posted by Joel Southerland

…Just kidding! In the area of politics and the pulpit there has not been a more controversial year on record. One group recently challenged the 1954 IRS ruling and defied the “gag” order on pulpits by the IRS and openly endorsed a candidate. You can read their story here: http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/29/pub-pastors-participate-pulpit-freedom-sunday/ .

Is that what we should be doing? In my personal opinion - No.

However, I am all for pastors preaching the subjects that often get deemed “political.” There are truths of Scripture that are essential to the Christian faith that we should stand for unequivocally (and loudly) - the biblical model of family, racial equality, human rights, sanctity of life, etc.  Leading up to election time, those should all get mentioned or preached. In our church, we normally supply Christian voter guides for our members so they know where each candidate stands on these issues.

BUT, endorsing a candidate, in my opinion, crosses the line. And here’s why: EVERY CANDIDATE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO LET YOU DOWN! Both John McCain and Barak Obama bear that potential.

I can imagine the frightening scenario of endorsing a candidate that stands for everything I believe in until inauguration, and then his/her first act as President would be to take action in the opposite way. What are you going to do then? How will you respond to that? What if the person you endorse suddenly “changes their minds” on an issue near and dear to the heart of the church?

OOPS! You can imagine what would happen. The negative press. The scorned members. The church upheaval.

So, what do you do with your pulpit at election time? Keep silent? NO WAY! Just preach the truths of the Word of God. Stand for the issues from a biblical perspective. Your congregation knows exactly where every candidate stands. Let them “put 2 and 2 together.”

It is more important to know where the Bible stands on an issue than where a candidate stands. If I refrain from endorsing a candidate but rather stand on biblical truths, I have earned the right to hold his feet to the fire when they stray.

Politicians change their minds - God does not!