Why Do Most Pastors Avoid Politics?

[bobinfaith]

I remember these possibilities during the Clinton and Obama administrations. Had Hillary Clinton won the presidency in 2016 and been able to replace conservative justices with progressive ones on the Supreme Court, I am sure these cases would have been brought to trials to have it become case law. We did see the push to force Catholic institutions to pay for abortions as a part of mandated health care. We are on the precipice. One strong swing to the left and we will go off the edge.

Our political system is a disaster. It's either the left or the right, with nothing in the middle. The last thing either party is interested in is their constituents. They can lie, admit it, and still hold their seats. The right wants to beat the left. The left wants to beat the right. The little guy can't run, because it costs millions to do so. It has become all about contempt and animosity. Nothing gets done, because these infantile public servants are allowed to get away with everything. It is complete anarchy already. I mean, we had people storm the US Capital looking to hang the Vice President and the Speaker and they did this in an effort to overturn an election. If that is not anarchy, I do not know what is.

Wasn‘t this a false narrative that Tucker Carlson exposed by releasing videos showing the protesters being peacefully escorted through the chambers of Congress...unlocklng doors etc?

Here in the US, and elsewhere, political operatives, news outlets and the political parties that employe and promote them, are shamelessly advancing competing narratives.

Their contradictory political views are ALL “verifiable” by well documented examples of contradicting facts that are presented to us on similar styled, but philosophically opposing, media platforms. We can all rest assured that “whatever” is true because our favorite outlet said it was true.

I don’t trust the profit driven news business’ of Fox or CNN to relay an unbiased report of what is really happening. They both have their base audience they pander to and this is all orchestrated at a higher level by someone who wins WHENEVER we are divided.

The result is that “man’s” truth is more elusive and relative than any time in history and so Chaos and its promoters are having a great moment on the earth.

I Trust in God.

Hello brothers;

To be fair, the protestors were wrong for storming in but were actually being escorted by security (regarding Tucker's report.) When security called for reinforcements he didn't get a valid response. Pelosi didn't bother to call the National Guard when she had to power to do so.

(According to CNN) both sides were responsible and the fabrication, speculations and blame have been unproductive.

This was a breakdown from both sides of the party, and then some. Over all this was a shame and will go down in US history.

So how do we reconcile these points back to Why Do Most Pastors Avoid Politics?

God bless you all.

 

[rtm3039]

Hello brothers;

To be fair, the protestors were wrong for storming in but were actually being escorted by security (regarding Tucker's report.) When security called for reinforcements he didn't get a valid response. Pelosi didn't bother to call the National Guard when she had to power to do so.

(According to CNN) both sides were responsible and the fabrication, speculations and blame have been unproductive.

This was a breakdown from both sides of the party, and then some. Over all this was a shame and will go down in US history.

So how do we reconcile these points back to Why Do Most Pastors Avoid Politics?

God bless you all.

I do not believe that the speaker of the house has the authority to call in the national guard. HR 1090 give that authority to the Mayor of the District of Columbia. But anyway, getting back on point:

The topic is too hot to handle. At this point in our evolution, people just can't help themselves. We have all been forced to avoid politics in almost all social settings. We have had several teachers get in trouble because that incorporated their political views into their lesson plans and parents filed complaints. Maybe back when we were a civilized society, but those days are gone.

Prior to the last election, the church had a message against idolatry, and we could not stop people from attending services with their "Make America Great" hats.

A church's position is almost understood as leaning right. A pastor really can't take a moderate position, as this brings into question advocating for some level of abortion and sexual inclusion. Keeping this in mind, is there really a need for a pastor to talk politics? The Bible addresses pretty much every political issue there is, so just teach the message and avoid the conflict.

Here is an odd example. I told you that my church did a whole series on the difficult topics. During the message against abortion, we only had one person get up and leave and she was a white female who was pregnant. Go figure.

 

[rtm3039]

Wasn‘t this a false narrative that Tucker Carlson exposed by releasing videos showing the protesters being peacefully escorted through the chambers of Congress...unlocklng doors etc?

I know of no one that would consider Carlson's comments and selective video seriously. I watched a great deal of live coverage, and it did not look very peaceful.

 

[crossnote]

I know of no one that would consider Carlson's comments and selective video seriously. I watched a great deal of live coverage, and it did not look very peaceful.

Perhaps, those videos you watched were also 'selective'?

 

[crossnote]

Hello Musicmaster;

I don't know Dr. