We should not suffer the illusion that this is a new thing, or that it hasn t been going on for years and years. In California our church sponsored a 14 story high rise apartment. The government used us to make one of their programs work. Lots of housing and community centers happened that way. Churches have received exemption from property taxes, presumably because they provide charitable services of benefit to society.
Clergy get parsonage allowance exemptions from a portion of income tax.
Church-related car expenses are deductible from income taxes. On and on the web goes. It may or may not be right, but it is a fact that the Faith-Community connection is not a new thing. It needs to be watched and maybe revamped, but for some church ideologues to suddenly oppose it is strangely blind to what is and hypocritical to boot. When you pray, go into your closet and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret And do not heap up empty phrases for they think they will be heard for their many words.