Repeal the Johnson Amendment Now: Unleashing the Church to Defend Christian Values and American Freedom

As Christians in America, we stand at a crossroads. Our faith, our values, and our very freedoms are under siege—not only from cultural shifts but from the misuse of our own tax dollars and a government that has silenced the voice of the church. The Johnson Amendment, a 1954 provision in the Internal Revenue Code (Section 501(c)(3)), shackles churches and pastors, prohibiting them from endorsing candidates or engaging in political campaign activities under threat of losing tax-exempt status. This is not just a tax rule; it is a muzzle on religious liberty and free speech, stifling the church’s prophetic role in shaping a nation founded on Judeo-Christian principles. Now, with conservatives holding executive and congressional leverage, we must seize this moment to repeal the Johnson Amendment, empower churches to speak boldly, and confront threats like the misuse of taxes and the encroachment of ideologies, such as Sharia law, that clash with our faith and the fabric of our nation.

The Misuse of Our Taxes: A Betrayal of Christian Values

Recent initiatives, such as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established to streamline federal operations and eliminate wasteful spending, have begun to expose how our tax dollars are misused—often in ways that contradict Christian values. While DOGE’s specific findings are still emerging, reports from conservative leaders and executive actions highlight troubling trends. For example, the Biden administration’s policies, as criticized in Executive Order 14202 (February 6, 2025), allegedly funneled resources into agendas that many Christians find antithetical to their beliefs:

• Funding Anti-Christian Policies: The Biden Department of Health and Human Services sought to exclude Christians from the foster-care system if they did not conform to certain views on sexual orientation and gender identity. Similarly, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission pushed policies requiring Christians to affirm ideologies that conflict with biblical teachings on gender (Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in His own image…male and female He created them”).
• Attacks on Religious Institutions: The Biden Department of Education attempted to repeal religious liberty protections for faith-based organizations on college campuses, undermining the ability of Christian schools to operate according to their convictions.
• Symbolic Disrespect: Declaring Easter Sunday 2024 as “Transgender Day of Visibility” was perceived by many Christians as a deliberate affront to the holiest day of the Christian calendar, prioritizing secular ideologies over sacred traditions.

These actions suggest a pattern where taxpayer funds—our tithes and offerings, in a sense—are diverted to promote causes that erode the biblical worldview. As Psalm 33:12 declares, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” Yet, when our taxes support policies that marginalize Christians or fund agendas contrary to scripture, we are complicit in a system that strays from God’s design. The DOGE’s mission to root out inefficiency must extend to halting this misuse, and churches must be free to call it out without fear of IRS retribution.

The Johnson Amendment: A Gag on God’s People

The Johnson Amendment, introduced by Senator Lyndon Johnson in 1954, prohibits 501(c)(3) organizations, including churches, from participating in political campaign activities, such as endorsing or opposing candidates. This restriction was not aimed at churches but was a political maneuver to silence nonprofit critics of Johnson’s campaign. Yet, its impact on churches has been profound, creating a chilling effect that causes pastors to self-censor, fearing the loss of tax-exempt status.

This is not just a legal issue; it is a spiritual one. The Bible calls believers to be “salt and light” (Matthew 5:13–16), influencing the world for God’s glory. The prophet Jeremiah was commanded to speak truth to nations (Jeremiah 1:5), and John the Baptist fearlessly confronted Herod’s sin (Mark 6:18). Throughout history, the church has been a moral compass, from the abolition of slavery to the civil rights movement, where African-American churches boldly addressed social issues. To silence pastors from endorsing candidates or speaking on political issues is to rob the church of its God-given role to guide the conscience of the nation.

The IRS’s enforcement of the Johnson Amendment is inconsistent and rare—only one church, Branch Ministries, has lost its tax-exempt status for political activity since 1954. Yet, the threat alone is enough to intimidate. Pastors participating in “Pulpit Freedom Sunday,” organized by the Alliance Defending Freedom, have openly defied the amendment, sending sermons to the IRS without consequence, exposing the law’s toothlessness. This inconsistency reveals a deeper issue: the Johnson Amendment is a tool of selective intimidation, potentially weaponized against churches that challenge the prevailing cultural narrative.

