
And that's just my opinion!
© Kaye Grogan
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