Why I think Christian leaders supporting a political candidate is a very bad idea

I did a very immature thing once. Actually I've done several things over the years that you could pile into the immature category, but only one of them is the object of discussion today.

A few years back, when the Christian Right was all the rage, I got so irritated at the posturing and politicizing of groups like the Christian Coalition and the Moral Majority, that I actually threw my vote away. I purposefully voted for a candidate that I knew could not win…one I didn't particularly agree with…just because I was so fed up with the attitudes that the candidate I normally would support had surrounded himself with. There were voter guides and phone trees and prominent Christian leaders telling me why one candidate was truly "Christian" and the other was not. So I bailed…threw that sucker away…might as well have stayed home and not voted.

I feel better now, having said that.

Unfortunately, I'm irritated again. This time it was the Christian Left that first triggered it.

It may have started when I saw a political ad for Barrack Obama, sponsored by the Matthew 25 network, featuring Brian McLaren and Kirby Jon Caldwell, two prominent pastors. In the ad, both encouraged me to vote for their candidate, who, according to them, is a fine Christian father and husband. He probably is…that's not the point. The point was that two pastors were using their influence to back a political candidate.

Then I started seeing on blogs and twitters pastor friends endorsing one candidate or another. This weekend, many of my friends will come as close as they can to publicly supporting a candidate. While I understand, and to some degree share their passion for the direction of our country, I don't think that's smart, and I'll tell you why:

1. It's not wise to hitch our wagons to a political horse (or donkey or elephant for that matter). Politics is fundamentally about power: gaining it, keeping it, and controlling it. It's a rough game that I'm not sure the church needs to be too closely aligned too. Players change, situations arise, and sometimes people don't follow thru on best intentions…and suddenly the horse is going a direction we didn't sign up for…and before we know it, we are painted with the same brush that others are painting the people in power with. I'm pretty sure that's not good for the cause of Christ.
   
   David Kuo spent nearly three years as second in command at the president's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. In his book, "Tempting Faith: An inside story of political seduction", he says that his experience was deeply troubling as he saw how his Christian values, and those of millions of Americans, were being corrupted by politics. Instead of following the teachings of Jesus to serve the needy, Kuo found himself helping to manipulate religious faith for political gain.
   
   Can I make a bold statement? I'm not sure that the Bush White House or the Republican Party has a corner on the market in the art of "manipulating religious faith for political gain." If you believe they do, I've got a docile donkey I'd like to sell you cheap. The end game for politics and the end game for the church are not the same. At times they may look similar, in the best of times they can complement each other, but they are a very different animal.
   
   I'm not bashing politicians. I'm also not suggesting that Christians shouldn't seek to serve in the halls of power. I'm just saying that pastors and Christian leaders should think twice about loaning their influence to anyone or anything for any price…even if it's free. (I'm actually proud of myself for not using the word "prostituting".)
   
   We have many Godly men and women who serve in the political arena who also attend Seacoast, not the least of which is the Governor of our state. I am his pastor, sometimes confidant, and hopefully friend. His name was mentioned as a possible candidate for vice president, and who knows, he may yet serve in another capacity. I will encourage him, if asked I will advise him, but he knows I will not get up and publicly endorse him. That would not be smart for me and frankly could be detrimental to him. (Can you say John Hagee, Rod Parsley, or Jeremiah Wright)
   
2. Endorsing a candidate limits who you will minister too in the future. Very few things divide like politics. If this election is close, there will be about 50% of the nation who will be very happy. If it is a landslide, there will be a little under 50% who will work very hard to "throw the bums out" in four years. The next election starts November 5^th. If you want to draw a line in the sand and choose teams, just take sides in politics. I do not want to shut down future ministry to half of the available population because they see Seacoast as in one camp or another. I reserve the right to be a prophetic voice about abortion, or justice, or poverty, or anything else I see as a Biblical issue. We talk about all of them here, but if people see me as a voice of one party or another, then the volume of my message gets muted and categorized by those who don't share my party affiliation.
   
   I was invited by our congressman to open a session of congress in prayer. It was an honor and an experience that I will treasure always. I brought along a childhood friend to share the day, and as we were getting the inside tour and secretly pinching ourselves to see if this was all real, I asked him a question: "Who is the most powerful person here today?"
   
   He answered, "The speaker of the House"…to which I replied "No". He offered several other names and offices…finally giving up. "It's us", I said. "We give them counsel, prayer, encouragement, rebuke…and we answer to a higher power." After letting that soak in, we discussed how quickly you can give that power up when you become indebted to a politician or political party. Suddenly, you find yourself working for them. Serving their agenda. Power is seductive, but when bowed too, suddenly narrows the scope of who you will minister too.
   
