"Americans overwhelmingly want pastors to stick to faith and not political endorsements"

It bothers me that pastors' opinions are only seen as important/relevant when it comes to matters of faith.

I guess pastors don't do a whole lot to challenge this sort of compartmentalization, though, if all they talk/blog/read about is theology and denominational politics.

Thanks for this post, Ed. The data is very interesting.

I wouldn't talk politics from the pulpit because I'm to minister to all people. Why do pastors still do it when their people don't want to hear it?

Ed,

I am a retired pastor. At one time I was a politically active minister. Republican oriented. Right wing...God is a Republican.

I rememeber involving myself and our CHurch in a local liquor option issue here in NW Ohio. Our town was dry. I jumped in with both feet and our Church single handedly quashed the option issue. I was quite proud of myself.

Ah but then I took notice of what I had really done. I had won the battle but lost the war. I ruined our Church's testimony in our small town. I was considered a crusading preacher by some but many others could not utter my name without also using foul adjectives.

Bottom line? I got caught up in the politics and lost Jesus in the process.

I am of the persuasions that politics of any kind have no place in the Church. Not even the "vote values" wink wink and you know who holds to our values...wink wink.

I don't have a problem with people dividing over whether a Pastor or church should support a political candidate or not. I do have a big problem with the 44% who apparently believe that a Pastor should not endorse a candidate even outside his role. It scares me that anyone would be in favor of limiting someone's right to free speech.

I do not endorse candidates from the pulpit but I also don't begrudge those who do. I don't think it is wise since I would be potentially offending a large part of my target group.

On another note wasn't it the pulpits of America that are often mentioned as primary places where the fires of the American Revolution were lit?

Ed,

Our pastor, Mike Shaw, steadfastly refuses to speak of any political candidate in the church. He says he does not believe in that, ever. He does, however, speak to the issues, and how he believes the Christian should react, but still without recommending any candidate or party.

Nice post and very interesting.

I agree with Chuck, it is ridiculous to disagree with a pastor publicly endorsing a candidate outside of his pulpit. Pastors are real people with real God given convictions. The reason why political endorsement is bad in the pulpit is because it is an place of high respect and possibly coercion and using it as a "bully pulpit" to push through a particular candidate is not the best way to be missional in our highly polarized culture. However, to deny that same pastor his rights as a person to voice a public opinion is absurd. Sure, some situations may call for prudence, but let's give the pastor the benefit of the doubt.

The other thing I don't get is the Tax-Exempt question. Publically endorsing a candidate should be no challenge to a churches standing. If that church begins acting through its non-profit capacity in a way that favors one candidate over another then we should raise concern, but saying that having an opinion defies the contract of tax-exempt status is another politically motivated charge in my eyes.

For those of you interested, Moody Publishing has a great book available called Is God on America's Side ? by Dr. Erwin Lutzer. I think it is probably the most even-handed assessment of our role as Christians in government I have read and I highly recommend it.

Last March Rick Phillips, at Reformation21, posted to address the controversy surrounding Jeremiah Wright and Barak Obama and in that post he had some profound words concerning the use of the pulpit. From the article, “Surely the church pulpit is intended for higher and better matters than the small concerns of national politics! The pulpit is not an institution of the republic, but of the Kingdom, and it's only legitimate use is the preaching of King Jesus. Politics should be kept out of the pulpit not merely for reasons of church-state separation, but because the pulpit is for matters of such greater significance. And when King Jesus speaks from His Word on matters that pertain to politics -- such as personal or social ethics -- He speaks equally to all parties, all candidates, and all voters.�? I think we would all do well to heed his advice, especially those of us in the SBC, whose pulpits seem particularly prone to political misuse.

Bruce,
I don’t think your story is unique to you in fact John MacArthur reminds us, “This is a lesson evangelicals ought to know from church history. Whenever the church has focused on evangelism and preaching the gospel, her influence has increased. When she has sought power by political, cultural, or military activism, she has damaged or spoiled her testimony.�?

