We're told that there are two things no sensible adult should ever bring up in mixed company: religion and politics. We see this played out quite vividly in things like Jefferson's philosophy of the separation of church and state and the Johnson Amendment. So it seems like the majority has spoken: keep your religion out of politics.
In a way most pastors would agree. For instance, in a recent study from LifeWay Research where over a thousand individual pastors were surveyed, 98% refused to endorse any single candidate in any official capacity in their church.
This is not because it was unlawful, nor was it because most would’ve considered it bad form. Instead ministers avoided such discussions because they knew that Christians should interact with one another via their affiliation to Christ rather than some political association. Or, as a friend of mine recently told his congregates in Kissimmee, FL, “The church isn’t a voting bloc.” A pastor is most concerned with what is beneficial (cf. 1 Cor. 10:23-33), and inciting a political debate on a Sunday morning is the furthest thing from helpful.
But, like all things, matters are rarely black and white. This same study found that pastors were also far more vocal in their personal lives. Roughly one-third admitted to voicing support of a candidate just this year. Just because a pastor won’t use their pulpit for a political endorsement doesn’t mean they will not use their personal lives.
Which brings up a stark truth—a person’s beliefs about anything cannot be divorced from their identity just because they've moved from a professional role to a personal one. There’s bound to be some overlap. Meaning, despite our proclivity to never mix politics and religion, politics still affect the pulpit and vice versa.
Bible Verses Not Biased Headlines
Politics affect the pulpit because politics deal with real-world issues that affect Christians living in the real world. God has given us a handbook in His Word on how to deal with real-world problems. From this perspective it becomes clear that it's actually impossible to avoid politics in church. For instance, I’ve had to speak every week throughout the pandemic. As such, I've had to preach sermons right after police shootings and violent riots in the streets; all the while a deadly virus ravages our world. Once a week I’ve had to present biblical principles to a people who have been inundated daily with political diatribes about each of those topics. Should I leave these subject matters to the likes of the socials, Fox News, or CNN? I think not. Christians need to hear how the Scriptures touch on each of those areas. They need their worldview shaped by Bible verses and not by biased headlines.
Sermons Without Subterfuge
But I want to make something very clear: though a pastor has to touch on politics, they must also do so from sermons rooted in a biblical text. This means that they must resist the urge to askew a text to suit their own political ideologies. Though they undoubtedly have an affiliation, the pastor does a disservice to his flock if he engages in verbal subterfuge by using the scriptures as a mask for some political agenda. When a pastor has to address a polarizing topic there should never be an implied slant or veiled reference toward one party. His speech must be without dissimulation (cf. Mat. 5:37; Eph 4:25-32).
As a pastor I am not above speaking about social justice, abortion, or foreign affairs because the Bible is THE guiding post for all truth in all areas, but using my platform to either demonize or deify a specific political candidate is a step too far.
It is possible to disconnect principles from the political personalities who are in vogue at the time. The only person who deserves my whole-hearted endorsement is Jesus. The churchgoer should never have to wonder who I’m talking about when I step onto that platform. Sermons should always move from the context of Scripture and then to the context of our lives and not the other way around.
Speaking So That All May Hear
It concerns me that the mass media feels we as evangelical leaders abuse our power for political gains. If the masses think our bond to a donkey or an elephant, or whatever, is more fundamental than our bond to the Lamb, then we have indeed failed in our duty. To tie our pulpits to a specific political candidate, whether implied or expressed later, is to bow the knee to the idol of popular opinion and to turn our backs on the King of kings.
The reality is that most pastors I know would never do such a thing. Like me, they are careful how they talk about political candidates. They are patient with those who disagree with them. They are more than happy to restrict what they do for the sake of the gospel (cf. 1 Cor. 9:19-23). And though it may be difficult at times (especially in an election year), most hold their tongue. They do this because they want nothing more than to live in such a way that all may hear them when they speak.
Every faithful witness of the gospel knows that there is no such thing as a “Christian” political party. There is only the Kingdom, and as such they are about the King’s business. They want the Kingdom’s rule to reign supreme on this earth. And they do not, under any circumstances, superimpose their political ideologies onto Christianity.
The true believer readily admits that they are misfits and sojourners in this world who do not belong to any specific earthly camp (1 Peter 2:11; cf. Josh 5:13-14). They do not make any party synonymous with the Kingdom. They know all too well that to shine their light through the lens of politics at best dims it, but at worst, the light becomes totally hidden under a bushel. And the disciple does not sacrifice kingdom ethics for political gains.
Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
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