Churches thinking of taking advantage of a major IRS flip-flop on the legality of engaging in politics without fear of losing their tax-exempt status may want to reflect hard and deep on how it could affect retaining worshiper and recruiting new ones.
According to Salon columnist Amanda Marcotte, evangelical churches have already suffered significant losses since Donald Trump jumped into politics among those who want to hear more about Jesus and less about the secular world.
That has led to what has been called "dechurching" which could be exacerbated by pastors spending less time on the Bible and more time on encouraging get-out-the-vote efforts.
Marcotte admitted, "Campaign finance spending will go much further if directed to churches, where donors get a tax deduction, instead of to political parties and action groups, which cannot offer that benefit," but added the caveat, "For churches, it may prove to be a double-edged sword. As multiple experts pointed out, this new rule creates a powerful incentive for big money donors to take over churches and turn them into arms of a political campaign."
The Salon columnist suggested donors will want to see some bang for their big bucks which will put the recipient pastors on the spot.
"Ministers and churches will have less time and energy for the spiritual needs of the flock. More resources will go toward campaigning for candidates. Even for parishioners who share right-wing political views, that’s going to be exhausting. Why go to church when it’s just a long political ad for the GOP?" she suggested. "But as churches become less about Jesus and even more about Trump, plenty of others will drift away."
Noting that evangelical churches are scrambling for new converts as the existing flocks age, Marcotte wrote the new rules are a recipe for driving young people away.
"The growing 'exvangelical' movement is full of people who gradually drifted away from their churches because they objected to racism, homophobia or other right-wing views. While losses in membership have slowed in the past few years, the cumulative trend for at least two decades shows a rather steep decline in Christian affiliation," she wrote before warning, "They cannot serve two masters, Trump and Jesus Christ. They’ve already lost supporters by leaning too far into political advocacy. Now that they’ve forsaken the last obstacle to selling out entirely, they will likely lose many more."
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