Churches, Preachers, and Politics

On Monday the IRS rescinded a 1954 ruling which prohibited churches from endorsing political candidates with the threat of losing their tax-exempt status.

While the ruling was rarely enforced, Politico hailed this as a move that was a major win for evangelical groups.

Through the years churches with a more liberal theology invited Democratic candidates to speak from their pulpits, implying their endorsement. While more conservative churches invited Republican candidates to their services giving them unspoken, if not explicit endorsement.

Pundits are debating who benefits the most from the IRS ruling. I’m not sure. But I know who benefits the least–the members, the churches, the preachers, and certainly the Lord.

While I have addressed issues through the years that relate to morality, marriage, gender, and the sanctity of life from the pulpit and in this blog, I try keep the focus on “what does the Bible say,” and not the position of a political party. In case you find a blog post that you believe blurred the distinction, that was not my intention.

My role as a preacher, teacher, and religious writer is to “preach the Word” (2 Tim. 4:1-2). Not pontificate about politics. Of course, all preachers and Christians have the right to express our views, but we need to be careful not to conflate our spiritual views with our political opinions.

In a recent post, conservative columnist Cal Thomas wrote, “I don’t attend church services to hear about politics. Neither do I wish to hear theological pronouncements from politicians, many of whom misquote Scripture, or take it out of context to fit their political agendas.”

Thomas further agreed that discussing contemporary issues from the pulpit which have a scriptural basis is proper. But he added, “Don’t let me hear who the pastor prefers in the next election. I am not without information and neither is anyone else if they take the time to do research.”

It’s been often cited by the Barna Group and various other polls that church attendance in America has been declining over the years. One of the reasons cited is that many people feel that many churches have lost sight of their purpose and have become too political.

Just a cursory pursual of the book of Acts will reveal that neither Peter, Paul or the other apostles and preachers discussed politics or dissed Caesar. Their focus was not on improving the Roman Empire, but preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ (Ax. 28:23-31).

These first century evangelists followed Jesus’ example who came not to set up an earthly Kingdom, but to establish a spiritual Kingdom. When he stood before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate the Savior said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (Jn. 18:36).

Based on Acts 2:41-47 the first century church saw their purpose as revolving around worshiping God, spiritual fellowship, growing in discipleship, ministering to others needs, and evangelistic outreach. Indeed, the Jerusalem Church was a Divine model for the 21st century church.

Certainly preachers have the individual right to publicly express their political opinion on social media, display yard signs promoting their candidate of choice, affix bumper stickers to their cars, wear political hats and clothing. However, we should exercise wisdom and possibly some restraint in doing so. We should never allow our personal views to take precedence over or diminish the gospel message.

If our political opinions dull our influence in preaching and teaching, then, like the apostle Paul, we should be willing to sacrifice our liberty for the gospel’s sake. As one contemporary religious writer expressed it, “We all have opinions. But we don’t have to air them all. We have the right to hold an opinion. But sometimes the best thing to do is just that—hold it.”

Jesus’ apostles included Matthew the tax collector who worked for Rome, and Simon the zealot, whose party affiliation opposed Roman rule and sought Jewish freedom even by militant resistance. Whether they gave up their political views, we don’t know. But they didn’t allow them to negate their mission, Instead they worked together for the greater good of spreading the Gospel of Christ. We can do no less.

Collectively, let’s let the church be the church. Let preachers and pastors focus on spiritual matters. And leave the business of politics in the arena to which it’s best suited.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman