Subpoena The Pastor's Sermons?

The city of Houston has issued subpoenas for the sermons of pastors who may have preached about Homosexuality, gender identity, or the city's openly gay Mayor Annise Parker. 

The Mayor is trying to establish and build a case against various churches in Houston.  She is trying to accuse the pastors of engaging in politics from the pulpit.  If she can build a case that they have engaged in politics, she can fight to have their tax exempt status revoked. Mayor Annise Parker wants to shut the mouths of churches and exclude them from any and all political and cultural discussions. This is a real threat to religious liberty and freedom of speech, because she intends to shut down the churches who refuse to comply with her dictates.

The idea is that churches are to refrain from politically motivated speech, and in her mind, any talk about homosexuality or about her as a practicing homosexual, constitutes a breach of law requiring churches to non-political in their speech.

Please understand that there is some validity in the mayors accusations, if and when a church is engaging in trying to influence the outcomes of a political vote.  But the question of homosexuality, is in itself, not a political question.  It is a moral issue, an issue which the Bible clearly speaks about, and which is part of our religious perspective of life.  Even political issues can be intensly tied to moral issues.  Take for example the issue of legalized Gambling?  When a community is faced with the prospects of a new Casino moving into their neighborhood, it is right and proper for the churches to speak to the moral and religious aspects of gambling.  Churches often speak out just like that, and in fact our belief in the word of God, as the document which governs our actions as Christians, is the very strong basis for why we do and must continue to speak out on issues of morality, justice and definitions of such things as marriage and family. 

We have a mandate from God to stand for truth, righteousness and godly living.  We also have a further mandate to separate ourselves from all ungodliness both in thought and practice.  We cannot perform our religious duty, to God and our country, if we do not speak as authoritative voices who reflect the values contained in our document the Bible.  Basically we are supposed to say what the Bible says.  Does the Bible mention Mayor Annise Parker by name?  No it does not, and we probably should not do that either in our pulpits.  As a general rule the Bible tells us plainly "To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men" Titus 3: 2. The government cannot enforce that verse for us or upon us, but we should do it ourselves, because we are Christians.  We should never speak evil of Mayor Parker, and in my opinion her name should never be used in a pulpit, where God's truth is being proclaimed.

Now here is the problem as I see it.  She has begun to attack the churches in her community.  She has stepped out of the realm of politics, and now is entering the realm of religion, where she is trying to tamper with the churches in her town because she fears they may be preaching about her.  At that point, because we are being attacked, it is appropriate for us to discuss what she is doing and even mention her by name, and question her motives.  We must stand up for our right to defend the Bible and the doctrines of sexual morality taught in the Bible.  We are not invading politics, and are not becoming political, simply because we defend ourselves against political attacks by the Mayor, or by any other political figure.  She should not concern herself with churches, and should not leave the mayors office to go out and hire lawyers to file foolish subpoenas against local churches, who have done nothing wrong.  She is the one doing something wrong.  She is trying to interfere with protected religious exercises.  Every church in America still has the right to speak against homosexual sins, or any sin, for that matter.  This includes her favorite Lesbian variety of sinful behavior. 

I am calling all pastors to respond to the Mayors subpoena of sermon notes in Houston.  I think pastors from all across America should defend our right to preach on any topic in the Bible.  You can help make an impact and a vital statement against this intrusion of politics into churches.  Go to the dollar store and purchase a $1.00 copy of the Bible, and Mail it to the mail of Houston with this comment "I understand that you have subpoenaed Sermon notes from pastors.  This is a copy of my notes for your records.  I preach from these notes every Service in our church.  I will continue to do so."

Here is the address where you should send your Bible for the Mayor...

Mayor Annise D. Parker
City of Houston
P.O. Box 1562
Houston, TX 77251