Christian

Should the Church Preach Politics?

Cindy Dawson

Last Sunday morning, my father and I attended church virtually. The pastor delivered a powerful message that pointed to Christ. After that, another church service started. That pastor presented a powerful message, too, but powerful in a different way. I listened for a while, but I could hardly believe what I heard coming from the pulpit. It sounded more like a political rally than a church service.

I think we should carefully consider whether or not we, as the local church, will take a political stand. The United States is very divided right now along political lines.

The political preacher I referenced above really got under my skin because his beliefs were the opposite of mine. I know of another case where a Sunday School teacher took a political stance, but not everyone in this adult class was in agreement. This caused conflict between class members.

The temperature of political talk in the U.S. right now is hot! Seriously, you can easily get into an argument, even with people in your own party! Emotions are high and people are opinionated and outspoken.

So the question arises: Is the local church the place for political discussion and persuasion?

The U.S. is pretty much divided 50/50 politically. The way I figure it, a politically opinionated church will turn off all visitors of the opposite side. Do we really want to do that? Is our purpose political persuasion or sharing Christ? Does political persuasion turn people of differing opinions away? You bet it does!

I would further suggest that preaching politics only encourages people who agree, and does nothing to change anyone’s mind.

I believe the local church should be open for all people of all political persuasion. The church should lead people to Christ, disciple them, and teach the Word of God. What people believe about politics is their business.

The point is this: If a church takes a political position, then it has shut the door to about half of the people who might potentially attend and be led to accept Christ and follow Him. To do so would slam the door in the face of many lost souls.

We must ask ourselves: What is the purpose of the local church? We must answer that question and seek to fulfill it.

Nowhere in the New Testament does Jesus preach politics, nor does He command His disciples to do so. He is our example. His purpose was to save the lost, not to change the government. The Roman government of Jesus’ day was brutal and cruel, yet Jesus did not set out to change it. He was changing hearts.

We are commanded to love: Love our neighbor, love the Body of Christ, and even love our enemies. Our assignment is clear.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.ā€ Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

Jesus replied: ā€œā€˜Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.ā€™ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ā€˜Love your neighbor as yourself.ā€™ Matthew 22:37-39 NIV

The only hope for our nation is Jesus Christ. And not Jesus Christ dictated from Congress or the White House, but Jesus alive in us and our neighbors. And the only way for that to happen is for you and me to focus on making disciples by loving and reaching to people of all walks of life and background, regardless of their lifestyle, choices or political opinions. And, in order to do that, we have to tone down our politics and turn up our Jesus.”

daryl fulp, Missionary

Let us strive to obey the commands that Jesus has given us, and put our trust in Him alone.

With Love, Cindy

Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

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48 thoughts on “Should the Church Preach Politics?”

  1. Pingback: Should the Church Preach Politics? ā€” Real Christian Women – Reasoned Cases for Christ

  3. I totally agree. Church is suppose to be a place of solace; a place to praise our Lord; a place heal; and a place to learn to love our enemies. Politics have always been subjective to opinion…man’s opinion…and that is not what we go to learn. This discussion should be brought to the pastor and he should be reminded that “We are not of this world.” It is a place to feed our souls. I am with you all the way. Christians should all agree on this. We should pray for the state of our country and the world. We should pray we can return the Lord to our land to heal us.

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  5. Hi Cindy, my good friend Bruce Cooper sent us over here. Great to see your insightful article.

    Here is part of a response I had to Bruce on a similar topic:

    We are here to be a light for the kingdom of God and not the city of man. Iā€™m not personally moved over the issue of whether American or Canada is a ā€œChristian Nationā€.

    I donā€™t think Jesus wants us to make ā€œChristian Nationsā€.

    Jesus makes our mission clear. We are to ā€œmake disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.ā€

    It is all about ā€œGodā€™s kingdom come, Godā€™s will be done, on earth as it is in heavenā€.

    Our focus should be on the kingdom of God and the kingdom of God alone.

    ===================End of comments to Bruce==========

    So, I think one of the first questions to address is does the Bible speak about all life including politics or not.

    ā€œWhether you eat or drink,ā€ says Paul, ā€œor whatever you do, do all to the glory of Godā€ (1 Corinthians 10:31). Can we do politics to the glory of God?

    Paul also says that ā€œAll Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for. . . training in righteousness,ā€ so that we may be ā€œcomplete, equipped for every good workā€ (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

    Is voting in an election is part of ā€œevery good workā€ that God wants us to do, and that gives a reason why we should expect Scripture to be ā€œprofitable for . . . trainingā€ in what kinds of candidates and policies we should support.

