Faith
Pastor Jeffress Defends Pulpit Freedom
Faith Facts
- Pastor Robert Jeffress declared the government should not regulate sermon content.
- First Baptist Dallas faced an IRS inquiry after hosting Christian testimonies from public officials.
- The church was cleared of any wrongdoing, illustrating the risks churches face under the Johnson Amendment.
Pastor Robert Jeffress stood before a White House panel, boldly affirming that sermon content belongs solely under God’s authority, not the government’s hand. He recounted how an IRS investigation was sparked after his church hosted testimonies of faith by national leaders.
“The government has absolutely no business determining what is proper and improper speech in the worship service of any church,” Jeffress declared.
The inquiry was initiated following a complaint from an atheist organization and lingered for over a year, even though First Baptist Dallas had never experienced such scrutiny before. Jeffress explained that while his church refrains from political endorsements, the same standard isn’t always equally applied elsewhere.
“It’s interesting that we did not hear anything from the IRS for 11 months and four months after Joe Biden became president,” he recalled, noting the timing of the investigation.
Ultimately, the IRS concluded in July 2022 that the church had not violated any political rules. However, Jeffress expressed concern for smaller congregations unable to afford prolonged legal battles, warning of the pressure to self-censor Christian convictions.
He emphasized the dangers of the Johnson Amendment, which restricts churches from endorsing or opposing candidates, especially when it leads to government overreach or the chilling of biblical truth in the public square.
“What I preach from the pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Dallas — or any pastor preaches from his church — is none of big government’s business,” Jeffress said.
As believers, we must safeguard the sacred trust of preaching God’s truth, defending churches’ liberty to faithfully proclaim the gospel without government interference. Stand firm in your faith and support efforts to protect religious freedom across our nation.