📘 TRINITY SERIES TITLE
When Power Borrows Jesus: A Trinity of Articles on Faith, Money, and False Prophets
ARTICLE 3 OF 3
The Hippocratic Party Platform: A Biblical Proposal for Transparency, Accountability, and Light
For generations, American Christians have accepted a strange contradiction: the institutions most likely to invoke Jesus’ name are the least accountable for how they steward money, power, and influence. Churches, ministries, and religious nonprofits operate with exemptions that shield them from public scrutiny, even as they shape political identity, mobilize voters, and influence national policy.
The Hippocratic Party proposes a different path — one rooted in Scripture, civic responsibility, and the belief that light is not the enemy of the church. Light is the way of Christ.
This article lays out a biblical and civic case for transparency, accountability, and reform. It is not an attack on the church. It is a call for the church to lead by example.
The Problem: A System Built on Exemptions, Not Integrity
Under federal law, churches are exempt from filing Form 990 — the public document that every other nonprofit must submit. This exemption covers:
- Executive salaries
- Travel perks
- Related‑party transactions
- Lobbying expenditures
- Revenue sources
- Vendor payments
No other sector of American civil society enjoys this level of secrecy.
The result is predictable:
- Megachurches operate as multimillion‑dollar corporations without public oversight.
- Ministries accumulate wealth while disclosing nothing about how it is used.
- Religious nonprofits engage in political activity while shielding their finances.
- Donors have no way to evaluate stewardship or integrity.
This is not accountability.
It is opacity baptized in religious language.
A Brief History of Church Tax Exemption
Many Christians assume church tax exemption is biblical or ancient. It is neither.
Early America
The earliest colonies taxed churches directly. Some states funded clergy salaries through public taxation. Others required churches to report finances to civil authorities.
19th Century
As religious pluralism grew, states moved away from direct church taxation, but still required financial reporting.
20th Century
The modern exemption structure emerged through a series of IRS administrative decisions — not Scripture, not the Constitution, not the Founders.
Today
Churches are the only 501(c)(3) organizations that do not file Form 990.
This is not a sacred tradition.
It is a bureaucratic artifact.
And it has created a system where the institutions most likely to claim divine authority are the least accountable to the public.
The Biblical Case for Transparency
Scripture does not fear the light. It demands it.
“For everyone who does wicked things hates the light… but whoever does what is true comes to the light.”
— John 3:20–21, ESV
“We aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.”
— 2 Corinthians 8:21, ESV
“Let your light shine before others.”
— Matthew 5:16, ESV
Biblical leadership is marked by:
- Humility
- Stewardship
- Accountability
- Integrity
- Service
The early church shared resources openly. Paul delivered financial gifts with witnesses. Elders were held to strict standards of character and conduct.
Secrecy is not a fruit of the Spirit.
Transparency is.
The Civic Case for Reform
Religious institutions wield enormous influence in American public life. They:
- mobilize voters
- shape political identity
- endorse policies
- host political candidates
- distribute voter guides
- influence legislation
Yet they operate with less transparency than a local animal shelter.
This is not sustainable in a democratic society.
Nor is it healthy for the church.
When religious institutions engage in political activity while shielding their finances, they undermine public trust and invite corruption.
The Hippocratic Party proposes reforms that honor both religious liberty and civic responsibility.
The Hippocratic Party Platform: Light as a Civic Virtue
The platform is built on a simple conviction:
If an institution uses public influence, it owes the public transparency.
This applies to:
- churches
- ministries
- religious nonprofits
- political nonprofits invoking Jesus
- organizations blending faith and politics
The platform calls for:
1. Universal Form 990 Filing
Every 501(c)(3) — including churches — should file a public Form 990.
This does not violate religious liberty.
It strengthens integrity.
2. Disclosure of Executive Compensation
If an institution pays a pastor or executive $500,000, the public should know.
3. Disclosure of Related‑Party Transactions
Nepotism thrives in darkness.
Transparency ends it.
4. Disclosure of Political Activity
If a church or ministry engages in political mobilization, voters deserve clarity.
5. Independent Boards
No more boards stacked with friends, family, or employees.
6. Public Audits for Large Institutions
Megachurches and national ministries should undergo independent audits, just like universities and hospitals.
These reforms do not punish the church.
They protect it.
Why the Church Should Lead, Not Resist
Some Christians fear transparency. They worry it will invite criticism or government intrusion.
But Scripture teaches the opposite:
- Light protects the righteous.
- Darkness protects the corrupt.
- Accountability strengthens witness.
- Integrity builds trust.
The church should not be dragged into transparency by civic pressure.
It should lead the nation into it.
Imagine a country where:
- churches model financial integrity
- ministries demonstrate stewardship
- religious nonprofits operate with honesty
- political movements invoking Jesus are held to biblical standards
This is not a threat to the gospel.
It is a testimony to it.
False Prophets Thrive in Darkness
Jesus warned that false prophets would come in His name:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
— Matthew 7:15, ESV
False prophets thrive where:
- money is hidden
- power is unchecked
- boards are controlled
- rhetoric replaces obedience
- Jesus is used as a brand
Transparency does not harm the church.
It harms the wolves.
The Call to Discernment and Reform
The Hippocratic Party is not asking the church to become a political arm of the state.
It is asking the church to become what Jesus called it to be:
- a city on a hill
- a light to the nations
- a people of integrity
- a witness to the truth
The church should not fear the light.
It should walk in it.
Because the One we follow is the Light of the World.