The Holiest number

[C.F.W. Walther]

What is the holiest number? Some say 7, for it is the number
of God. Some say 777, for it is the holy Trinity as opposed to
the unholy trinity of 666. It appears to me, however, that the
holiest number is 501(c)(3). I came to that conclusion as I was
pondering the possible answers to this question. "What will it
take to get the Church to rise up and boldly take a stand for
God's truth?"​

Will the Church rise up when the government takes away the
right to life of the most vulnerable of our children?​

Evidently not.​

Abortion has been legal for 33 years. While some corners of
the Church have voiced opposition from time to time, this
opposition comes nowhere close to a united rising up of
Christendom to stand on God's Word of Life and oppose this
great evil. Besides, abortion is such a political issue, and we
would not want to violate our 501(c)(3) status by talking about
it in the pulpit.​

Will the Church rise up when the government gives the right to
homosexuals to marry and tells the Church they must bless
same sex unions?​

Evidently not.​

Homosexuality is acceptable to more and more denominations.
Some have already blessed same sex unions and have opened
their pulpits to homosexuals. Besides, homosexuality is such a
political issue. We might be charged with hate speech and lose
our 501(c)(3) status if we address this in the pulpit.​

Will the Church rise up when the government says we can no
longer proclaim the Word of God?​

Evidently not.​

The Church has been the leader in removing the Word of God
from herself. A six-day Creation, miracles, the virgin birth of
Jesus, the bodily resurrection of Jesus--these and more have
been relegated to a "take it or leave it" status. Many "Christian"
sermons have become "feel good" speeches offering at best
mere morsels of morality. Besides, such preaching would never
run the risk of endangering our 501(c)(3) status.​

Will the Church rise up when the government says we can no
longer have 501(c)(3) status?​

Oh yes!​

Christendom would unite with such a loud voice that the granite
blocks and marble dome of the U.S. Capitol would shake as if
the San Andreas Fault had moved east. Sunday services would
be cancelled so that congregations could travel in bus loads to
Washington D. C. to lobby Congress. With a single voice the
Church would demand its 501(c)(3) status so that it could
continue to defend the truth of . . . Hmmm? What truths would
be left to defend I wonder?​

Now I hope you have been reading this with that proverbial
"grain of salt." I really do not believe that 501(c)(3) is the holiest
number, and I am not advocating that churches give up their
501(c)(3) status. Indeed, tax-exempt status is a blessing in that it
allows more funds to be used for sharing the Gospel. However,
as evidenced by the reaction of some churches on life-related
referendums in various states, the first place many turn to is IRS
regulations rather than the Word of God.​

I thank God for LFL's 501(c)(3) status. But I also pray to God
that we would never allow it to weaken our resolve to stand on
and proclaim God's truth. We can make a difference.​

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of
evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you
have done everything, to stand" (Ephesians 6:13 NIV).​

Lutherans For Life
http://www.lutheransforlife.org/​