What should churches do?

Care of Drudge, a two page article in Politico about some church pastors daring the IRS to revoke their tax-privileged status for their campaigning directly for candidates from the pulpit. I haven't excerpted any of it, mainly so that you can find those parts you feel are most important to you.

So how should churches deal with this sort of thing?

I'll tell you how I feel. On the one hand, I'm tickled pink at extra voices working to defeat some of these idiot Democrats. On the other hand, I'm not too sure how I feel about these guys double-dipping, not only with respect to me but also with respect to their own congregants and their sister churches. By double-dipping, I mean they're getting some envious financial and tax benefits (like Rod Dreher's church not having to report much on any of his personal money which may or may not slosh through it) for agreeing to certain terms, then deciding to forsake those terms while keeping the benefits. Me, I'd like that deal, too.

Keep in mind that being the beneficiary of a tax expenditure (the formal term for these church exemptions) is no less a case of being on the government teat than receiving a welfare check; you just pocket the money other people including your congregants and parishioners don't get in a different way.

So what should churches do?

Should they play by the rules they originally agreed to?

Should they even be making deals with the government at all?