Polit-igion from the Pulpit

On September 28, pastors from over 20 states preached “politically-based” sermons from the pulpit as part of a protest against the IRS’s restrictions on 501(c)(3) tax exempt organizations from endorsing a political candidate. These pastors (33 in total) say that they have a Constitutional right to advise their congregants on how to vote (read more here).

Two of the things that I am most passionate about at this point in time are my Savior and politics (in that order), and I feel like both of them are being abused by these pastors.

First of all, let’s talk about the Constitutional right. These pastors stated that the IRS rule stifles their “freedom of (religious) expression.” This rule, though, simply disallows them from ENDORSING a candidate, not discussing political issues or describing what both candidates believe. If pastors feel that their religious expression is being stifled because they can’t walk onto a pulpit and say, “Hey, congregation, you need to vote for __________”, then I think they have way bigger problems than just dealing with the IRS! What a shame it is that American politics and Christianity have become so entwined that people feel their being religiously stifled when they can’t tell congregants what political candidate to vote for.

One pastor used this September 28th protest to tell his congregants not to vote for Barack Obama because of his stance on gay marriage and abortion, two issues that, in his opinion, “transcend all others.” Have Christians really whittled everything Jesus says in the four Gospels down to abortion and gay marriage? Do you mean to tell me that the six or so verses (none of which came from Christ) that talk about homosexuality are of greater value and transcendence to God than all those times that Jesus told us to take care of the poor or love one another? What a gross misrepresentation of Christ’s life and priorities.

I personally appreciate the IRS rule, because (among other reasons) it helps keeps politics and religion in America separate. I think this separation is important because (from one perspective) I do not want my government telling me what religious entity I must believe in. From the other perspective, what happens when congregants disagree with their pastor’s mandate regarding who they should vote for? Do they think they’ve sinned if they vote for the other candidate? Could they be excommunicated? Could the pastor confront them (publically or privately) about their decision, much like a pastor may do if a member is living an adulterous or addictive lifestyle? My Bible doesn’t say anything about abortion, nor does it say anything regarding the state legalization of same-sex marriages. So, pastor, you can preach to me about values, tell me what both candidates believe, and even give me your opinion on certain issues, but leave the endorsements for our personal conversations outside of the church. After all, God doesn’t endorse either candidate–when you’re speaking for Him, you shouldn’t either.

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Tags: 501(c)(3), ADF Protest, IRS, religious endorsement

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