especially with the televangelists who make millions on TV and drive limos with mansions and expensive clothes and jewelry (not to speak of the ones who spend money on illegal items)...
2007-01-14 02:58:20 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, so should the churches on their money. The apostles came to Jesus and said that they didn't want to pay tribute to Caesar. Jesus told the Give unto to Caesar the things that are Caesars. The same should apply today with our government.
2007-01-14 03:08:58 · answer #1 · answered by pontiuspilatewsm 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think anyone should have to pay income tax. I would like to see the 16th Amendment repealed. It is a violation of our privacy. Why should we have to report our income to our servants?
Getting back to your question, the reason that churches are tax exempt, is a recognition that the relationship between a citizen of this nation and God, is not subservient to the state. Also, at the beginning of our republic, the American people realized that they were in charge of their government. The people ruled, the politician was the servant. Today, most Americans think that politicians are our leaders. They tell us what to do.
Our politicians, in their arrogance, do not wish to be viewed as elected public servants, and display their hostility toward religion when it threatens their authority.
If evangelists can make millions of dollars from gullible people, that is not the concern of politicians. What bothers the politicians is greed. They see all that money, and they want it.
In a country with religious freedom, there are bound to be hypocritical religious leaders. It is not governments job to make that determination, unless they are involved in fraud or other criminal enterprises. If government has probable cause to suspect criminal activity, they can go before a judge and get a warrant. Otherwise, they have no business in the personal affairs of the people of this country.
2007-01-14 03:14:15 · answer #2 · answered by iraqisax 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If we will use that same story on the rest of China, more than half of the population of China would be in prison for tax cheat. Did you know that plagiarism in China is so rampant that even the government doesn't care anymore? They don't pay taxes for the items for the plagiarized items they sell, they cheat off more multi-million yuan annual income monthly yet the government let them do as they please. Ai Weiwei's case is political, CCP will find every ground possible to put him behind bars for standing up against the Chinese government's oppressive mentality. CCP will slap some more charges on him, I will bet that they will even charge him with "inciting a political uprise" like what they did to Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo. Turns out, China's government is actually just a common tax cheat too. Hypocrite much?
2016-05-24 00:13:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian Pastor.
I work a full time job in the machine trades.
I pay taxes just like everyone else.
I have a 501-3C compliant Ministry and do NOT use it to shield income from taxes.
I take NO MONEY from the Ministry at all.
The answer to your question is YES.
2007-01-14 03:08:01 · answer #4 · answered by drg5609 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Whoever pays the piper calls the dance. It's backfired. United Methodist, Episcopalian, Lutheran churches are now accepting Gays as they are, and even create ministers to hold onto their millions of assests and investments. To protect their 501 tax deduction they are throwing the Bible out as a 'guideline'.
2007-01-14 03:07:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
they are also the citizens of some country. They have to perform the duties of the citizens before any thing. The primary is to pay the taxes and to participate in the well being of the society. If they are not doing it, they are just hypocrats and will never be forgivved.
2007-01-14 03:05:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I beleive they do on personal income. But their lifestyle may not be personal income. It may be perks provided by the organziation, which are tax exempt.
The problem is here, if the tele-evangelist gets into trouble tomorrow, say they get caught with their finger in the cookie jar, they are booted out and have no place to live if they are on perks. That house is not theirs. That car is not theirs.
2007-01-14 03:04:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they do pay income taxs. I think there is confusion because churches do not pay property tax, but the people of the church, as well as their leaders still must pay income tax on their income.
2007-01-14 03:05:55 · answer #8 · answered by TNT 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They pay personal income taxes---very few people in our society are exempt from that. Their churches and organizations are tax exempt in most cases, but there are local taxes that they must pay.
2007-01-14 03:07:07 · answer #9 · answered by Preacher 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am an Ordained Minister and I pay taxes, so should the rest. does God need a tax break?
2007-01-14 03:03:01 · answer #10 · answered by dcforensics51 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