Earlier this week, Congressman Keith Self (TX-3) posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“For years, anonymous IRS bureaucrats had carte blanche to censor pastors, churches, and nonprofits with impunity. The tax code should never override the Constitution — or the Bible.”
That’s a bold statement — and around here in North Texas, where church life and community go hand in hand, it’s the kind of message that gets attention fast. But what’s the truth behind the claim? Has the IRS really been targeting churches and silencing pastors? And what exactly is Rep. Self calling for?
We dug into the facts — and what we found might surprise you.
📜 The Law Behind the Firestorm
At the center of this debate is something called the Johnson Amendment. It’s been part of the tax code since 1954 and says that tax-exempt organizations, including churches and nonprofits, can’t endorse or oppose political candidates.
That doesn’t mean pastors can’t talk about moral issues, cultural topics, or even legislation. It just means if your organization wants to keep its tax-exempt status, it can’t turn into a campaign stage.
Despite what some may think, the IRS has rarely enforced this rule. Between 1954 and 1992, no church lost its tax status for political speech. Even now, enforcement is minimal. A 2022 investigation by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune found 20 churches that likely violated the rule in just two years — but the IRS didn’t publicly act on a single one.
🧾 What Rep. Self Supports: The Free Speech Fairness Act
Rep. Self is backing a bill called the Free Speech Fairness Act. If passed, it would allow pastors and nonprofit leaders to make political statements during the normal course of their duties — like in a sermon — without risking their tax-exempt status, as long as they’re not spending money on campaigning.
Supporters argue this restores free speech for faith leaders. Critics say it would blur the line between religion and politics, turning churches into partisan players.
The bill has been introduced in Congress several times, but it has not become law. For now, the Johnson Amendment is still on the books.
🧠 “The Tax Code Shouldn’t Override the Constitution — or the Bible”
Rep. Self’s comment about the tax code overruling the Constitution and the Bible makes for a strong soundbite — but legally, it’s not that simple.
Courts have ruled that tax exemptions are a privilege, not a right. Churches are free to speak — but if they want to keep their tax-exempt status, they have to play by certain rules.
As for the Bible? There’s no clear scriptural directive that says churches must endorse candidates or wade into electoral politics. Interpretations vary widely. Some pastors see political engagement as part of their calling. Others view it as a distraction from their mission of faith and service. Let’s not forget that recently President Trump critised a pastor when she called some of his policies out during a sermon he attended. The outrage from conservatives was deafning and yet know Rep Self appears to be ok with this or is it only the speech he deems correct to be free?
👥 The Real Impact Isn’t in Washington — It’s Here
Here in North Texas, churches aren’t just places of worship — they’re the heart of our communities. They run food banks, mentor youth, offer grief counseling, and support those battling addiction. When times get tough, they’re often the first to show up and the last to leave.
Of course, we want churches to have the freedom to preach the gospel — or any spiritual teaching that helps people grow closer to God or seek a higher purpose. But when religion gets pulled into partisan politics, it stops being a source of unity and starts looking like a recipe for division.
⚖️ Verdict: It’s Not the Law That’s Dividing Us — It’s the Narrative
Rep. Self’s post reflects a real concern: the role of faith in public life. But he takes a law with a long history of rare enforcement and paints it as a tool of government oppression — which just doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
The truth is no one’s being silenced for preaching the gospel. The IRS isn’t out here “censoring” churches. And no, the tax code hasn’t overridden the Constitution — or the Bible.
What we need in TX-3 isn’t more finger-pointing. It’s honesty, accountability, and the kind of conversations that bring people together — not push them further apart.
