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Christianity Today, October (Web-only), 2008 |

Speaking Out

Who Is in Charge of Our Pulpits?

Pulpit Freedom Sunday was about bringing kingdom principles to bear on contemporary social problems, not seizing political power.

Ron Johnson Jr. | posted 10/16/2008 03:56PM

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Ron Johnson Jr. is senior associate pastor of Living Stones Fellowship Church in Crown Point, Indiana.

Related Elsewhere:

An MP3 of Johnson's September 28 "Election Sunday" sermon is available at the Living Stones Fellowship Church website.

See also Mark Galli's earlier SoulWork column on this subject, "Tempted by Politics: Why many pastors want to, but shouldn't, endorse candidates."

Religion News Service reported on the pastors' plans to endorse candidates and wrote about Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which filed complaints with the Internal Revenue Service.

See Christianity Today's special 2008 election section and politics blog for more coverage.

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October (Web-only) 2008, Vol. 52

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KITTY1955

Posted: October 24, 2008 2:45 PM


Question? Does not the Bible speak on debtness, boldness in speech, defending the truth, and even dying for what is right? (Jesus did)

Louise Wilde

Posted: October 24, 2008 7:37 AM

If pastors speak on the same issues in their sermons that Christ spoke about when he addressed the crowds and when he spoke privately with his disciples, then there would be absolutely no concern from our government that a church is promoting political agendas instead of spiriitual ones. How often did Jesus seek to change the social and political situations of his nation through what he said to his listeners? His words were and are "spirit and life" (John 6:63) designed to make the individual listener "God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works," Eph. 2:10. Every heart and sould into which God pours his love (Rom. 5:5) is automatically a life enhancer for those around them.

Sonia

Posted: October 23, 2008 12:10 AM

I find it amazing that we have all read this article and some just don't get what you are trying to say Pastor Ron. You even state clarity and intentions in your article. I guess it depends on what lens you are looking through. Our forefather's sermons allowed them to speak of issues of their day, including political issues; government and voting. This might be a surprise to some, but we can't ignore that the government violated the Constitution when determining religious speech. So how exactly is this called exercising freedom when the government uses intimidation and fear to restrict freedom? I applaude you for taking a stand! Faith is RISK!

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