Top 10 Reasons for Pastors to Avoid Politics

Smellin Coffee

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Top 10 Reasons for Pastors to Avoid Politics

10. Because no one trained you properly to get involved with politics—and a little seminar, however exciting, won’t make up for that yawning deficit. (Do you think politicians can be trained to be pastors by attending a seminar?)

9. Because no one hired you to get involved with politics. (And if they did, they shouldn’t have: See #10.)

8. Because pastors are supposed to call us toward the ideal and the ultimate, while politicians have to compromise over the real and the immediate.

7. Because the Scriptures (your main area of intellectual expertise—right?) are, at best, only suggestive and regulative over the field of politics (a quite different area of intellectual expertise—right? See #10 again).

6. Because you’ll alienate a considerable part of your constituency who see political matters differently, and will hold that difference against you, thus losing the benefits of your pastoral care and authority.

5. Because you need to consider the troubling fact that you’re not alienating a considerable part of your constituency, so why is your church so uniform in its politics?

4. Because governments come and go, and you need to reserve the sacred right to prophesy to whoever is in power.

3. Because politicians come and go, and you need to reserve the sacred right to comfort whoever is not, or no longer, in power.

2. Because politics brings out the worst in people, and you’re supposed to bring out the best in people.

1. Because politics brings out the worst in people, and unless you’re an exception (like Tommy Douglas), politics will bring out the worst in you.
 
Don't you know SC that some people believe is that at the Great Commission that Jesus instructed the Apostles to teach whatever he commanded, and make Republicans.
 
Recovering IFB said:
Don't you know SC that some people believe is that at the Great Commission that Jesus instructed the Apostles to teach whatever he commanded, and make Republicans.

Well, of course! For two election cycles we've been told that Christianity shouldn't be tied to the Republican Party.

By people who wanted us to vote for Obama, natch.
 
Smellin Coffee said:
Top 10 Reasons for Pastors to Avoid Politics

10. Because no one trained you properly to get involved with politics—and a little seminar, however exciting, won’t make up for that yawning deficit. (Do you think politicians can be trained to be pastors by attending a seminar?)

.



I'm just curious, so just where does a politician get "trained" to lie , cheat, master the art of double speak, fleece the people...so on and so forth...?





 
Top reason why Pastors have to get involved in politics:

Because after the politicians shut down dissenting,
florists, bakers and picture makers,
while the Pastor cared only for how many attending,
then the only jobs will be to fakers,
and Bible preaching by Goverment be amending.

With much apology to the Protestant pastor Niemöller  (1892–1984)

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.


Now having fulfilled Goodwin's Law (which I prefer to call God wins), we can move on/

Had the pastors shut up as the IRS demands now, there would have been no American Revolution.
 
cubanito said:
Top reason why Pastors have to get involved in politics:

Because after the politicians shut down dissenting,
florists, bakers and picture makers,
while the Pastor cared only for how many attending,
then the only jobs will be to fakers,
and Bible preaching by Goverment be amending.

With much apology to the Protestant pastor Niemöller  (1892–1984)

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.


Now having fulfilled Goodwin's Law (which I prefer to call God wins), we can move on/

Had the pastors shut up as the IRS demands now, there would have been no American Revolution.

A couples of things.  It is one thing to take a stand on specific moral issues (ie-abortion) as opposed to lining up with a political party. It appropriate for a pastor to take a moral stand as opposed to posting why liberals are idiotic 8).  For the most part the IRS has been tolerant to both the right and the left when it comes to political speech in church.
 
Bob H said:
Smellin Coffee said:
Top 10 Reasons for Pastors to Avoid Politics

10. Because no one trained you properly to get involved with politics—and a little seminar, however exciting, won’t make up for that yawning deficit. (Do you think politicians can be trained to be pastors by attending a seminar?)

.



I'm just curious, so just where does a politician get "trained" to lie , cheat, master the art of double speak, fleece the people...so on and so forth...?

I think we are all born that way. 
 
Smellin Coffee said:
Top 10 Reasons for Pastors to Avoid Politics

10. Because no one trained you properly to get involved with politics—and a little seminar, however exciting, won’t make up for that yawning deficit. (Do you think politicians can be trained to be pastors by attending a seminar?)

9. Because no one hired you to get involved with politics. (And if they did, they shouldn’t have: See #10.)

8. Because pastors are supposed to call us toward the ideal and the ultimate, while politicians have to compromise over the real and the immediate.

7. Because the Scriptures (your main area of intellectual expertise—right?) are, at best, only suggestive and regulative over the field of politics (a quite different area of intellectual expertise—right? See #10 again).

6. Because you’ll alienate a considerable part of your constituency who see political matters differently, and will hold that difference against you, thus losing the benefits of your pastoral care and authority.

