Pulpit Freedom to Do What?

This past Sunday was "Pulpit Freedom Sunday."

The Alliance Defense Fund organized this day stating that on Sept. 28 pastors in 20 states "will reclaim their constitutional right (and) from the pulpit, they will advise their congregation what scripture says about today's issues, apply(ing) those issues to the candidates standing for election just like their forefathers did 150 years ago."

Cal Thomas is a political commentator who happens to be a Christian (I say it that way to make it clear that he is not a "Christian political commentator" working for CBN or something like that).

His column this week has some wise insights into this issue. You can read the full article here.

Disclaimer: I do believe that Christians ought to vote and ought to vote for the candidates who will best bring into the public arena the values which best reflect the nature and values of God. I, for example, though not a "single-issue voter" don't know that I could ever vote for a candidate which was pro-abortion and I do believe that discussing the issues that face voters from a biblical perspective is the right thing to do.

But I do believe that Thomas' cautions are right on.

Thomas writes that people do not attend worship services to hear stumping for a politician. The reason for church: is not, or should not be, in order to pledge allegiance to a party, candidate or earthly agenda. One can spend inordinate amounts of time on that subject simply by watching cable TV, or listening to talk radio, or reading the newspapers. No matter how hard they try to protect the gospel from corruption, ministers who focus on politics and politicians as a means of redemption must minimize their ultimate calling and message. The road to redemption does not run through Washington, D.C. Politicians can't redeem themselves from the temptations of Washington. What makes anyone think they can redeem the rest of us?

The law has done churches a favor, however inadvertent, by protecting most of them from the downside of electioneering, but a strong constitutional challenge would most likely overturn it. The flip side would be whether the politicians would then allow churches to maintain their tax-exempt status.

Whether the law is repealed, or not, churches and ministers would do better to keep their attention focused on the things above, rather than the things below, because politics can be the ultimate temptation and pollute a far superior and life-changing message.