Editor’s Note: I’m starting a new column called “Just The FACs” where I’ll be posting thoughts and information on Faith And Culture (FACs.)   It is our duty to participate in our culture, and frankly, there are many parts of culture that I enjoy or find very intriguing.  This will be a place to share some of those things.

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October 2, 2011, is an extremely important day for pastors. It’s important enough that the notable pastors and ministry leaders listed below have endorsed what will be happening that day.

Would you say your community, your state, or your nation is more righteous or less righteous than it was 10 or 15 years ago? I think it’s pretty clear for those of us who read and watch the news that we’re are not on the upside of that bell curve.  Most of us would say a lot less.

Why? Is there a possibility that the problem is the failure of the Church to act, talk, think, behave – and yes, even vote – as the Church ought to vote?

I am not talking about a particular party. I am are not talking about voting for certain people. I am talking about voting based on principles – Biblical principles.

What if pastors felt free to say exactly what they want to say regarding all aspects of human experience – including the issue of the Biblical principles at play in local, state, and national elections? Whatever the Bible speaks about, we should be able to speak about.

But wait – is that “legal?”
An unconstitutional IRS code has pastors convinced that they cannot discuss the definition of marriage (as an example) from a Biblical perspective, and then tell where various candidates stand on that issue. This issue has resulted in massive “self-censorship” in the pulpit, in pandemic proportions.

But the truth is, pastors can.
It is totally legal to do that because of our God-given right to freely speak, as protected by the Constitution.  That IRS code, called “the Johnson Amendment,” prohibits non-profits from doing anything that would support or oppose a particular candidate for office, even though it was not originally intended to apply to churches. Consequently, our pastors have largely grown silent, sometimes, even fearfully so. And as a result, our church body, our believers have grown inactive, and the nation is suffering GREATLY for it…

The Alliance Defense Fund, an alliance of more than 2,000 Christian attorneys, created Pulpit Freedom Sunday.   They have come together to end the intimidation by the IRS and other groups.

There has been a spiritual reformation brewing. It is an unleashing of bold, confident pastors willing to stand up and speak Truth into our culture.  I am excited about that revolution because it will affect the people in our churches. It just might set off the spiritual renewal that our nation needs, not as a government, but as a nation of gifted, talented, hurting, isolated people.

“Give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and unto God that which is God’s” the Word says. But what if Caesar begins demanding that which is God’s? That is exactly what has happened.

Please get involved and make sure your pastors are aware of Pulpit Freedom Sunday 2011, this October 2.  Help them to be freed from fear by understanding what truly is and is not allowed both by Biblical authority and by constitutional authority. Help them connect to thousands of other pastors, as they speak out, boldly, freely, and Biblically.

Find out more information by going to www.pulpitfreedom.org.

Partial List of Endorsers:

o Che Ahn – Pastor, Harvest Rock Church, Pasadena, CA & President, Harvest International Ministries
o Paul Blair – Pastor, Fairview Baptist Church, Edmond, OK & Director, Reclaiming America for Christ
o Dr. James Dobson – President, Family Talk, Colorado Springs, CO
o Jerry Falwell, Jr. – President, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
o Jim Franklin – Pastor, Cornerstone Church, Fresno, CA & Host, Jim Franklin Live!
o Dr. Wayne Grudem – Professor of Theology, Phoenix Seminary, Phoenix, AZ & author, Politics According to the Bible
o Robert Hall – Pastor, Calvary Chapel Rio Rancho, Rio Rancho, NM
o Jack Hibbs – Pastor, Calvary Chapel, Chino Hills, CA & Founder, Real Radio
o Dr. Jimmy Jackson – Pastor, Whitesburg Baptist Church, Huntsville, AL & former President, Alabama Baptist Convention
o Robert Jefferson – Reverend, Cullen Missionary Baptist Church, Houston, TX
o Dr. Ron Johnson – Pastor, Living Stones Church, Crown Point, IN & Executive Director, Indiana Pastors Alliance
o Dr. Peter Lillback – President, The Providence Forum, King of Prussia, PA
o Joseph Mattera – Bishop, Resurrection Church, Brooklyn, NY & Founder, Christ Covenant Coalition, New York City, NY
o Tom Minnery – Vice President, Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO
o Jeff Mullen – Pastor, Point of Grace Church, Waukee, IA
o Tony Perkins – President, Family Research Council, Washington, DC
o Dr. Everett Piper – President, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Bartlesville, OK & Talk Show Host, “Ideas Matter”
o Jay Richards – Senior Fellow, Discovery Institute, a Contributing Editor of The American, American Enterprise Institute & author of Money, Greed and God, another book every pastor should read
o Steve Riggle – Pastor, Grace Church International, Houston, TX & President, Grace International
o Dudley Rutherford – Pastor, Shepherd of the Hills Church, Porter Ranch, CA & President, North American Christian Convention
o Benny Tate – Pastor, Rock Springs Church, Atlanta, GA
o Keith Tucci – Pastor, Living Hope Church, Whitney, PA & Founder, Action Coalition
o Dave Welch – Executive Director, Texas Pastor Council, Houston, TX