5. Because you need to consider the troubling fact that you’re not alienating a considerable part of your constituency, so why is your church so uniform in its politics?

4. Because governments come and go, and you need to reserve the sacred right to prophesy to whoever is in power.

3. Because politicians come and go, and you need to reserve the sacred right to comfort whoever is not, or no longer, in power.

2. Because politics brings out the worst in people, and you’re supposed to bring out the best in people.

1. Because politics brings out the worst in people, and unless you’re an exception (like Tommy Douglas), politics will bring out the worst in you.

What a crock!
 
A good article worth a read -

http://www.newswithviews.com/Anghis/roger127.htm

In the build up to the Revolutionary War the pastors played a pivotal role in the forming of the opinions and beliefs of those who took part in wrenching the Americas from the grasp of Great Britain. They didn’t just preach an inspirational message, they preached the Biblical values that became the foundation of this nation and then when the war broke out, they took off their robes and put on a uniform and went out to the battlefield with musket in hand. The idea of a conscientious objector did not come from the church.
 
So, in short, they violated the direct commands of scripture.
 
Personally I would agree if we are talking about just political issues...or driving people toward a particular partisan group....but the reality is that politics have co opted every issue, even those that are biblical in nature, requiring the church to speak & even to stand!
 
It's impossible to separate politics and faith. "Jesus is Lord" was and still is a very political statement. With that said, I have a huge issue with this new push to get pastors to run for political office. If the pastorate is a calling, it seems kind of off that one could so quickly abandon it for the pursuit of political power.
 
Tarheel Baptist said:
Smellin Coffee said:
Top 10 Reasons for Pastors to Avoid Politics

10. Because no one trained you properly to get involved with politics—and a little seminar, however exciting, won’t make up for that yawning deficit. (Do you think politicians can be trained to be pastors by attending a seminar?)

9. Because no one hired you to get involved with politics. (And if they did, they shouldn’t have: See #10.)

8. Because pastors are supposed to call us toward the ideal and the ultimate, while politicians have to compromise over the real and the immediate.

7. Because the Scriptures (your main area of intellectual expertise—right?) are, at best, only suggestive and regulative over the field of politics (a quite different area of intellectual expertise—right? See #10 again).

6. Because you’ll alienate a considerable part of your constituency who see political matters differently, and will hold that difference against you, thus losing the benefits of your pastoral care and authority.

5. Because you need to consider the troubling fact that you’re not alienating a considerable part of your constituency, so why is your church so uniform in its politics?

4. Because governments come and go, and you need to reserve the sacred right to prophesy to whoever is in power.

3. Because politicians come and go, and you need to reserve the sacred right to comfort whoever is not, or no longer, in power.

2. Because politics brings out the worst in people, and you’re supposed to bring out the best in people.

1. Because politics brings out the worst in people, and unless you’re an exception (like Tommy Douglas), politics will bring out the worst in you.

What a crock!

Why?  We have built churches where only Republicans feel welcome
 
LongGone said:
Tarheel Baptist said:
Smellin Coffee said:
Top 10 Reasons for Pastors to Avoid Politics

10. Because no one trained you properly to get involved with politics—and a little seminar, however exciting, won’t make up for that yawning deficit. (Do you think politicians can be trained to be pastors by attending a seminar?)

9. Because no one hired you to get involved with politics. (And if they did, they shouldn’t have: See #10.)

8. Because pastors are supposed to call us toward the ideal and the ultimate, while politicians have to compromise over the real and the immediate.

7. Because the Scriptures (your main area of intellectual expertise—right?) are, at best, only suggestive and regulative over the field of politics (a quite different area of intellectual expertise—right? See #10 again).

6. Because you’ll alienate a considerable part of your constituency who see political matters differently, and will hold that difference against you, thus losing the benefits of your pastoral care and authority.

5. Because you need to consider the troubling fact that you’re not alienating a considerable part of your constituency, so why is your church so uniform in its politics?

4. Because governments come and go, and you need to reserve the sacred right to prophesy to whoever is in power.

3. Because politicians come and go, and you need to reserve the sacred right to comfort whoever is not, or no longer, in power.

2. Because politics brings out the worst in people, and you’re supposed to bring out the best in people.

1. Because politics brings out the worst in people, and unless you’re an exception (like Tommy Douglas), politics will bring out the worst in you.

What a crock!

Why?  We have built churches where only Republicans feel welcome

What a crock!
 
1- When the last national pro-life Democrat, Scoop Jackson retired he stated that he had not left the Democratic party, the Democratic party had left him. Then we had the spectacle of a tinly minority of Democratic congressmen helping pass Obamacare because, despite what the law clearly said, Obama had given them a personal reassurance. In my Church there is no political party preached or pushed from the pulpit. A pro-homicide Republican well feel just as unwelcome as the vast majority of Democrat politicians who are pro-homicide.

