Tax the Church?

Once again it is the political season here in the United States, and with only one week remaining until the 2016 elections there has been much talk of values, presidential candidates, and amendments to our national and state constitutions. One particular topic that I have had the privilege of debating lately has been the issue of whether or not the Church should be taxed.

Currently, churches in America are classified as non-profit organizations, and are therefore tax-exempt. However, since the Church is often viewed as a "religious institution," there are many who feel that the government should revoke the Church's non-profit status. These individuals often believe that it is wrong for any religion to take their money, to which I would agree. According to the Bible, tithes and offerings are just that—offerings. That is to say, they are meant to be voluntary, not mandatory. (I go over this in greater detail in my previous article: Money and the Church) 

That being said and contrary to popular belief, most churches are not government funded; they are funded by the donations of their members, not your tax dollars. Which is why I find it so fascinating that those who are the strongest advocates for taxing churches often times have never stepped foot in a church themselves, much less given a tithe or donation to the church. Ergo: Their money is not going to the church—or any religious institution for that matter. Which begs the question: Why do people care so much what other people do with their own money, when it's really none of our concern? If our neighbors want to donate to their church then that's completely up to them. What right do we have to tell them they can't or shouldn't do what they feel lead to do?

That being said, some would argue that tithes and offerings are just a way for religion to rob people. However, as stated before, these offerings are voluntary, and are usually a small percentage of what a person actually makes. (The word "Tithe" literally means "One-tenth.") Furthermore, since churches are classified as non-profit organizations, this means that any tithe or offering given to a church automatically becomes tax-deductible. This means that anyone who gives money to their church can claim that money as a tax write-off, just as they would any other donation to a charity or non-profit organization. (This is of course a poor reason to donate to your church, but it is a valid argument against taxing churches.)

Additionally, many people base their tithe on their gross income. That is to say, their ten-percent tithe comes out of their income before taxes. This means that if the government begins to tax the Church, they will literally be taxing Christians twice; once when they tax our income, and again when they tax our churches. 

In short, stripping the Church of its non-profit status will essentially turn Christians into a cash-cow for government spending. The government would be able to tax Christian's twice, while at the same time penalize people who donate to their local churches by invalidating the tax-deductible status of the aforementioned donations. Thus the government would be able to use a person's faith to their advantage, doubling the tax revenue from Christians without having to give any of it back as a tax return. Not only is this course immoral and unethical, it is also a blatant violation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. 

That being said, I hope you will consider the facts and weigh all the evidence before casting your vote this political season.

See Also:

Should Christians Pay Taxes? 

Money and the Church