Since its establishment by the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Executive Board in June 2002, The Pathway has attempted to shine the truth of Scripture on the issues of the day. We are motivated by our passion for the Truth – and Lordship – of Christ to permeate all of reality. We aggressively do so by taking full advantage of the God-given rights that come with being American.
Christians in America have been blessed with the freedom to express our faith in the marketplace of ideas, not for greed and temporary earthly power, but because we are compelled by the love of Christ to share His love and the wisdom of His Word. God’s way is the best way. If Christians really believe in (to borrow from the environmental enthusiasts) “creation care,” then we must not neglect our God-given right to winsomely engage in every discipline, from public policy and law to science, art and even journalism.
In August I wrote a column urging Missouri Southern Baptists to vote biblically in the November election. I begged pastors to address the moral issues facing our nation and to point their people to candidates who would most likely apply biblical truth to issues. Then I went further, personally and publicly endorsing two candidates in statewide races. I knew by doing so that it would stir controversy, but I wanted to publicly model the enormous freedom that churches have with regard to political activity. I sought to lead – not recklessly, but boldly.
My action did not go unnoticed, particularly by opponents. On Aug. 23 I received a letter from Barry Lynn, executive director of the liberal Americans United for Separation of Church and State. He informed me that he had filed a complaint against me with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), urging the agency to investigate whether The Pathway and the MBC had violated the tax code when I personally endorsed the two candidates. Lynn was also suspicious of my involvement as the emcee of a teleconference between former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts and a large group of Missouri Baptist pastors and church leaders prior to the election.
The controversy made national news, thus raising its profile. I was soon contacted by attorneys with Liberty Counsel, the Alliance Defending Freedom and The Beckett Fund – all willing to defend our First Amendment rights – at no charge – should the IRS move on us. I am grateful for the mighty army of legal minds God has raised up. They are truly making a difference for Christ’s church in America.
I knew the IRS had a history of being used by some government leaders for political purposes, often targeting opposition newspapers. For example, President Franklin Roosevelt used the IRS to attack newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst because of his opposition to “The New Deal.” Lest you think the IRS has only looked at large, secular newspapers, think again. Just last year the IRS audited the Biblical Recorder, the newspaper of the North Carolina Baptist Convention (see the story on page 2). Nothing has – or is expected to – come of that audit, but the fact that it happened amid the growing controversy involving the foot-dragging of IRS approval of up to 500 conservative and religious organizations requesting tax-exempt status, raised many Southern Baptist eyebrows.
With regard to Americans United complaint against The Pathway, nothing has happened. On the advice of MBC legal counsel, Michael Whitehead, we dismissed Lynn’s threat and waited to see if the IRS would act. Neither The Pathway – nor the MBC – has any gripe with the IRS and are complying with the law, just as Scripture instructs us to do. I take my fiduciary responsibility to this newspaper and the MBC seriously and would never break the law.
One would think if there ever was a time for The Pathway and MBC to be targets, it would be now amid the IRS controversy and after being flagged by Americans United. The fact that we have not been contacted by the IRS is because we have done nothing wrong. The MBC – and by extension The Pathway – are viewed by the government in the same manner the government views churches. The IRS will not audit churches because it does not have the authority to take away churches’ tax-free status.
In the final analysis, all this makes Lynn’s organization look insignificant. For decades Americans United has attempted to discourage Southern Baptists from participating in America’s political process by sending the same ridiculous letter to their churches as they sent to The Pathway in August. It did not work. Southern Baptists have never – and will never – have anything to fear from Americans United.
When the prophets of secularist America array against us, I think about Elijah on Mount Carmel confronting the prophets of Baal in 1st Kings Chapter 18: You bring your gods, we’ll bring our God and we’ll see which one answers and brings fire from heaven. We must pray for fire from heaven and that America will see it, repent and believe.