    If a pastor goes through an entire election season and gives no teaching about the Bibleā€™s application to political questions, he will be acting as if the Bible is irrelevant to political questions. Then how will his listeners ever think that the Bible is relevant for all of life?

    It seems to me that many modern political issues were moral issues that the Bible talked about long before they became political issues in modern society ā€“ such as freedom of religion, abortion, sexuality, care for the poor, and racial discrimination. Should pastors not preach about such moral issues when they have implications for politics? Should they remain silent on an issue like abortion?

    Would love to get your insight on this.

    Thanks, and blessings from mighty King Jesus!

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    1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Michael. It’s a complicated issue, isn’t it? I agree that pastors should teach Biblical truth, even when it is controversial in today’s world (like abortion). Pastors should not remain silent on Biblical truth even when it is unpopular. When a church leader takes a political side, and assumes his opinion is right, then I think it is problematic. There are sincere Christians who are Republicans and there are sincere Christians who are Democrats. Blessings Michael!

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      1. Well said. We ought to speak for spiritual truth even if it bleeds into “politics”. That said, we don’t have to make the issue “Political Only”.

        For example, individuals decide to have abortions. The government doesn’t make them (at least in America”.

        Blessings.

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  6. Pingback: Should the Church Preach Politics? | Talmidimblogging

  7. I donā€™t believe the church should be political. Because the church has to pick a side. The problem is that both sides arenā€™t right biblically.

    And the closer we get to the Lord, we understand what government is about.

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  8. “The point is this: If a church takes a political position, then it has shut the door to about half of the people who might potentially attend and be led to accept Christ and follow Him. To do so would slam the door in the face of many lost souls.” This! Such an important point!

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  10. I sometimes wonder how many potential Christians have felt repelled from the faith altogether due to the vocally-political and angry-God-condemnation brand of the religion, perhaps which more resembles the God of the Jehovah’s Witness faith, Quran and Torah.

    Our collective human need for retributive ā€˜justiceā€™ā€”regardless of Christ (and great spiritual leaders) having emphasized unconditional forgivenessā€”may be intrinsically linked to the same unfortunate morally-flawed aspect of humankind that enables the most horrible acts of violent cruelty to readily occur on this planet.

    As a believer in Christā€™s unmistakable miracles, I personally like to picture Jesus as being one whoā€™d enjoy a belly-shaking laugh over a good, albeit clean, joke with his disciples, rather than always being the stoically serious type of savior.

    Imagine a creator who has a great sense of humor rather than foremost a fire-and-brimstone bad temper!

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  11. There are political issues (like the sanctity of human life) that definitely have spiritual repercussions. But if we point people to GOD first, instead of to the issues, once they know Him and trust in the truth of the Bible, HE will guide their hearts and minds in the right direction.

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  12. You’re quite welcome. ….

    As an afterthought, a Hollywood depiction of Christ (and his disciples, for the most part, including Mary Magdalene) that I really enjoyed watching recently on DVD is the 2018 film ‘Mary Magdalene’.

    Before watching it, I wrongly thought the producers couldnā€™t have resisted including a cheap shot (e.g. The Last Temptation of Christ) at the Jesus figure.

    The first scene with Jesus (well-played by Joaquin Phoenix) has him urging his will-be followersā€”and all of humanity, reallyā€”to let go of their physical world material ties, etcetera, with a voice and facial expression that clearly reveals the weight of the world on his shoulders.

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  13. Amen, Cindy. I have been praying for the church because politics is tearing our churches apart. It is sad. Some have gotten so hostile, and demonizing each other, that many are leaving long time positions, and just many other are too afraid to go to church because of the hostility (on top of the Covid concerns). I have several friends who have left their church, or cannot bear to watch their own pastor continuing to cause more division and hostility, and only cite the bible to praise another name besides Jesus! šŸ˜¦
    Thanks for sharing your post. I pray for you too! God is very in control. He is not the least bit surprised. I too think of Jesus well understanding, as He lived up under the oppression and thirst for blood of the Romans to His own people. He grew up watching it, and witnessed it to and with His own death. He has not abandon us. He just asks us to trust His will and His omniscience.
    Me and God love you, Cindy! ā¤

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  15. I hope I do not anger anyone when I state that I do not agree with Virtual Church .
    Jesus had the Sermon on the Mount.
    There was Leprosy, Palsy, Plagues, Pestilence, Demon Posession…
    Gathering outside is Good. ā˜€ļøšŸŒ„

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