Repealing the Johnson Amendment: A Call to Action

Now is the time to repeal the Johnson Amendment. With conservatives controlling the White House and Congress in 2025, we have a unique opportunity to restore the church’s voice. President Trump has long championed this cause, vowing to “totally destroy” the amendment in 2017 and signing an executive order that year to limit IRS enforcement. Recent posts on X reflect growing sentiment among Christians, with users urging the amendment’s modification to protect First Amendment rights.

Repealing the Johnson Amendment would:

• Restore Religious Freedom: Pastors could endorse candidates or address political issues from the pulpit, aligning with their constitutional protections under the Free Exercise Clause and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
• Empower Issue Advocacy: Churches could take public stances on issues like abortion, marriage, or religious liberty without fear, ensuring their voice shapes public policy. As 1 Timothy 2:1–2 urges, we are to pray “for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”
• Protect Against Future Persecution: If left in place, the Johnson Amendment could be wielded by future administrations to target conservative churches, especially as cultural pressures mount against biblical values.

Critics argue that repeal would politicize churches, dividing congregations or turning pulpits into partisan platforms. But this assumes pastors lack the discernment to preach with wisdom. The church is not a political machine; it is a spiritual body called to speak truth, even when it intersects with politics. As Ephesians 4:15 instructs, we are to speak “the truth in love,” guiding the nation back to God’s principles.

The Threat of Sharia Law and Cultural Erosion

The urgency to repeal the Johnson Amendment is heightened by external threats to America’s Judeo-Christian foundation. There is growing concern among some Christians about the influence of Sharia law in the United States, driven by increasing Muslim immigration and advocacy for Islamic legal principles. While the U.S. Constitution and First Amendment prevent the establishment of any religion, including Islam, critics point to local efforts—such as Sharia-compliant financial products or community arbitration panels—as creeping encroachments. These efforts, though limited, fuel fears that unchecked immigration and cultural relativism could undermine America’s Christian heritage.

The Bible warns against compromising with false ideologies: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14). While we are called to love our neighbors (Matthew 22:39), we must also protect the biblical values that have shaped our nation. The Johnson Amendment weakens this defense by silencing churches, preventing them from mobilizing against policies or candidates that might enable ideologies like Sharia law or other secular agendas.

Recent reports, such as those from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, document 366 cases of vandalism and attacks on churches since 2020, signaling a broader hostility toward Christianity. If churches cannot speak freely, how can they rally believers to defend their faith against such threats? Repealing the Johnson Amendment would empower churches to address these issues head-on, from the pulpit to the public square.

A Biblical Mandate for Action

Scripture compels us to act. Nehemiah rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls despite opposition, trusting God’s call to protect His people (Nehemiah 2:17–18). Esther risked her life to speak truth to power, saving her people from destruction (Esther 4:14). Today, we face a similar call: to tear down the walls of the Johnson Amendment and restore the church’s voice before it’s too late.

The Apostle Paul, in Acts 17:22–31, engaged the culture of Athens, proclaiming Christ in the public square. Pastors must follow suit, addressing candidates, policies, and geopolitical issues that impact God’s people. Whether it’s the misuse of taxes to fund anti-Christian agendas, the rise of ideologies like Sharia law, or the erosion of religious liberty, the church cannot remain silent. As Isaiah 62:6 declares, we are watchmen on the walls, called to “never hold their peace day or night.”

Conclusion: Seize the Moment

The Johnson Amendment is a chain on the church, infringing on our First Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of religion. It enables a system where our taxes are misused to undermine Christian values, while silencing the very institutions that could call for reform. With conservatives in power, we must act now to repeal this unjust law, or risk future administrations using it to persecute Christians. The growing influence of ideologies like Sharia law and the documented attacks on churches underscore the urgency of this moment.

Pastors, rise up! Speak boldly from the pulpit, endorse candidates who uphold biblical values, and rally your congregations to defend the faith. Church members, demand that Congress pass legislation like the Free Speech Fairness Act to end this injustice. Together, let us echo the resolve of Joshua: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Repeal the Johnson Amendment, and let the church be the light America desperately needs. #JohnsonAmendment #ReligiousFreedom #ChristianValues