The Covid lock down has had some positive side effects. One is that many churches, whether they are meeting in person or not, are also online with either web streaming or posting their sermons on YouTube or both. Over the last few weeks and months I have watched parts of many online services from a variety of different denominations.
One thing that bothers and outright annoys me however, is to see how many preachers have turned their pulpits into political soapboxes. Whether the issue be COVID conspiracy theories, the US presidential election, or God forbid, the scandal mess that is Canadian politics. Frankly, I am surprised that the congregants of such preachers tolerate this. I always assumed that people do not go to church to hear a political speech, but rather to worship God and be instructed in the Word of God. While it is mainly the mega church pastors with national and international profiles that are guilty of politicizing the pulpit, other churches are jumping on the bandwagon as well. More surprising is that it is primarily protestant churches – churches who profess to believe in the separation of church and state – who are guilty of this.
Let me clear up one thing right from the start of my rant, and that is that I am greatly interested in politics. Politics is my favourite spectator sport, and I follow political events the way others follow the Stanley Cup (when it can be followed). I have political convictions and opinions. And during my brief retirement, I even voiced some of them. But now that I am again practising ministry, I keep these views mainly to myself, and I bite my tongue when I am in the pulpit, or on social media, or this public blog.
The reasons for that go beyond the separation of church and state, though I believe in that firmly. As a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I am called, along with the entire Christian church, to proclaim that gospel to all people and all nations. No matter what a person’s political conviction, the good news of salvation in Christ is directed to them, and there is a place for them in the church.
The New Testament teaches, that the church is about the Kingdom of God. Jesus said that this kingdom is “not of this world”. (John 18:36) He also said, “The Kingdom of God is within you (or among you). (Luke 17:21) Actually, Jesus had a great deal to say about where the Kingdom of God comes from, how to get into it, who will be included, who will be excluded etc. Christians, when they pray the Lord’s Prayer, pray that “thy Kingdom come”. It is a mystery. It is already here, and it will one day come in a vert visible way. Right now it exists everywhere that Jesus truly is King, whether in an individual human life, or in gathered churches over which Jesus’ Kingdom of love and truth and justice truly reigns. The calling of all messengers of the Gospel, namely us preachers, is to work for the advancement of that kingdom.
The world of government and politics is its own world that is necessary for the preservation of order and peace in society. The New Testament clearly teaches that we are to pray for, and be subject to, the government of the day. In Romans 13:1 Paul makes the astounding statement that “there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” It is important to note that neither Paul, nor Jesus for that matter, lived under a democratic government. The Roman government in Jesus and Paul’s day was a ruthless autocratic and often cruel government. But neither Jesus nor Paul could be called political activists, and certainly they were not revolutionaries. Jesus urged His followers to “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what belongs to God.” (Matthew 22:21)
People often mistakenly assume that democracy is their God-given right. While I am thankful to live in a democracy, we must remember that Christianity flourished under the pagan autocratic regime, and under the regimes that followed it. It also flourishes today in countries that are not ruled by democratic governments.
Living as we do in a democracy, we do have the right to express political opinions even if they are contrary to the government of the day. We have a right to call out politicians who are corrupt, immoral, hypocritical or dictatorial. We have the right to advance our own ideas for solutions. But we do NOT have the right to mix this activity, and confuse it with our religion. When a nationally known preacher says on television, that “a true Christian cannot possibly vote for ….”, then in my opinion he has clearly stepped outside of his proper role of preaching the gospel (the good news of salvation through Christ). And that is a two way street. Politicians need to keep their nose out of the church and not prey on people of any religion to gain their support.
I was in Kenya in 2017, when the Supreme Court of that nation declared the results of the presidential election null and void, and ordered that a new election be held. I followed that election with great interest, and I have to say it was the nastiest campaign I have ever seen, and it included violence that led to many deaths. It also included politicians who visited churches on Sunday morning and were allowed to speak. After the service they would curse and tell lies about their opponent on the steps of the church. I witnessed politicians speaking at a funeral that I attended, and apparently they also visited weddings. Both weddings and funerals are usually largely attended events in Kenya and so considered fair game as places to go and seek votes. To his credit, the Principal at the college where I was teaching, got up in chapel one day and declared that he wanted teachers and students alike to leave their political opinions outside the gate of the college campus. And they did.
So what would I do if a politician came to my church? S/he would be welcomed and greeted as any other visitor (we usually do not announce names of visitors). They would be welcome to worship as anybody else. They would not however be allowed on the platform, nor would my message be tailored for or against them.
Let me end with an apparently true story. In a church in the British countryside the king of England unexpectedly walked into the church while the preacher was in the midst of his sermon. Immediately he changed what he was preaching on and launched into a eulogy of the king and the royal family. Later in the week a package was delivered to the preacher. Inside was a crucifix with this note: This crucifix is to be hung on the pillar opposite the pulpit, so that its occupant might be reminded of his proper subject.