Third Rail Of Politics Series

There are several iconic contemporary proverbs that swirl around us. One of the most familiar may be, “don't talk about religion, politics or sex at the dinner table” or slightly modified for pastors, “don't talk about religion, politics or sex on Sunday morning if you want to keep your job.” While it's a sad statement on the openness and authenticity of today's American church, it's wise advice for some. However, The CENTER has never been about playing it safe. We're about growing the kingdom by risking the comfort of the familiar in exchange for risk of making an impact on one another, our community and maybe even western Christianity. The Status Quo Must Go!

So let's talk about politics. There are three reasons most pastors and churches don't talk about politics - Money, Job Security, Community influence.

Pastors don't talk about politics because if they do side with one candidate over another they risk losing their non profit status as a church which means donations would no longer be tax deductible, the church would have to pay property tax on its buildings including its parsonage and finally, it would have to pay sales tax on its purchases.

Pastors don't talk about politics because if they do, they run the risk of offending a person or subgroup in the congregation whose views are different than their own. The ramifications in some churches for the pastor can be fired without much notice - losing income, housing and reputation.

The third reason a pastor doesn't talk about politics because he can't be seen as standing up for anyone or any cause other than that of Jesus and his ethics. Anything else would come off as self serving.

Like I said before, if there is anything that will spark a spontaneous debate, if not an outright argument, it is a discussion involving politics—even among believers. As followers of Christ, what should be our attitude and our involvement with politics? Can we have political views outside the considerations of our Christian faith? The answer is no, we cannot. The Bible gives us two truths regarding our stance towards politics and government.

The first truth is that the will of God permeates and supersedes every aspect of life. It is God’s will that takes precedence over everything and everyone. After all, it was Jesus who said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33).

Another scripture that really helps to make this clearer comes from Paul's treatise to the church in Rome in the 13th chapter beginning in verse one. If you have a bible or a bible app, please turn to Romans 13.

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

The second truth we must grasp the fact that our government cannot save us! Only God can. We never read in the New Testament of Jesus or any of the apostles expending any time or energy schooling believers on how to reform the pagan world of its idolatrous, immoral, and corrupt practices via the government. It might actually be futile to resist. As Paul writes:

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. 8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

11Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.