Twenty-four

Avoid Political and Social

Controversies

“Pastor, we as a church have got to get the vote out

this year and we need to promote the Christian

candidates. And that proposition supporting capital

punishment is the most important one of all.”

“Pastor, we as a church have got to get the vote out

this year and we need to promote the Christian

candidates. And that proposition against capital

punishment is the most important one of all.”

         

There are many political and social controversies,

causes, and issues that churches become

embroiled in. Some are extremely worth while, some

are even important.

There is no end of Christian based programs and

movements that have a political or social dimension

and are generally approved of in the Christian

community. These, however, tend to divert and dilute

the message and ministry of the gospel preacher.

Christians are often pictured as being politically

conservative; this identification is not always a helpful

one. People will reject the Christian message for no

other reason than they think political baggage goes

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along with it. And, the fact is that perception is too

often correct.

Of course, Jesus is not identified with any political

party. And though many Christians might fall into

politically conservative camps, Christianity itself is not

political. Espousing certain political views, endorsing

political candidates (while it may seem to be expedient

and often-times even demanded in certain

environments) will ultimately prejudice the gospel to

the very people who need to hear it’s message.

Political opinions and positions are sometimes

mixed right in with gospel presentations. The message

seems to be, “Choose Jesus and support so and so and

such and such.” What a mistake! An unnecessary obstacle

is placed in the way of the unconverted as though the

gospel were not offense enough.

People at Miller Avenue do not know how I vote

or what political party I identify with (I hope). Neither

political material nor speakers come before the

congregation. Christians, certainly, are to be good

citizens and may take active roles in politics, but the

gospel preacher is neither a politician nor a promoter

of political causes. I like to think our job is far too

important than for us to be bogged down in secular

trivia.

Christianity, as I have said before, is worldwide,

cross-cultural, and not identified with any political party

or cause. Christianity is not Western, it is not Eastern;

it is global. Jesus died that all people may come to Him

as Savior. Potentially any one in the world may come

to Jesus, regardless of their political affiliation or their

social commitments.

There are several social concerns I avoid though

many Christians are heavily immersed in them.

Although I have particular views on abortion, I will not

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For Pastors

get drawn into that arena. My views tend to be

conservative in that regard, yet the issue has been

politicized to the point that I think spending time,

money, and energy in that direction is largely counter

productive. I also will avoid the issues of capital

punishment and prayer in the schools. (I am probably

limiting the audience for this book by stating my

feelings like this.) These are not areas where I want

to stand up on a bandwagon and start beating the drum.

My finding is that once exposed to the Scripture, by

the leading of the Holy Spirit, Christians tend to come

to certain conclusions on social, political, and ethical

issues without my having to influence them myself.

Certain stances become obvious.

Christians have a number of different views on the

ethical and social issues; I have mine, but they are not

ones I am going to be speaking on from the pulpit. A

safe illustration is that during the “Cold War” I did not

demonize the Soviet Union nor preach fear of

communism though I reject the system. I think it is

very important that we learn to agree to disagree about

things that are not central to the gospel message. Now

I know that there will be those that will argue against

me, but this is my opinion. I believe we need to speak

out against sin and take various stands, but the

promotion of the gospel must remain uncontaminated

by other messages.

Another area I don’t get involved in is the Evolution

verses Creationist controversy. I believe the Biblical

account in Genesis—God as maker of heaven and

earth—and I pretty much leave it at that. I have not

always done so, but I have found it to be an area that is

overwhelming, and people can become greatly

obsessed with this issue. In my experience, people who

were atheistic evolutionists, upon hearing the message

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Controversies

of the gospel, have been converted and became

followers of Jesus. I find that I do not need to deal

with the various views they have. People’s social and

political views have a way of changing as time goes on

especially as a person is exposed to the Scripture. What

I cannot do through providing videos and books and

cassette tapes and argument, God’s Spirit can do. If a

person differs with me on some point, this does not

greatly excite or concern me. I do not want to be the

agent for change; rather I would have that be God’s

province.

A pastor who focuses on conversion oriented gospel

preaching, I observe, generally will not engage

themselves, except minimally, in extraneous

controversies even within their own denomination. We

only have so much time, so much energy, and it is too

easy to be distracted by the “significant” trivialities

we are constantly faced with. And there is one issue

right after another. Let others engage in those things;

but let us go forward proclaiming the gospel, lifting up

the name of Jesus, and somehow these other things

get taken care of along the way as well.

         

  Did I tread on any of your favorite issues?

  If I did, can you separate that from the basic thrust

of the chapter?

  What happens when politics, social issues, and the

gospel are all mixed up together?