Churches going boldly into politics

Also, early voting numbers down from last two cycles

I ain't afraid of your Yahweh
I ain't afraid of your Allah
I ain't afraid of your Jesus
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God

— Holly Near

The Texas Tribune published a funny — not funny — story the other day contending that churches were breaking the law regularly without anyone calling them to task.

The funny part of this is that churches have broken “the law,” which is the so-called Johnson amendment to the tax code which says that non-profits violate the law when they endorse and openly support political candidates.

For giving up that sector of free speech, non-profits pay no taxes. Supposedly, if the non-profit becomes political, taxes are supposed to be levied against that organization.

So far it has never happened and never been seriously threatened, though for decades churches have either been directly or indirectly endorsing candidates from the pulpit and even have candidates give campaign speeches there.

It has happened both in traditionally Black congregations and in white ones, with conservative candidates and liberal ones. It has been ignored so often that it is difficult to believe that it could ever really be enforced.

That’s the problem, especially here in East Texas where the tendency to mix religion and politics is powerful and never-ending, especially among preachers of certain denominations, although it should be noted there have been violations across the spectrum.

The idea that God is on the side of Republicans — or Democrats — is downright goofy but more than that it is dangerous. This is what I would envision politicians saying in places like Iran or Saudi Arabia or any place where one’s choice of religion is not a choice, but a demand of the government.

In those situations, people feel as if they are doing “God’s will” when they physically harm, or even kill, people who don’t act the way they believe they should.

From the get-go there have been protections against this in our Constitution but, as with many things in our founding document, it hasn’t always worked out the way it should.

Yes, one can choose any religion to follow but that doesn’t make it safe or free from harassment. Just ask the Mormons, who were not just run out most towns in their early days but literally slaughtered.

Other, more mainstream groups have been selectively persecuted in parts of the U.S., from Catholics to, yes, even Baptists.

Oddly, having once been persecuted, doesn’t keep some groups from getting involved in much the same sort of activity today.

Christian Nationalism is the belief that God somehow favors the United States and has bestowed upon us a special status.

Thus, super-patriots must be closest to God, right? That’s the demented thinking.

That’s the origin of groups like Oath Keepers, the Three-Percenters and Proud Boys, all of which have a presence in East Texas. Texas has an additional group, Texit, which thinks our state should secede. They are all within the same vein.

So far, this thinking has not gone much further than the fringe, but I have seen some taped sermons from a few mainstream churches right here Behind the Pine Curtain that fall within the same philosophy.

In more than a few cases, we’re teetering on the edge and if Christian Nationalism gains a foothold, it will likely sweep some of the more populous denominations.

It doesn’t have to be that way, of course. Ministers could stick more to holy books and stay away from cable news for their sermons. It surely bears watching.

***

While early voting seems to be going well in East Texas, the numbers across the state are projecting lower than they were in the last two election cycles, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

That probably is not good news for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke and other Democrats running statewide races, who were hoping for big turnouts to boost their chances for winning.

So why is this happening in a year that should be of intense interest in Texas?

It will take some study to determine all the reasons but one possibility that comes to mind immediately is that Republican voter suppression techniques are working.

The fake worries over “fraud” in Texas elections enabled the Republican-led legislature to tighten the ability to vote even further. If the party wins big again, expect some other possible measures to continue to tamp down participation.

Some Republicans say the draconian abortion law is likely to be eased in the next session, but if that party wins I would not bet on it, or even be sure that it will not somehow tighten further.

It’s still about a week before the election, though, and there is time to overcome the shortfall, if nothing else than on election day itself.

A high turnout doesn’t ensure victories but it certainly makes them more possible for Democrats.

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