I had an interesting online conversation yesterday about whether or not churches should be taxed, and part of the argument centered around politics. It is clear that I personally comment often about politics, more against the right than the left, and that, as a pastor of a church, might be seen as crossing the line. In my professional life, I preach about moral issues, most of which have been hijacked by both parties to build a case against their opponents. When a moral issue is also a political issue, am I allowed to speak or write about it? And being ordained and serving a church, do I lose the right to speak about politics in general? Anyone who has attended the churches I have served knows that I don’t mention politicians or parties, unless those two have crossed over into religion, like the recent Bible selling by our former president.
What about Jesus – did He get political? Theologian John Dominic Crossan – among many others – would say that the moment He started talking about the Kingdom of God, He became political. There is no doubt that Jesus understood the K of G as a replacement for worldly kingdoms. “If Jesus is the Son of God, then Caeser was not.” When Jesus was told that King Herod was looking for Him, He said, “31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”32 He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, “Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem. Luke 13” That seems pretty political. In that same chapter, Jesus spoke about Pilate, a politician representing Rome. Jesus was crucified by Rome, not His religion. That was a political execution.
Jefferson’s wall of separation quote was not about keeping politics and religion totally separate; it was to keep them from controlling each other. I tell my congregation that if they don’t vote, they should trade places with someone from China; they are just dying to vote. I would never tell anyone who or what to vote for, but I will discuss the moral ramifications of a bill or a politician’s action. If a politician is working to hurt, say, the LGBTQ community, I will speak to the immorality of that. If people’s rights are being infringed, it is our duty to advocate for them. Is it political to be an ally for groups being damaged by our imperfect political system? Religious people are called to speak up for those who are being oppressed; silence is complicity. I will not have any politician speak in my church, but I will have conversations with them about the welfare of the community.
My experience is that most people like it when I speak up for something they want, but not so much when they disagree with me. You can’t have it both ways – I am an equal opportunity dissenter. As Jesus was – which is, by the way, where I get it. We can’t just follow Him when it suits us; we have to pay attention to everything He said and did and do our best to follow with integrity and grace.
Prayer – Holy God, give us Your Spirit to speak the truth with love – even when people don’t want to hear it. Amen.
Today’s art is unnamed, and I could not find the artist.