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

SOULWORK

Tempted by Politics

Why many pastors want to, but shouldn't, endorse candidates.

Mark Galli | posted 10/02/2008 09:05AM

Every pastor in America is just dying to tell their congregations how to vote. It happens every election season, but particularly during the presidential quadrennial. This yearning to lobby one's flock ...

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David

Posted: October 13, 2008 7:30 AM

Julie, you've missed the point of the article. Bonhoeffer took a moral position to oppose Hitler's policies, not a political one. Galli should expand on his article to cover what you have raised. basically, a pastor must remain independent of political views if he/she is to express a moral perspective. Once you align yourself to a political agenda it is very easy to be drawn into supporting the political party regardless of where its policies lead.

Diana

Posted: October 12, 2008 10:27 AM


So, be prepared for Revelation -one world government. You heard Obama say it himself! That's what he wants! If Christians don't get involved in politics, then you are just helping usher in the next kingdom...

Whatispolitics?

Posted: October 09, 2008 10:25 AM

Where are the Christian leaders who will turn over the tables on Wall Street? Where are the Christian leaders who will dare to speak the truth about the poor to the American Imperial Empire? Where are the Christian leaders who refuse to hide behind the King of Kings and go out and preach the Gospel of justice and mercy -- even when it is not politically correct? Where are the Christian leaders who will remind the world that Jesus said nothing about homosexuality, but everything about the poor? I suppose they are safely encased in their little like-minded buildings (they call "churches") where all will be safe from the wild truth of God. Oh, where is Amos when we need him? Or, where is Jesus, really?

Jessica

Posted: October 08, 2008 10:11 PM

I absolutely agree with you Mark on this article. Many Pastors would do well to share in your perspective. It's not to take the voice from the Pastor's, but rather to help re-focus the people being pastored. It is an ultimate focus "The Lord Jesus Christ". Who is above all and states clearly by His word to us that "the government will be upon His shoulders" we need "more trust" in Jesus regarding this area. As it's clear as always we cannot place our trust in people, especially politicians, we will most certainly be mislead. However if our trust is set higher and in the highest, we will not fret, we will not worry but rather be at peace knowing our God is clearly our leader! Whomever gains office in government, we will and must pray for them, that is our duty and a call from God to us all. Let's face it... Jesus Christ never ran for office to be president. Jesus Christ walked the earth and shared himself with us, for His Fathers sake of salvation to us all.

tellitlikeitis

Posted: October 06, 2008 5:27 PM


Maybe Brian McLaren, Donald Miller and others are just enjoying their 15 minutes of fame and the paychecks and per diem from the Obama campaign. If Pastors teach the Bible it is easy to weed out who not to vote for.

Rob	Posted: October 06, 2008 8:53 AM


Modern day Saduccees and Pharisees, the American church's emotional attachment to America runs deeper than to the kingdom proclaimed by the Lord. God's Politices seemed to restore some sense of kingdom vision, but Wallis now seems to be as partisan as Falwell. May we learn to love the cross and the empty tomb more than we love the stars and stripes.

enoughalready

Posted: October 05, 2008 6:05 PM


Brian McLaren is now promoting a pro-abortion/pro-Obama website and claiming Obama is the MOST pro-life candidate of all. Take a look! http://www.matthew25.org/

AB	Posted: October 04, 2008 9:35 PM

Thank you. The last thing any christian needs is an excuse not to decide for themselves who to vote for. If you can decide to believe in God, then you certainly can decide on your own who to vote for in an election. Our freedom to choose our government was based on the freedom to choose to believe in God. It's the one greatest gift of God in life... don't bury it out of fear of your own ability to make the right decision. God trusted you with the one decision that will determine your eternal existence... voting should be easy.

Dorry

Posted: October 04, 2008 7:07 PM


Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can't comprehend these pastors thinking it was okay, or even Scriptural to not focus on Jesus during the service. To whip people up for political purposes in church? I wept. Thanks for saying it.

Ed	Posted: October 04, 2008 3:44 PM


Amen!!!!!!

Fran Davies

Posted: October 04, 2008 3:29 PM

I Cor. 9:22, " . . . I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some." You cannot be all things to all men if you identify yourself with a particular political party. My church is predominately Republican. I do not discuss politics because of the division it causes between me and my brothers and sisters in Christ. I have noticed, though, that most of the political conservatives I know are not at all reluctant to try to tell me what to believe and for whom to vote. They take for granted that if one is a Christian, one must be a Republican. I want politics to stay outside the doors of my church. If church members want to talk about it amongst themselves, let them do it outside of the church. If my pastor ever gets up and gives a political message, I'm out of there. The gathering of believers is to worship and praise God, to learn from the Word, to build each other up by love and good works, and to prepare us to go and spread the Gospel of Christ.

