Pastors should not disengage from politics. Like every other citizen of a country, the pastor must also exercise her/his right to have a say in the governance of the country. However, I also believe that pastors be objectively critical when addressing political matters in the church.
I once served a circuit of 3 churches for 6 years, in 3 communities that had their different political leanings. None of them knew which party I supported. They tried every bait to get to me tell them where I stood. It was hard for them to tell, because I criticized or commended both sides. I knew that being in a position of authority my choice could influence some persons who believed I was on their side and at the same time anger others who would feel I was against them. But that did not stop me from including political statements in my sermons or discussions.
My approach was to use Jesus’ critique of injustice and oppression and apply that to everyday political issues. That was my framework for my criticisms and opposition to political decisions or government policies that clearly sided with the powerful and further disenfranchised the already weak and powerless. From the pulpit, I spoke out against unjust policies, corruption and immoral practices. It did not matter which party, wrong was simply wrong. But hey, I didn’t have to contend with the IRS restrictions placed on my political pulpit speak.
One news item reported that the pastors who are protesting against these IRS restrictions are convinced that they are within their rights to make partisan statements in support of, or against specific candidates. On one level I can understand pastors feeling the need to be critical of political situations in their country. And the pastors in the US who have been voicing their grouses have a right to do so. However, I firmly believe that those comments must not be outrightly partisan.
If your statements can hold up to scrutiny, and the criticisms of a politician or party seen as objective and fair, then only the biased and blind would have a problem with that. And we know that some persons are what we call, ‘die-hard’ followers of some politicians. They can do no wrong even if they have been convicted of a crime, they are never wrong. So anything you say against a policy they support, might also be seen as being against that individual.
Well, allow people their perceptions. Let it even be said, but try not to let it be true. Partisan comments and actions on the part of pastors, can split congregations and cause unnecessary conflicts when there are enough conflicts in church already!
So each pastor, and every member of a church in America ought to know what is acceptable political speech and behaviour. Emotions are riding higher as it gets closer to Election 2008. After the election, a pastor must still pastor a whole congregation with persons from either side or no side at all. We should try to get that part right.
Download a copy of the Guide to IRS Restrictions on the political activity of religious organizations and inform yourself, and your pastor. It will help to make your conversation and speech a little more informed.
Peace,
Marvia
Hello Marvia!
Good thoughts. It is certainly important for pastors and Christian leaders to give careful thought to how they approach political issues.
I would like to submit to you and your readers another important consideration: the distinction between what pastors should or shouldn’t do vs. whether or not the government should be deciding what pastors should or shouldn’t do.
Here is what I mean.
We can debate amongst ourselves as Christians what role we want our spiritual leaders to play in informing us about politics. Some will prefer their leaders say little, some will prefer their leaders take a strong stand. You have articulated well in this article a very common belief that American Christians happen to have about this issue.
It is very different, however, for the National Government to prohibit or restrict the free speech of pastors. Whatever we believe pastors should be doing, I hope we can all agree that the IRS should not in any way be inhibiting religious expression of political speech!
The Congress has committed a serious moral error by including the prohibition on endorsing candidates (for churches) in the tax code. The restrictions on working to influencing legislation are inappropriate as well. I submit that both of these sections of the tax code need to be repealed.
The debate about “how much do we want to participate in politics” should be an internal debate inside the Church of Christ, not an external restriction placed by the federal (or state, or city) governments.
Something to think about!
The article mentions that pastors are restricted from speaking in support of a political party or candidate, which is true. However, what the government accomplished by stifling Churches on political issues was to silence any critique of itself.
As soon as a pastor were to make a stand from the pulpit in bringing to light a governmental abuse – the IRS would be called in and he and his Church would be shut down. The party aspect of the issue is only a veil to cover up the denial of freedom of speech.
Thanks for visiting Chad!
I firmly believe that its the right of the church to critique government especially when that government is oppressive. Curtailment of free speech is oppressive. So the church is right to challenge that.
However, I also believe that the pastor walks a narrow path and must be seen to appear objective and unbiased. In the end, our allegiance is to the way of God not to ‘party politics and politicians’. So when we critique, we should do so fairly to call for justice whichever party is in the House.
Honestly, I believe that when the church starts to take that path of fairness in the quest for justice our speech would be far more effective.
Marvia
Hello again Marvia!
I think churches should consider forgoing tax-deductible or tax-exempt status. If they do not, I think they should directly challenge the constitutionality of the Johnson amendment.
As far as being “unbiased,” I don’t know if it is any longer possible to be unbiased towards the parties. Personally I am neutral towards one, in complete disagreement towards the other, and very interested in several third parties.
I actually wouldn’t mind if a church said “the such and such party has lots its way and has nothing good about it.”
Having said that, I owe no loyalty to any political party. If whoever I am voting for at the time leaves Christian principles behind, I will leave them behind.
Sorry if I’m too short. I’m doing a million comment followups tonight!
Thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts Jon! You are right in that pastors should not be restricted by the state in expressing their political opinions. And I agree with you on that. As I said, I’d hate to be muzzled or prevented from doing so.
However, it is not an easy issue to resolve the part that rests on the question of whether or not the church should accept ‘state benefits’ which would then lend to the curtailment of its free expression. That’s what I believe is the cause of the problem. So what do you say to that?
Marvia