Quote:There are plenty of laws on the books that grant tax free or tax relief status to non profits and charities fall under those. 

 

As for churches the first amendment says nothing about taxation. As far as I understand it has been interpreted as saying the government can enact no laws either promoting or restricting religion. The 1st doesn't say anything about them not paying taxes. That comes from being a non profit. So yeah, whether a church is a charity is very relevant. 

 

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"

Back in the day, before the government got involved with 'helping' the under-served folks, churches provided for them and thus were considered charities even if that wasn't the word used to describe it. 

 

Without trying to cross the COC line I will say this. The church I go to uses the tithes from the people to pay the electric bill and other bills associated with ownership of a building. Maintenance and such. The rest goes into our community and overseas charities (I guess that's what you'd call them). Our pastor has a full time job elsewhere and does not receive any payment out of tithes.

 

Saying all of that, would you consider them non-profit or charity?

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