FIVE (5) Important Points About Pastoral Involvement in Politics

It’s the election season and people are passionate. Any person slightly involved in social media has seen the flurry and firestorm of opinions with regards to candidates, platforms, nominations, and the general election. It is as passionate and crazy as I have ever seen in my lifetime.

One of the common themes or comments I see repeatedly is the cry for more pastors to be involved in the political process. It stretches from simple wishful thinking to an all out assault on pastoral integrity. Believe me, I get the frustrations and the dynamics of pastoral involvement better than most. I am not only a pastor who is deeply involved in cultural engagement and the political process, but I believe a part of my calling is to help fellow pastors cross the bridge to more meaningful involvement. I understand what it is like to lead people in a real live congregation in these matters as well as reach out to pastors and understand their reluctance to open up this can. I have on more occasions than I can count challenged my colleagues to get on the field and use their influence in this arena for “righteousness exalts a nation”. I have also tried to lead people in executing a better and more biblical template with regards to how we select our civil leaders and turn a nation’s trajectory back to God.

To those who cry and complain about pastoral involvement, I understand your angst, but allow me to address you and explain to you FIVE important points that accompany pastoral involvement in politics that you may not have considered. You see, pastors do indeed need to courageously step forward, but you will have to courageously implement some things in your life and thoughts as well.

1. Pastors are not going to enter the debates hamstrung by people’s perceptions.

I have found that when a pastor begins to win a debate on an issue or candidate that often times the opponent will drop the “you can’t say that to me, you’re a minister”. It’s a strategically timed and placed set of verbal handcuffs which seeks to use the pastor’s vocation as a means to eviscerate their authority. The public at large has become so accustomed to pastors trying to “please” everyone that is beyond many people’s comprehension that a minister would dare to challenge them. They want a “seeker-friendly” political discussion as America burns. I will never forget challenging an Indiana State Senator once on social media and instead of responding to the point he simply said, “I’m surprised at you being a minister saying that to me”. If you want pastoral involvement then you should be ready for more surprises.

Pastors should certainly be under the same decorum and manners as any other person involved in passionate debates, but their vocation cannot be used as the “trump” card (no pun intended) to undermine the debate.

2. Pastors will be loyal to principles and not necessarily political parties.

Terms like “constitutionalist” and “conservative” are tending to morph and be redefined these days like numbers of other concepts and words. I would describe myself with those two words in their traditional meanings, however, beyond that I am a Christian and a biblical one at that. My first loyalty is to God and His Word. Now I am convinced that all of these concepts can exist together, but should these concepts be compromised or change, I am, as a pastor, sticking to the Scriptures and not the party. If the party drifts or willfully moves away from biblical principles, then the party may no longer be my friend or the vehicle by which I determine my vote. Parties come and go. God’s Word endures forever.

3. Pastors will not automatically accept party nominated candidates.

Pastors understand that candidates are individuals which can manipulate and navigate a political party’s system of selection. We understand that not everyone in a party has the same worldview or commitment to Scripture as we do, therefore, it is possible for a party to endorse a candidate which is anathema to our spiritual senses. So, a pastor may not walk in lockstep with the party line. A pastor has a prophetic aspect of calling which cannot be compromised on just any whim.

4. Pastors will lead people to the principle and not the party or the person.

The general problem political types have with pastors is that they want a pastor’s influence but not their leadership. They bemoan the fact that more pastors are not involved, but their sadness only goes so far as to how the pastors can be used for their political agendas. They really don’t want their leadership. They want their influence.

Pastors are awakening to the fact that their calling entails leadership. Pastors are the “watchmen on the wall” and the “elders at the gates” of their communities. If pastors arise and become more involved, leadership roles are going to change. And the question that will then arise is whether or not the Church and people they potentially influence will actually yield and respond to their leadership. That is probably going to be much more difficult than people think.

5. Pastors are going to protect their influence from being hijacked and manipulated.

Personally, I count it an honor to be able to offer friendship and input to governmental officials. They, like any believer, need discipleship and help in accurately reflecting their faith and worldview in the political arena. However, politicians do not get to hijack my influence for their purposes. They do not get to stand in a pulpit without clearly committing to the worldview and principles they say they espouse. To be candid, one of my concerns with both the democratic and the republican candidate is how they rub shoulders with clergy under the public auspices of gathering “counsel” or “wisdom”, when in fact they are using the moment to appear righteous as they hijack the good fruit of a pastor’s reputation. There is something wrong when a candidate can gather hundreds of pastors together to say that they are concerned about pastoral issues and then conveniently neglect those issues in speeches and policy battles. When pastors step up to the plate, that day is ending.

Again, I understand the need for pastoral involvement…but are you prepared for the pastors leadership? Are you prepared to listen to principle and not pragmatism? Are you ready to be challenged to the comprehensive nature of the Gospel and your own compartmentalization? I would simply remind you…be careful what you ask for…it’s coming.