Pulpit Politics

Imagine my surprise this morning as I opened the newspaper while waiting for a bus when just below the fold on the front page the headline read, "Debating politics in the pulpit Bill would allow churches to back candidates, issues," (here is a link to the story: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/05/16/MNGASCPR0F1.DTL). I almost wanted to pinch myself to make sure I was not still sleeping, but alas I was not.

Apparently, the recent goings on in a Waynesville, NC church where the then pastor asked some congregants to leave because they voted for Kerry has reignited interest in a House of Representatives bill entitled the House of Worship Freedom of Speech Restoration Act. (I would love to hear George Lakoff discuss this title.) The bill was introduced by NC representative Walter Jones and "would amend the Internal Revenue Service tax code to enable church leaders to endorse candidates and campaigns in their sacred buildings." Though this could be of use to more conservative churches, the point was made by Tom Beaudoin of Santa Clara University saying the supporters of the legislation "may see an example of the law of unintended consequences -- one that encourages liberal pastors as much as conservative ones."

This may be so, and I am a progressive Christian who is a political junky, but I do not agree with this legislation. I do feel that it is important for a minister to be prophetic, and make strong stances on social issues from the pulpit, but not endorse a candidate. Jesus calls us to worship together in spite of our differences, and such a move would aggrevate such differences to make some people feel unwelcome.

Besides, as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said that it is the role of the church to be the conscience of society. If the church becomes intertwined with a politician or political party, its role as moral conscience becomes diluted, and could easily cause the "moral conscience" to justify something that is wrong.

As Sojourners magazine said, "God is not a Republican, or a Democrat." God and Jesus are beyond our labels. Through the Biblical prophets and ministry of Jesus we are called to a faith that engages us in a political struggle, yes, but one that seeks to hold all parties and candidates responsible.