3. My third reason is admittedly going to be a bit of a stretch. Here goes: I don't think Jesus would do it.
   
   To pretend to speak for God is dangerous territory here…that's why I said "I don't think" instead of "Jesus definitely wouldn't". But, that being said, I don't think you would find Jesus stumping for Barrack Obama OR John McCain in Pennsylvania a week before the election. I think he loves both of them, but I'm not sure politics is his gig. They tried to pull him in during the time he lived in Palestine, but he never took the bait. And, if it's not his gig, I'm not sure it ought to be ours (talking about Pastors here).
   
   What would Jesus do? Don't know…but I'd guess he would agonize in prayer, maybe all night, then go vote his conscience…and then just pretty much keep his mouth shut about it.
   
   Kind of sounds like some good advice for us.
   
   What do you think?

Comments

[Robert Pooley]

Well written... I agree totally.

[Maurilio Amorim]

Great advice for those of us in ministry who have a responsibility to reach out to lost people in both parties. This is timely and well written.

Maurilio

[Bennett Smith]

Thanks Greg, for Pastoring us Pastors. You are a great example and I appreciate your wisdom and humility.

[Sean A. Scapellato]

Pastor Greg,

Articulate, well-reasoned commentary, a position I applaud. Many men of faith, particularly those in high profile churches, will sometimes use rhetoric to "veil" their true political choices, but nevertheless, still push their opinions upon their congregation--all in the guise of encouraging their flock to vote.

In other words, vote, but vote correctly.

While we lay people are out there playing in this political traffic, you have very wisely waited for the crosswalk.

(Not a big blog commenter, but I was having a proud-of-my-pastor moment.)

much love, sean scapellato

[Scott Helsel]

Wow! I appreciate someone taking a stand! As a new pastor I have been very cautious or even unwilling to discuss my personal views for the fear that it will viewed as endorsement.
However - in recent days I've had to fend off a wide array of individuals assuming that a vote for McCain or the Republican party is the only option for a Christian. I think it is time that we start debunking the Christian = Republican myth. I know plenty of lovers of Jesus who vote Democrat or Independent as well. As you put it - would Jesus spend his time making sure others knew he was one or the other? I think not!!!
Once again - you challenged me and you stretched me - Blessings - Scott

[john bishop]

Greg

Great blog my friend. Couldn't have said it better, in fact I won't, I will just copy your blog to everyone who asks and they are.

Praying for you, hoping to get out that way next year.

See you at the Innovation gig.

john

[Janet Martineau]

Right on Pastor. I totally agree with you. As a pastor I think you need to keep your preferences private, God loves both candidates.
Thank you Lord for the wisdom you give my Pastor. Bless him in Jesus name....

[Jennifer D.]

"I'm a Christian first an American/patriot second" (I stole that from another blogger)
Isn't the point of being a true lover and follower of Christ to love people and be a light for Christ? Leading people joyfully, humbly, lovingly, compassionately to the lord should be the first priority. I feel that the being a Christian equals voting Republican sentiment that is always being suggested by "the right" can be very counter productive to our mission. Pastors who endorse can unintentionally alienate.
THANK YOU for not endorsing but keeping the doors of the church you lead open wide to ALL who love the Lord and those who want a place to come to know Him.

[Don]

(suspecting that I might have been cut off in my epistle, if this seems a bit disjoint)

In short, Greg, thank you for putting forth in a message earlier this year that politics tends to divide us and that your place adn that of the Church IS to unite us.

[Robert Rippee]

Well said Greg, I think Jesus would reach into the hearts of these two men and they would immediately know which of them best to lead this country.

But what bothers me is the polarizing effect this has on those who are not part of a Christian right or left. They turn away the very people that need their message. I see it every day, I hear about it from young people in my company and in our industry.

People who are looking for answers and see self-righteous hypocrisy in its place...so then what is the difference between these political media hounds and The Pharisees? Not much in my opinion, its about the political power not the Message.

[Ava Semerau]

Thanks for saying what so many of us are thinking. As an American expat, I've not been bombarded by all the tv/radio/print ads during this election cycle, but I've been keeping abreast of things online and via various news sources and have been deeply saddened by the very thing you're talking about - this religo-political strong-arming from all sides that seems to forget that God's Kingdom already has a Leader. I look forward to lurking around to see what else you have to say! Thanks again for your boldness - AVA

[Pastor Marc]

I am so sorry you feel that way,I beleieve it time for pastors to use there influence for good,not to really endorse canidates but to guide people who God has entrusted to us to vote Bibical values, by not getting involved you are saying well I am not sure if we need to guide people to stay with a bibical agenda.If a canidate holds a platform of liberal slat we need to expose it or the nation our forefathers founded on God will dissappear.just remember sin is sin no matter what party you are a part of.be blessed

[Ron]

You make some good points,and I agree with most of them. Although you may not agree with Rod Parsley or John Hagee, you can't seriously be comparing them to Jeremiah Wright.