Anonymous

Posted: October 03, 2008 10:35 PM

So, Bro. Galli, should pastors in Hitler's Germany remained neutral on their country's political direction? How is our situation, with 40 million + innocent lives lost to government-protected mass murder, any different? The parties, and the candidates, are clearly contrasted on this critical issue: the sanctity of innocent human life. Hide from it, dance around it, but one day we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, Who will almost certainly say, "I was helpless and voiceless in the womb, and you did not advocate for Me..."

Matt Williams

Posted: October 03, 2008 4:59 PM

Good stuff. I would add one thing that seems to be missing. If the pastor preaches the word of God he is automatically teaching his congregation how to vote. For instance, marriage is between one man and one woman (Prop 8 in CA), that God is the creator of life and the taker of life (Roe v Wade or other Prolife legislation), that the homosexual is to be loved (missions), other top priorities for social issues include the poor, the widow, the prisoner, and your neighbor. A pastor who teaches the practical application of God’s word is going to equip his hearers to live in the culture as an “on-fire” believer. And, we know that a Spirit-filled Christian is the powerful force God uses to change lives….yes, change the world! So, it seems to me that a preacher who picks up politics and takes it into the pulpit is wasting his time when there’s a more powerful source of information and guidance available…GOD’S NEVER CHANGING WORD.

Natalie

Posted: October 03, 2008 2:12 PM


There is no doubt that the kingdom of God is not of this world, and we as Christians must constantly strive to keep it clean and without a trace of corruption. When pastors endorce candidates they are doing quite the oppisite, the chuch must never be partisan because it brings division which can many times hinder the work of God.

Price

Posted: October 03, 2008 10:01 AM

The interesting aspect of this debate is the missing ingredient of the founding of our country. I am actually not speaking about the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution but rather the countless sermons delivered in pulpits throughout the colonies that called King George the Anti-Christ and clearly called a war for independence a holy cause. It amuses me that we live in a country where we do not feel frre to advocate for the individual candidate that best exemplifies a biblical understanding to be a "ruler." I do not believe that is contained in a particular political party nor in a platform but in the evaluation of the candidate's positions as to whether they line up with Scripture. That being said, ought we not advocate, from the pulpit, for those individuals that best lead our country in a Godly path. Please undersatnd, I am not for a moment ceding utimate authority to anyone other than God. But surely He wants us to think and direct His people to His heart.

Julie

Posted: October 03, 2008 9:05 AM

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor who played a key leadership role in the Confessing Church, which opposed the anti-semitic policies of Adolf Hitler. Bonhoeffer was among those who called for wider church resistance to Hitler's treatment of the Jews. I have no doubt that Bonhoeffer said great a deal about politics from the pulpit, yet I suppose Galli would have preferred him to remain silent, like many other German pastors who looked the other way when millions of Jews were being slaughtered. A pastor has a moral obligation to tell his congregation the truth about political leaders/candidates for office. For a pastor to be completely silent about politics would require him to aid and abet evil in the political arena.

Bob Mason

Posted: October 03, 2008 2:03 AM


Thank you so much! I must confess that I am a pastor who has not coveted the opportunity to tell my people, actually His people, how to vote. I do not want to fall into the trap of Falwell or Wallis, in both of whom I have seen greatness. If I am to be known, let it be for the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Dr Wangai M.D,PhD,MPH

Posted: October 03, 2008 12:12 AM

This debate is most intriguing. Kenya went the route of using pulpits to promote favorite candidates. We are still reeling from that mistake with 1000s dead, many maimed and others internally displaced in refuge camps. True the churches have apologised, pastors confessed and healing of the body of believers in progress. Can USA pick a lesson from us? Proclaim Biblical truths and refrain from partisan posturing from the pulpits and you will be the one "sane" voice of reason amidst a weekly media barrage that leaves many confused or influenced. That is the way of remaining relevant and a message of hope to a discouraged dying world without a bright future to look up to. May a disouraged, tired soul, find solace, hope, healing, inspiration and refuge in church. Spurred on to go over another tumultous week with uncertainity looming in the air. That way church becomes a haven of rest and a true restful home to look forward to the following week. This is God's intent for church. Wangai M.D.

