Christians in Politics – Issues over People and Parties

Recently, a number of pastors pledged to defy the IRS by preaching political sermons on a given Sunday.  They did so with the help of an organization called the American Center for Law and Justice (kind of a conservative version of the ACLU).  The plan was to challenge in court the constitutionality of the 1950’s era law that would deny non-profit status to organizations such as churches that engage in political activity.  Their method was to endorse John McCain for President, against Barack Obama, given the latter’s support for abortion.

In response, Cal Thomas, a respected conservative writer, wrote in his column that people go to church to worship God, not to hear political issues.  Thomas basically said that church is for worship, and should not include any references to such mundane, every-day issues.

With respect, they’re both wrong.

We should remember always that the “separation of church and state” was intended to keep government intrusion from the Church, not to keep the Church from participating in government or politics.  Further, that 1954 law should be overturned, as it is blatantly unconstitutional to disallow any private party from participating in politics and government.  Non-profit status exists to allow such organizations, be they secular or religious, to provide services to the community that removes some of the burden of such services from government; this should be encouraged and never threatened.

However, I believe the Church lowers itself when it engages in the endorsement (or opposition) to individuals.  Issues such as abortion, homosexual marriage, embryonic stem cell research, equal rights, care for the poor, etc. have a moral or ethical weight that the Church must address, and which define our society.  Endorsement of candidates puts the Church in such a partisan mode that we lose our credibility on moral issues as we are seen to align with a Party. 

Conversely, I find it ironic that many of the same people who criticize the Church as being irrelevant to everyday life are the same folks who want the Church to refrain from speaking up on everyday issues.  Yes, the Church gathers to worship God.  But those who gather are also citizens of our society, who desire to see the values of their faith reflected in politics and government.  It is the Church’s role and responsibility to give structure to applying biblical principles to such issues.

One of the most important aspects of Christian involvement in politics is this: our society (and the individuals that comprise it) will not be changed or reformed by new laws, new political leaders or any other governmental process.  Many believe that in order to “make a difference” in our world, they need to pass a law.  In many ways politics has become a religion. 

But after years in government and politics, I can say with great assurance that the only one who is capable of making the changes we want to see is Jesus Christ.  Yes, we must engage politics and our government, but we should do so not with faith in the process or the law, but in the one Lord who changes hearts – then we will see our society change as government follows.