CHRISTIANNEWS.COM- I heard that the faithful complain that the pastor talks too much about politics and is exhausting. While other spiritual leaders are criticized for speaking about this issue in the pulpit.
Should local church pastors speak on political issues from the pulpit? If so, When should they do it and on what topics?
Historically, large numbers of Americans have looked to their pastors for moral and spiritual leadership, which has continued to this day.
On the other hand, in most cases, questions about the sanctity of human life, racism, human rights, sexism, and sexuality, for example, have an entirely different level of moral significance than political.
To do?
The inevitable tension between the pastoral role as moral and spiritual leader and public policy is one of the moments that pastors must seek to navigate in prayer.
As an ordained Baptist minister who has served in a pastoral role in nearly twenty churches and has preached approximately 10,000 sermons over the past half century, this is a question I have wrestled with and helped many colleagues wrestle with over the past decades. to this day.
When the issues facing the congregation involve moral issues directly addressed by significant biblical teaching, then the pastor has a moral and pastoral obligation to share with his people the Bible’s teaching on these issues.
It is one thing to say that all human life is sacred and should be revered, and quite another to endorse specific legislative remedies that address abortion and euthanasia from the pulpit.
no respect of persons
It’s one thing to make it clear “God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34) and quite another to pass specific legislation that seeks to combat racism and sexism.
My approach is that when it comes to specific public policy proposals or controversies, I treat it like this: I explain to the congregation my role as pastor. However, I have always been approached by people asking me what I think about a certain public policy.
Speaking from the pulpit about political issues is a way to blaspheme against God, since that is not the true function of preaching at an altar.
By: Richard Land
Published in: NOTCIACRISTIANA.COM- Find out the best evangelical Christian news and the world.
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