No More Excuses in the Pulpit

On a recent episode of At the Core, I had the chance to sit down with AFR host and AFA General Counsel Abraham Hamilton III to discuss a major win for religious liberty – and for churches across America.

In a recent court settlement, the IRS formally admitted that churches do have the right to speak about elections, candidates, and civic issues from the pulpit.

For decades, the Johnson Amendment has been weaponized – not to enforce real law – but to intimidate pastors into silence with the threat of losing tax-exempt status with the IRS.

It’s been one of the most effective tools for muzzling truth from the pulpit.

But now, even the IRS is acknowledging what should have been obvious all along: the First Amendment still applies inside church walls.

This doesn’t mean pastors need to turn their pulpits into campaign rallies. But it does mean they can’t hide behind the Johnson Amendment anymore to avoid hard conversations.

It’s time for churches to rise up, not as mouthpieces for political parties but as fearless voices for biblical truth. Pastors must preach the full counsel of God’s Word, boldly applying it to every issue in our culture—life, family, sexuality, gender, justice, and yes, government.

As Abe reminded us, “Just because politicians talk about things that are in God’s Word doesn’t make them political issues. These are God’s issues.”

Let’s stop calling moral clarity “partisanship” and stop letting fear dictate our faithfulness.

The IRS has affirmed what has always been true: churches can speak boldly about elections, culture, and truth. The only question now is, will they?

Listen to the full episode here, and tune in to the last segment for the full breakdown and discussion.

Walker Wildmon, CEO

AFA Action