John G.

Posted: October 02, 2008 8:33 PM

During the first three centuries of its existence, the Church, in the midst of persecution, was influential in winning people to salvation and improving their temporal lot as well. When Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of the Empire, and thereby mixed church and state, the Church's influenced waned, only to be recovered by later generations such as the early Methodists and Quakers. We are called to be citizens of another realm, not this one. Through outreach and servant evangelism, we can wield a far greater influence than through the political realm, which is Satan's domain. (See Matthew 4.)

Greg	Posted: October 02, 2008 6:26 PM


On Saturday I asked my pastor for his thoughts about pastors endorsing candidates from the pulpit. His only comment..."I have much more important things to preach about." Enough said.

The G

Posted: October 02, 2008 6:07 PM

Who would want to recommend either Mc Can't or Ho Hum Ha? Where are men like James A. Garfield any more? A real intellect. A real military strategist. A real leader. A real Christian. A Restoration Movement preacher who often immersed 50 at a time! He was assassinated because he knew the truth about the plans for the Federal Reserve Bank and he was going to stop it. Now we reap the results of his death. How can this country with all our great institutions of learning have just these two to choose from? The system is rigged. Wake up world!

Marilyn

Posted: October 02, 2008 4:04 PM

There's a lot of difference between a Jerry Falwell, who was always ranting against someone or something (and was responsible for distributing a film hinting that the Clintons, both Christians, were murderers) and Jim Wallis, who has the guts to point out that neither political party accurately represents "God's agenda" in this imperfect world. I'm a Catholic, and I was impressed several years ago when I heard that Pope John Paul II, asked to decide whether priests who had been elected to political offices, could remain in those roles, said that they had to choose; they couldn't remain priests AND politicians. His rationale was wonderful: politicians HAVE to compromise to get anything done, but priests MUST NOT compromise. It's important for people of faith to be involved in the political life of our nations, working to bring about a more God-focused society. But we must remember that no party is a perfect reflection of our beautiful Lord and His will.

Brian

Posted: October 02, 2008 3:43 PM

A very well written article with (in my opinion), a very good point. I would argue that the comparison of Jim Wallis with Jerry Falwell may not be very fair and I offer this as evidence: The advice about not coming together as Christian Democrats or Republicans sounds susupciously like the tag to Jim Wallis' "God's Politics - God is not a Republican... or a Democrat." Also, Jim Wallis specifically opposed pastors endorsing political candidates form the pupit, where this article seems to imply that he at would endorse it - and Jim Wallis personally refuses to endorse a candidate from a pulpit or otherwise. Granted, Jim Wallis would refer to himself as a "progressive Evangelical," but this is not the same as endorsing a particular political party. As more evidence, Jim Wallis participated as a moderator in religion panels at BOTH political conventions.

Raymond Blacketer (Registered User)

Posted: October 02, 2008 2:23 PM

Very well stated, and very relevant to American evangelicalism. One of the differences between a legitimate pastor and a demagogue is that the latter gets coopted by some secular partisan agenda. Chris P., I think, misses Galli's point; the author did not suggest that pastors and Christians should stay out of politics. Rather, there is a certain pastoral wisdom in preaching gospel principles but stopping short of endorsing a particular party or candidate. The ideals of both the left and right should come under prophetic judgment: Big government is not our savior, nor is the free market. Both can be idols, both can be oppressive. Wise pastors should employ wise reticence on candidates, yet remain prophetically critical of our culture and society. Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. Prov. 17:28

Mike Johnson

Posted: October 02, 2008 1:49 PM

It's a no win situation. The risks of being a distraction are too great as we "worship." and use the 11th hour to drive members to be afraid if they don't vote like the pastor. BTW. Who are we supposed to vote for? See. John MacArthur would disagree with Eddie Long on that choice. There is enough tension M-F. Save Sunday for worship. If pastor has a political agenda use the website not a bully pulpit. I came to see Jesus not John or Barack. Instead of the drama members can get from Janet Parshall or James Dobson, who aren't evangelists who bring aggressive and passion on this one topic to christian radio microphones instead of turning church in a GOP rally, get members BACK on the knees and pray. for good decisions, for solid leadership, and for US remaining faithful. Many voted for "their man" in Reagan, and were sure having Bush was a safe bet, but fear is a great motivator and a source of abuse and dissention. The Lord wants that? I don't think so. Most minds are mad

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