The 3 - November 19, 2017

In this edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is new from Capitol Hill on tax reform, which includes some features for which Christian leaders have been advocating.  Also, an Air Force colonel has been disciplined for his refusal to recognize same-sex marriage.  And, a large museum devoted to the Bible has opened in the nation's capital.

3 - Tax reform passes House, includes free speech for pastors, adoption tax credits, fewer deductions

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed its version of tax reform legislation.  The Family Research Council reported:

By a vote of 227-205, Republicans tried to give Americans something else to be grateful for next week: fuller wallets and freer speech. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (which included everything from a rollback of the Johnson Amendment to a boost in the child tax credit) survived, despite the unanimous opposition from Democrats and more than a dozen Republican "nays."

The Alliance Defending Freedom, on its website, commended lawmakers on providing for free speech rights for pastors.

Its site says that the bill "includes language from the Free Speech Fairness Act, which, if signed into law, would prevent the Internal Revenue Service from investigating and penalizing churches simply for what a pastor says from the pulpit..."  Legal Counsel Christina Holcomb is quoted as saying: “America’s pastors don’t need a federal tax agency to police their sermons, and so we commend those in the House who supported free speech fairness language in the amended tax bill."

But, there are concerns, most notably the reduction in opportunities for itemizing deductions.  The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability states on its website, as of November 13:

Both the House and Senate versions of the bill currently call for a near-doubling of the standard deduction, a change that studies show could reduce charitable giving to nonprofit organizations by billions each year.

That is according to an Indiana University study.  The ECFA website also says:

An important amendment has been proposed by Senators Wyden and Stabenow that would offset some of this impact by creating a “universal” charitable deduction (available to all taxpayers, regardless of whether they itemize) subject to some limitations. 

FRC is also concerned, stating: "Experts think charitable giving could take a substantial dip under the new structure of the standard deduction, which could reduce the services and benefits nonprofit organizations provide to communities."  The piece says that the percent of filers who itemize could drop from 30 to 5 percent.  FRC cites Rep. Mark Walker and Sen. James Lankford who are also supporting the universal deduction.  This indicates bi-partisan support for such a provision.

2 - Air Force colonel receives discipline for not supporting gay marriage

A highly regarded colonel in the U.S. Air Force has been suspended and has a recommendation has been issued that he not be promoted; this comes as the result of his opposition to same-sex marriage, according ToddStarnes.com.  The site's report said:

Col. Leland Bohannon, an experienced combat pilot, was suspended from command and orders were handed down recommending he not be promoted after he refused to publicly affirm the same-sex spouse of a retiring subordinate.

Bohannon, who was on the verge of being promoted to a one-star general, was punished after the subordinate filed a formal Equal Opportunity complaint which was later substantiated by investigators.

Starnes wrote:

Last May the colonel declined to sign a certificate of spouse appreciation for a retiring master sergeant’s same-sex spouse. Instead, he asked a higher ranking military leader to sign the customary document.

Mike Berry of First Liberty Institute said that Bohannon would likely retire as a colonel, not a general, and stated: "The military is no longer a place of diversity and inclusion if you are a person who holds to a traditional belief in marriage..."

Starnes reports that "at least eight U.S. senators" signed a letter to the Secretary of the Air Force urging her to intervene.  They wrote, "Col. Bohannon recognized the moral and legal dilemma this situation presented, and to his credit, sought to carve out a solution that would affirm the contribution made by the retiring officer’s same-sex partner while at the same time allowing the colonel to abide by his religious convictions..." 

1 - Museum of the Bible opens in Washington, DC

The eight-story, 430,000-square-foot Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC opened to the public on Saturday after dedication ceremonies on Friday, according to the Religion News Service website, which reported that:

With Scripture readings, a tribute to God and a sigh of relief, an international array of officials opened the Museum of the Bible in the nation’s capital.

“We want to just take a moment and stop and celebrate and rejoice that this dream is coming true,” said museum co-founder Steve Green, who exhaled audibly before speaking Friday (Nov. 17) to more than 400 people in the new museum’s World Stage Theater.

Green, whose family owns the Hobby Lobby chain of craft stores, stated: "This is a dream of millions all over the world that love this book, that use it as a guide for their life, and we just want to take some time and celebrate and dedicate this space to our God.”

Dignitaries from a variety of faith backgrounds attended the dedication.  The report said that HUD Secretary Ben Carson and Sen. James Lankford were in attendance, "where they were greeted by Navy Chief of Chaplains Margaret Kibben and Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt of the Jewish Federations of North America and serenaded by Grammy-winning artist CeCe Winans singing 'Amazing Grace.'"

According to the report, the museum is located just two blocks from the National Mall, and the "museum joins august edifices celebrating the nation’s civic history as it displays floors on the impact, history and narrative of the Bible. Speakers from near and far applauded such a placement for such a museum."

In a Breakpoint commentary, Eric Metaxas said...

...here’s what physician, social reformer, and signer of the Declaration of Independence Benjamin Rush said: “The Bible contains more truths than any other book in the world.”

Of course, many in our postmodern world don’t believe that and dismiss the Bible out of hand—but maybe that’s partly because they’ve never had the opportunity to engage with it. Museum of the Bible gives them that opportunity, not by cramming “religion” down someone’s throat, but by presenting the Bible as the best-selling, most debated, most influential book of all time. Back in the day, you weren’t considered educated if you didn’t know the Bible. It’s still true today, and Museum of the Bible will step in to fill that knowledge gap for Christians and non-Christians alike.

He went on to say, "The Bible is the most influential, beloved, and profound book in the world, and I’m grateful for a gleaming new museum fit to tell its world-changing story today."

On the National Religious Broadcasters website, you can see this quote from NRB President & CEO Dr. Jerry A. Johnson, who visited the facility a number of times during its construction: “Museum of the Bible is an awe-inspiring museum showcasing an even more awe-inspiring book – the world’s most widely-read and impactful book, in fact..." He added, "Like countless others, I am excited about its opening and strongly encourage all believers to plan their visit. The Bible will come to life in an exciting, new way.”

At the Meeting House, you can hear my conversations with Cary Summers, President of Museum of the Bible and Tony Zeiss, its Executive Director.  You can also connect to a 2015 conversation with Museum Chairman Steve Green.