VIEW VIEWPOINT

Lose Your Church

Written by Kerby Anderson June 4 - 2015
John Zmirak was on my radio program recently, and we talked about his column with the provocative title, If the Supreme Court Imposes Same Sex Marriage, You Could Lose Your Church. It’s a little more complicated than that, but you can’t say everything in a title. He makes the point that other Christian commentators are making. The upcoming decision by the Supreme Court could have dire consequences for more than just people who refuse to photograph or cater same sex weddings. Kelly Shackelford of the Liberty Institute warns that any tax-exempt Christian organization could be under attack. This would include Christian colleges, Christian schools, churches and other faith-based organizations. As I mentioned in a previous commentary, Solicitor General Donald Verrilli suggested this in the oral arguments in the Supreme Court case. Justice Samuel Alito asked him whether Christian colleges could lose their tax-exempt status in the same way that Bob Jones University lost theirs in the 1980s. Verrilli seemed a bit taken aback by the question, but then answered yes, “it’s certainly going to be an issue.” Joe Carter in a recent column explains, “How the Federal Government May Put Christian Schools Out of Business.” Some Christian schools could try to exist without taking any form of federal money, but most would probably not survive. John Zmirak makes a similar point about churches. The administration has already tried to force churches and Christian organizations to provide abortifacients for their employees. He says: “Attacking their tax-exempt status over biblical sexual ethics is peanuts next to that.” He believes that many churches will likely cave in order to keep the doors open. That will make it worse for churches that don’t compromise. The government can point to other Catholic churches or Baptist churches that have accepted same-sex marriage to show that the churches that don’t are resisting the necessary change that must take place in the 21st century. The political and financial pressure will be intense. In the end, churches may be forced to choose one of two options: cave or close. We might be surprised how many choose the former when the pressure gets too great. Viewpoints by Kerby Anderson

Listen to this Viewpoint

Viewpoints

View All
1792436339 6ad668737c9c3
October 20, 2026
Kerby Anderson

Lynching

Wilfred Reilly has spent years exposing false narratives about racism and racist actions. In his latest article, he explains “What Happens When the Demand for Racism Exceeds Supply?". He makes the sam...

Listen
1792389289 6ad5b0a95f457
October 19, 2026
Kerby Anderson

Lack of Affordability

The 2026 election was about many issues, but a significant one was the lack of affordability. Unfortunately, few politicians want to admit that the real reason is the declining value of the dollar. Po...

Listen
1792042831 6ad0674fdc19c
October 16, 2026
Penna Dexter

Place For Prayer

Some people might wonder why we need a law that protects the right of houses of worship to use their facilities for religious purposes. But we do. And we have one: RLUIPA, the Religious Land Use and I...

Listen

Take Action

View All
Protect Privacy Against Flock Cameras
August 9, 2026

Protect Privacy Against Flock Cameras

Flock cameras are everywhere. While one camera is a tool, the more than 100,000 AI-powered cameras now posted around our nation are a new layer of dig...

Support the SAVE Act
July 20, 2026

Support the SAVE Act

SAVE Election Integrity with Voter ID.

Support the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act
April 15, 2026

Support the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act

The abortion pill harms women and kills unborn children. Congress must act.

FACE Act Repeal Act of 2025
January 12, 2026

FACE Act Repeal Act of 2025

Pro-lifers have been abused under the FACE Act for long enough.