Is there a role for Pastors in politics?

[Tarheel Baptist]

Yes or no?

If no, why not?
If yes, what is a 'proper' role?

 

[Castor Muscular]

The current role for a pastor is unbiblical.  If pastors were just mere members of the body of Christ, as they should be, then whether or not they have political opinions wouldn't matter. 

 

[FSSL]

I used to strongly stand against the mentioning of politics from the pulpit.
The main reason I held this was based on the idea that the church would put itself into a position of losing its nonprofit status.
I no longer believe that way.
We face some incredible issues that need to be addressed, biblically/exegetically.

How God detests the gay-lifestyle and their so-called marriages
How we have the right to defend ourselves and protect our families
Exposing the evils of socialism
Lastly, but foremost, abortion is murder

You cannot preach on the above, biblical subjects, without being political.

So, my current thinking is that pastors not avoid these subjects, but preach on them fervently and encourage the membership of their churches to get involved in a variety of actions. Conservative believers need teaching on these things from their local church.

 

[North]

The New Testament specifically states Christians may partake in government work.

 

[rsc2a]

Is there a place for modern left/right politics coming from the pulpit? Not really.

Is there a place for politics coming from the pulpit? "Jesus is Lord" was a pretty political statement in Paul's day.

 

[rsc2a]

[quote author=FSSL]How God detests the gay-lifestyle and their so-called marriages
How we have the right to defend ourselves and protect our families
Exposing the evils of socialism
Lastly, but foremost, abortion is murder[/quote]

Definitely a diverse set of topics there... 

[quote author=FSSL]Conservative believers need teaching on these things from their local church.[/quote]

"Conservative" Jesus isn't found in the Bible. Neither is "liberal" Jesus. (using modern political categories)

 

[rsc2a]

[quote author=FSSL]Conservative believers need teaching on these things from their local church.

"Conservative" Jesus isn't found in the Bible. Neither is "liberal" Jesus. (using modern political categories)

I didn't say "conservative Jesus." However, for argument's sake... he certainly shared what we now call conservative ideas in regards to abortion and lgbts.
[/quote]

Depends on what ideas those are. Close to someone like Tim Keller?  Possibly. Close to the Westboro nuts?  I find that doubtful.

 

[lnf]

I don't believe a pastor should, from the pulpit, tell the congregation specifically who to vote for or against, but that being said, I believe that scripture has much to say about how we should view current events.  Preaching a biblical world view on topical issues is very appropriate.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

[quote author=FSSL]Conservative believers need teaching on these things from their local church.

"Conservative" Jesus isn't found in the Bible. Neither is "liberal" Jesus. (using modern political categories)

I didn't say "conservative Jesus." However, for argument's sake... he certainly shared what we now call conservative ideas in regards to abortion and lgbts.
[/quote]

Pro-life is the Biblical position of course.
And sodomy is condemned in Scripture.

Those happen to be political statements in the current culture....but they were Biblical and moral issues long before they were politicized.

If he church and Pastors don't speak the truth in love (about these and other issues) they are derelict in their duty.

 

[lnf]

I don't believe a pastor should, from the pulpit, tell the congregation specifically who to vote for or against, but that being said, I believe that scripture has much to say about how we should view current events.  Preaching a biblical world view on topical issues is very appropriate.

I would have agreed with you 15 years ago. However, were I in the pulpit now, I would have been comfortable telling my congregation that a vote for Obama is a vote for evil.

And I would respectfully counter your response by saying a pastor could preach against Obama's ideals from the pulpit scripturally...without ever mentioning his name...and in such a way that the message would still be crystal clear...

...and then, to seal the deal, the pastor could easily drive the point home as people shook his hand on the way out.  My husband and I, before he passed away, actually sought our pastor's counsel concerning several candidates for office during a particularly contentious election cycle.  We didn't follow his advice to the letter, but his thoughts were instrumental as we made our final decision on who to vote for. 

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

I don't believe a pastor should, from the pulpit, tell the congregation specifically who to vote for or against, but that being said, I believe that scripture has much to say about how we should view current events.  Preaching a biblical world view on topical issues is very appropriate.

I would have agreed with you 15 years ago. However, were I in the pulpit now, I would have been comfortable telling my congregation that a vote for Obama is a vote for evil.

I agree....but 

The impetus for this thread was a call I received last week from a Pastor friend who is being encouraged to run the for U.S. Senate in NC next year. I'm going to a luncheon Monday, Lord willing, to get the lay of the land.

Not sure how I feel about his (or any other Pastor) running for elected office.

 

[Castor Muscular]

Not sure how I feel about his running.

What's your take on his walking?

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Not sure how I feel about his running.

What's your take on his walking?

Hoping SC will insert a picture reflecting some stereotype to help me decide.  ;D

 

[Izdaari]

Pastors are citizens, and have every right to run for office. They're probably better qualified than the mob of mostly lawyers that are in office now.

But other than that, I don't go to church to hear about politics, and if I hear too much about it there, I'll leave for a different church.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

The current role for a pastor is unbiblical.  If pastors were just mere members of the body of Christ, as they should be, then whether or not they have political opinions wouldn't matter.