2- It is true that American Pastors during the revolution did indeed go against the Scriptures when preaching rebellion against England; just as many also twisted Scripture not much later to justify American slavery which was very different than that allowed for in the Bible.  I understand this undermines my point. Truth is not always convenient, and I will acknowledge it even if I wish it were not so.

3- There is however nothing wrong with pastors running for office, or urging people to vote on Biblical principles including the very first requirement to have any principles: life. We live in a representitive democracy where it is considered a civic duty to vote, and where redress of wrongs by the ballot box, including political office, is at least on paper encouraged. A pastor running for office is an exemplar of a good citizen. Where we under a Roman Empire or other tyrannical system, our duties may be different.

4- I'm breaking my 3 part routine to comment on the ABSURD statement that the IRS has been even handed politically. So far my attack has been at the comment, but I find it difficult to write any further without falling into ad hominem against the person who wrote it. How many emails were erased in covering up the IRS anti-tea party scandal?  All Govt burecrauts, but especially the IRS, have a vested interest in growing government.  If you believe the IRS is as sagacious investigating Jesse Jackson or the Clintons as say Glenn Beck or Jeb Bush you are ....you see, I can't write anymore, I'm losing it.
 
Long Gone wrote:
"... For the most part the IRS has been tolerant to both the right and the left when it comes to political speech in church."

I do have something nice to say to way far Long Gone: kudos on the appropiate name for your mind sir!

Now you've gone and made me do it! It is 100% Long, way, way, far off in a distant galaxy, Gone that made me post this ad hominem. I am not responsible for this atack. I was provoked. That's my story and no matter how absurd I am sticking to it.

After all, my story should be credible to someone who believes the IRS has no political agenda.

 
Tarheel Baptist said:
LongGone said:
Tarheel Baptist said:
Smellin Coffee said:
Top 10 Reasons for Pastors to Avoid Politics

10. Because no one trained you properly to get involved with politics—and a little seminar, however exciting, won’t make up for that yawning deficit. (Do you think politicians can be trained to be pastors by attending a seminar?)

9. Because no one hired you to get involved with politics. (And if they did, they shouldn’t have: See #10.)

8. Because pastors are supposed to call us toward the ideal and the ultimate, while politicians have to compromise over the real and the immediate.

7. Because the Scriptures (your main area of intellectual expertise—right?) are, at best, only suggestive and regulative over the field of politics (a quite different area of intellectual expertise—right? See #10 again).

6. Because you’ll alienate a considerable part of your constituency who see political matters differently, and will hold that difference against you, thus losing the benefits of your pastoral care and authority.

5. Because you need to consider the troubling fact that you’re not alienating a considerable part of your constituency, so why is your church so uniform in its politics?

4. Because governments come and go, and you need to reserve the sacred right to prophesy to whoever is in power.

3. Because politicians come and go, and you need to reserve the sacred right to comfort whoever is not, or no longer, in power.

2. Because politics brings out the worst in people, and you’re supposed to bring out the best in people.

1. Because politics brings out the worst in people, and unless you’re an exception (like Tommy Douglas), politics will bring out the worst in you.

What a crock!

Why?  We have built churches where only Republicans feel welcome

What a crock!

Your well thought out and articulate arguments are so compelling :D
 
rsc2a said:
It's impossible to separate politics and faith. "Jesus is Lord" was and still is a very political statement. With that said, I have a huge issue with this new push to get pastors to run for political office. If the pastorate is a calling, it seems kind of off that one could so quickly abandon it for the pursuit of political power.

If we do not run for office and involve ourselves in politics, then we should not complain when our elected government, which we chose not to be a part of, makes decisions we don't agree with,
 
rsc2a said:
It's impossible to separate politics and faith. "Jesus is Lord" was and still is a very political statement. With that said, I have a huge issue with this new push to get pastors to run for political office. If the pastorate is a calling, it seems kind of off that one could so quickly abandon it for the pursuit of political power.

Holy Smokes! I agree with you! ;D
 
groupie said:
rsc2a said:
It's impossible to separate politics and faith. "Jesus is Lord" was and still is a very political statement. With that said, I have a huge issue with this new push to get pastors to run for political office. If the pastorate is a calling, it seems kind of off that one could so quickly abandon it for the pursuit of political power.

If we do not run for office and involve ourselves in politics, then we should not complain when our elected government, which we chose not to be a part of, makes decisions we don't agree with,

Please stop making sensible statements that threaten to dispel the haze that passes for liberal thought. It is rude, and pastors, like Jesus, should never be rude.

Now, about that bridge I have for sale in Brooklyn,.,
 
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