Welcome Home Phil Driscoll

On March 13 of this year, Phil Driscoll reported to a minimum security prison in Atlanta Georgia.  He was convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison.  Today, Phil was released from prison to a halfway house and he should be completely free in just a few weeks.

For those of you who did not follow this case, it may read like just another Christian financial scandal.  I did follow it closely, and read almost all of the federal court filings.  In the end, it was undisputed that the amount of money in question was reportedly less than $50,000 in unpaid taxes that were allegedly owed over a several year period.  What was at first supposed to be a multi-million dollar tax evasion scheme, was reduced to likely $15,000 or less per year. It hardly constitutes fraud on a grand scale as was suggested.  Lynne, Phil’s wife, was acquitted of all charges.  Sadly, Lynne’s mom (Chris Blankenship) who was also implicated, died just before the trial.  Based on Lynne’s acquittal, Mrs. Blankenship would have likely been acquitted as well.    

It should also be noted that Driscoll’s attorneys attempted to provide evidence that would have offset the remaining tax liability if Driscoll was given tax credit for his home being counted as the ministry’s parsonage.  This evidence was not allowed by the judge.  So, in reality this whole matter came down to probably just sloppy accounting.  I believe that in the end if everything were properly accounted for, Phil Driscoll might have ended up with no unpaid tax liability at all.

The government has created a complicated tax code that most people simply can not comply with.  If you attempt to operate a non-profit organization, you need a team of lawyers and accountants and are still likely to make legitimate mistakes.  The real crime here is our complicated tax system.  The IRS has hundreds of agents that are charged with investigating Christian organizations.  No other group is under more scrutiny. 

People in full time ministry have understandably a very difficult time separating personal and ministry expenses.  Are your clothes personal expenses, or if you wear them while ministering are they a legitimate expense of the ministry?  What about your vehicles, your home, etc…?  The tax code allows for these “personal” items to be legally paid for with  ministry funds.  The rules are so murky though that most people don’t know where to draw the line, this seems to be where the Driscoll’s ran into trouble.  The truth is that without more clear direction for ministries on these rules, who really knows if the next ministry check written will constitute a crime or just another legitimate ministry expense.

Phil will not be the last celebrity brought down by tax issues, but I truly believe that because he is a Christian this matter became criminal in nature.  Anyone else with such minor tax issues would have paid a fine, but he went to prison.

I look around at all of the evil in the world. The people sexually abusing children getting 2 or 3 years in prison.  The murderers who serve on average 7 years. The politicians caught with $200,000 in unexplained cash in their refrigerators that are still serving in Congress.  A former Secretary of State caught stealing top secret documents from the National Archives paying only a fine.  I ask, should Phil Driscoll have gone to prison at all?

Welcome home Phil and Merry Christmas.

Agree or disagree, click on comments below.

My main website is www.ChristianMoney.com

James L. Paris

Comments

[sherry brown]

Praise God!!! Phil is an anointed man of God - not surprised the 'world' came against him, but greater is He within us than he that is in the world and we shall overcome!!!! Welcome back to us - and as always you've never left THE KINGDOM!!!! <>< + + +

[Iliya B A]

praise be to God!!! welcome home Phil

[Jim Mundy]

I love Phill. Welcome back. I am sure you will surely finish up what God has called you to do in your life time.

[Brian Lynch]

Welcome home Phil Driscoll. You were certaintly missed God bless you and your family. When you are ready we will be glad and blessed to have you back. You are a specially Anointed man of God keep praising His Name. Brian Ypsilanti, Michigan

[Mel]

You know it's been a while since I sent the post preceding this one about the "judge" sentencing Phil and resolving what the jury decided, and all the rest about Phil's decision to just "get it over". What I finally saw after about 30 days of pondering, was that we want to hear from teachers...not explainers. What's the point if we all don't learn something everyday, and I do forgive the "judge" , his job and all, I also forgive Phil, even though he only was doing what a million other people do every year,...Phil's day was there, he took the hit, now you are going to have to deal with this just like Martha Stewart. They come back more alive than ever before. That's American.

Mel

[Mel]

I have been watching Phil Driscoll for many years, and always saw his heart, and as most fans they are like mothers...they can forgive anything...they want to trust blindly as hatchers do... so what I saw was blind justice, from a seeing bound for hell judge, ....we all think we are right in our own eyes...

this issue was so out of place in comparison...may God forgive us all of our sins....and to cast the first stone...?? I would surely have walked away.

Mel

[Robert Allen]

Hi James,

I had my identity stolan from a "paster" and the debt incurred was $68,000. I let his wife use my car and they were not paying their rent to me. Later I found out they moved to Florida taking the car and also using me as the guaranter on a meriad of loans and leases along with a credit card. He also was using my name in Florida as he even took my Costco membership using a fake address. The police did nothing. He also did the same to others.
Now, why can't I get the attention I deserve as the IRS? Because the police called me and the dectective said there isn't any money to extridite, try and put this man in jail. (I later found out his cousin is a deputy sherriff.) The police tore up my complaint later and said I was delusional and that I made up the whole story even with hard evidence. Now when the IRS creates a case like this it seems to me they should drop it for $15000. Wy can't they take a loss for $50000. Tit-for-tat: I would like to know how much I paid for this case rediculous case.

[joycee]

Any matured & discerning christian wiil recogise attacks from the pit of hell on choice ministers of God, such as recent one on Phil Driscoll.

What really counts is our record before the SUPREME JUDGE OF THE WHOLE UNIVERSE! !

On behalf the christian community in Nigeria. i say we love you and we will keep in our prayers.

Weeeeeelcoooooomeeeeeeeeee ! ! !

Joycee
Abuja,Nigeria

[She Loves Jesus]

Welcome home Phil is right! You're truly a man of God and even today, you are convered by His blood and in spite of what Satan "tried" to do to you, our God will be glorified now and forever more! WE ARE THE WINNERS IN JESUS' NAME!

God's blessings to you and yours!

[Robert]

I am a real estate broker with 3o yrs experience. Called the IRS 3 times in one day with a question. each time I got a different answer. The system needs fixing.