You keep coming back to this.
Instead of talking at you/ each other, give me an overview of what you feel the Biblical role of Pastor should be....THEN I'll talk at and over you.

 

[PappaBear]

I don't believe a pastor should, from the pulpit, tell the congregation specifically who to vote for or against, but that being said, I believe that scripture has much to say about how we should view current events.  Preaching a biblical world view on topical issues is very appropriate.

I would have agreed with you 15 years ago. However, were I in the pulpit now, I would have been comfortable telling my congregation that a vote for Obama is a vote for evil.

And I would respectfully counter your response by saying a pastor could preach against Obama's ideals from the pulpit scripturally...without ever mentioning his name...and in such a way that the message would still be crystal clear...

...and then, to seal the deal, the pastor could easily drive the point home as people shook his hand on the way out.  My husband and I, before he passed away, actually sought our pastor's counsel concerning several candidates for office during a particularly contentious election cycle.  We didn't follow his advice to the letter, but his thoughts were instrumental as we made our final decision on who to vote for.

I am disposed to agree with admin, but will have to go with Inf on this one.  It would be a mistake to narrow the focus to Obama.  It is the anti-Christian agenda as a whole that we should be concerned with.  It would be an error, I believe, to merely condemn Obama as representative of evil.  Once Obama is gone, those people may assume that evil is gone, and that is not the case.  Furthermore, regardless if he is good or evil, Obama is our President and we need to work with him.  A case in point would be the Apologies of Justin Martyr.

Instead, we need to equip our people with good Bible based principles for determining what is right so that they can use good judgment regardless of who the politician is. 

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Pastors are citizens, and have every right to run for office. They're probably better qualified than the mob of mostly lawyers that are in office now.

But other than that, I don't go to church to hear about politics, and if I hear too much about it there, I'll leave for a different church.

I don't go to hear about politics either.
But neither do I go to hear some cosmic teaching that has no bearing on real life, so to speak. If moral and Biblical issues are current political issues, I would have no problem teaching, preaching or listening to exposition on those issues.

I would say that many churches, because of your "ill go to a different church" attitude ( no personal offense meant), do stay away from any topic that might be taken as political.

 

[BandGuy]

I don't believe a pastor should, from the pulpit, tell the congregation specifically who to vote for or against, but that being said, I believe that scripture has much to say about how we should view current events.  Preaching a biblical world view on topical issues is very appropriate.

I would have agreed with you 15 years ago. However, were I in the pulpit now, I would have been comfortable telling my congregation that a vote for Obama is a vote for evil.

Would a vote for Romney have been a vote for the righteousness of Christ?  McCain?

 

[Izdaari]

I don't believe a pastor should, from the pulpit, tell the congregation specifically who to vote for or against, but that being said, I believe that scripture has much to say about how we should view current events.  Preaching a biblical world view on topical issues is very appropriate.

I would have agreed with you 15 years ago. However, were I in the pulpit now, I would have been comfortable telling my congregation that a vote for Obama is a vote for evil.

Would a vote for Romney have been a vote for the righteousness of Christ?  McCain?

I certainly don't think so. Rather, I believe my vote for Gary Johnson on the Libertarian Party ticket was the most righteous vote I could have cast.

 

[Castor Muscular]

The current role for a pastor is unbiblical.  If pastors were just mere members of the body of Christ, as they should be, then whether or not they have political opinions wouldn't matter.

You keep coming back to this.
Instead of talking at you/ each other, give me an overview of what you feel the Biblical role of Pastor should be....THEN I'll talk at and over you.

Pastors are members of the body of Christ.  That's all.  No more.  No less.  Pastors have a unique gift.  Some say it's the gift of comforting the flock especially when people are in need.  But it's one gift.  Say it's being a hand in the body of Christ.  Others have other gifts.  Everyone is co-equal in the body of Christ and everyone's function and gift has a place.  The eye has a place.  The big toe has a place.  Nobody is supposed to be the center of corporate worship except Christ. 

When the body of Christ meets in a NT Biblical way, every person has the option of input.  One might choose a song.  Another might teach something, generally extemporaneously, which is more likely to be Spirit-led.  Another might comfort some who need comfort (probably a pastor would do that).  Another might choose a Bible passage and read it, and perhaps even give thoughts on it.  And if the pastor OR ANYONE ELSE had a political opinion he thought was important to express, he would express it.  There would be no question as to whether that was appropriate, because the pastor isn't the focal point of the church.  He has a right to his opinion just like everyone else. 

Now, this is why the church building is wrong for the body of Christ.  In a typical church building, everyone is forced to sit facing front, and it is impolite to chat with the people around you.  The whole purpose of this arrangement is to force people to focus on the pastor and/or choir, etc., and become passive participants in an artificial ceremony.  It destroys any semblance with the NT assembly. 

By the way, why is extemporaneous speaking more likely to be Spirit-led?  Here's an old joke:  A pastor is writing his sermon for the upcoming service.  His daughter says, "How do you know what to write?"  The pastor says, "God tells me."  The daughter says, "Then why do you keep crossing stuff out?"