A Message from our Chairman: Hobby Lobby

Friends,

As a Christian, you should share this. 

This is what happens when the church sits back in apathy and refuses to get involved or to stand up for God. If you don’t identify and vote for principled leaders, Christian leaders, those who would stand and defend your religious freedoms and rights, then YOU are part of the problem. 

If you don’t get out of your comfort zone and stand up yourself, then YOU are part of the problem. 

If you prefer being a sheep instead of a Lion for Jesus, then YOU are part of the problem. 

If you prefer being politically correct instead of biblically correct, then YOU are part of the problem and you will reap what you sow. Unfortunately, so will your children and grandchildren. 

If you think that I and my message are too political, then I pray you will someday see the light but I do not apologize for taking a stand for what our founders built for us. I am a Christian American, husband, father and grandfather and I am proud to be all of them and will gladly give all that I have to my last breath to defend and protect them. 

I am not ashamed to say God Bless America. I am not ashamed to claim Jesus is Lord. I know why we have Christmas and I will share that with anyone willing to listen. If this offends you, then delete me from your email list, remove me as a Facebook friend, politely ask me to leave your church or your organization. 

But if it in anyway convicts you or inspires you to take a stand, then join me in praying for David Green, the founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. His story is depicted below. I pray for an outcry from Christians for Divine intervention that will stop what is happening to our brother and his family and our once great country. I will be praying for the Green family and I will be praying for you.

Merry Christmas,

Rick Hopkins

Chairman, CCTA

Hobby Lobby May Close ALL Stores (July 2013)

http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/showthread.php?348951-Hobby-Lobby-Founder-May-close-ALL-stores

The Hobby Lobby Case Explained

When the Supreme Court agreed last week to hear Hobby Lobby’s lawsuit against the Obama administration over the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate, conservatives hoped the court would blow another deal to the president’s signature legislation.

The case appeared to concern a clear First Amendment principle, freedom of religion. Additionally, the uproar over the mandate requiring that all insurance plans cover contraception—including abortifacient drugs that many Christians see as immoral—has been steady and strong. And Hobby Lobby won before an appeals court recently.

CONTINUE READING:  http://freebeacon.com/the-hobby-lobby-case-explained/

Pastors Unite Against IRS Restrictions on Political Speech in the Pulpit

September 25, 2011

A regulation added to the IRS code back in 1954 (The Johnson Amendment) has muddied the waters for pastors, creating a scenario in which some leaders are too fearful of federal consequences to exercise their right to free speech from the pulpit.

The Speak Up campaign (launched by the Alliance Defense Fund) addresses this important issue, while working to “protect and promote” the rights of American churches. In addition to making faith leaders aware of their constitutional right to free speech, the movement encourages pastors to stop self-censoring and to start making their political voices heard.

But in addition to legal help, pastors can also join in on Pulpit Freedom Sunday, an annual event the coalition has launched to encourage pastors to preach sermons that to examine candidates’ stances. Aside from exploring candidate opinion, churches are encouraged to look at what Scripture says about each issue. Then, they will make specific recommendations about whether or not the congregation should vote for or against specific candidates.

Following the event, each pastor lets the IRS know about his or her sermon. The hope is that making the government aware of the code violation will spark an audit. Then, the constitutionality of the Johnson Amendment can be hashed out once and for all.

In 2008, only 33 pastors participated; this expanded to 80 faith leaders in 2009 and then nearly 100 in 2010. With the movement rapidly growing, even more leaders are poised to take part in this year’s
Pulpit Freedom Sunday on October 2, 2011.

http://patriotupdate.com/12556/pastors-unite-against-irs-restrictions-on-political-speech-in-the-pulpit

MORE ON THE BLAZE:  http://www.theblaze.com/stories/pastors-unite-against-irs-tax-code-restrictions-on-political-speech-in-the-pulpit/

Note:  LBJ said the amendment was not aimed at churches--rather it was retailiation by Johnson against two business men who had the gall to criticize him!  More info on this on GBTV.COM--September 22, 2011 episode of the Glenn Beck Show.

WallBuilders

Barton: No need for pastors to fear IRS

A Christian constitutional expert thinks the Internal Revenue Service's lack of response to a recent initiative shows there is no longer any reason for pastors to be silent on political issues when standing behind the pulpit. (See earlier story)


Current law prohibits pastors from speaking on politics or endorsing a political candidate, but David Barton of WallBuilders says the IRS's intimidation of removing a church's tax exemption status is unconstitutional. Even though some pastors have intentionally crossed the line, Barton does not think the IRS wants to take them to court because it may lose.

"The IRS doesn't have any interest in doing this because if they do, I believe they know they are going to lose. And if they lose, you have 370,000 pastors in America who suddenly find out that there's no restriction on them," Barton suggests.

The WallBuilders president explains that churches are guaranteed tax exemption status under the Constitution, but he believes many pastors are afraid to speak about politics because they fear they will lose their letter of tax exemption.

"You cannot lose your tax exemption as a church because as a church, you have a constitutional standing for tax exemption," he points out. "So with that basis, losing your letter means absolutely nothing -- and that's something pastors are now figuring out."

Barton argues that the pulpit was and should continue to be the news perspective for America, so he encourages all pastors to speak out and stand for truth.