Todd,

“To deny that same pastor his rights as a person to voice a public opinion is absurd.�? I would tend to agree, depending on how you define public. If your pastor is a citizen of the US then he is given the right to vote and if you engage him in a political conversation then he is allowed to voice his opinion. I would, however, take issue if he engaged me in political conversation and instructed me on whom I should vote for. If by public you mean at a political rally or if your pastor is out campaigning for a particular candidate I hope we would all be appalled.

Overall I would have to agree with the quote from Rick Phillips that has been posted above; preaching politics in the pulpit is an extreme denigration of the pulpit’s purpose as pastors we are called to “equip the saints for the work of the ministry�? not equip them to be good citizens of the republic. I am sick of hearing pastors waste Sunday after Sunday instructing their people on how to stop abortion, gambling, homosexual marriage, and pornography rather than equipping the people of God to carry out the mission of God so that they can preach the gospel to abortionists and women who have had abortions, and gambling addicts, and homosexuals, and porn addicts.

Keith,
I definitely agree. By public I do not mean to imply political rallying or any role in which that pastor would be using the status he has as a minister of God's Word to place at the backing of a candidate, but just in the manner of having a well-formed and accessible opinion. I am currently teaching a course on the Lutzer book at my church and the rule I have for my class is that inside the lesson I will not talk specifics about my beliefs, but outside of the class time, if someone is interested in seeking my opinion on candidates or an issue, I will be more than happy to engage them in that discussion. This to me seems reasonable and goes right to the point that I don't think a Bible teacher should ever be afraid to illuminate their views on any subject of importance to their students if asked (the opposition to this thought, I believe, is the heart of a lot of the postmodern confusion).

I agree with both Bruce and Bob's words. I cringe when I hear of some organization who wants to challenge the IRS by asking pastors to endorse a candidate from the pulpit and they will be offered counsel. I cringe because (1) if they lose then trouble ensues and (2) that is not my purpose as a pastor-teacher. I am hard pressed to find Paul telling Timothy to preach the evils of a certain party and endorse another. Preaching or teaching on issues is one thing but endorsing a candidate is another. I refuse to do so...in or out of the pulpit.

Todd,
Thanks buddy I appreciate the clarification.

This interesting bit of news, from the LA Times, about a group of pastors who plan to defy the IRS ban on nonprofit groups campaigning, seem appropriate to post in light of the discussion.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-pulpit25-2008sep25,0,6331764.story

I was very upset that our church had a 6 week course called "God in Government". It wasn't taught by our pastor but I just hated that we even had that there cuz' it just didn't mix to me. BUT I love my church, and just like they don't have to agree with everything I do, I likewise don't have to agree with everything they do-family, you know?

It should be well noted that JUDAS ISCARIOT tried to use Jesus' ministry as a platform for political and military uprise.
He was in extreme error to say the least.

Jesus rebuked Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane for trying to use force on Jesus' captors putting to rest any misconceived notions that this was some uprising.

There are many other examples where Jesus went to great lengths to distance himself and his ministry from being considered political or military.
I am sickened by many things in the pulpit and find this "vain revolution for political freedom of speech" particularly irreprehensible and contrary to the teachings and overall impetus of Jesus' ministry.

As a sideline note I would also like to point out that none of the candidates are running for office of priest or pastor.
To criticize one politician for being "pro choice" or in favor of stem cell research while giving full support to a candidate who advocates fully the use of war, torture, and nuclear armament not only for defense but also as a " first strike" option, is garbage and contradicts all that Jesus came to establish as his message and legacy.

I would like to add another thought that sacrificing a church's tax exempt status is extremely irresponsible when considering that the minister is being entrusted with money that did not come from him nor belongs to him.
(see all the biblical listings for stewardship).

I would like to charge and challenge all elders and/ or board members to challenge and rebuke your pastor if you feel he is abusing his post of shepherd for the sake of spewing politically in a place that should bring respite from all of this rather than becomming a platform for it.

Not that any of you would care, but I left the church after close to 40 years of attending regularly because my pastor, from the pulpit told us how to vote. This came after other church members slammed "Democrats" in Sunday School! At that point I was a Republican and changed to an Independent.

Bruce- "God is a Republican"? Shame on you! It's that kind of thinking that will keep me from ever going to church again!

What about locally? Should a Church display banners, posters and etc... to support or not-support State Level Props like the Definition of Marriage?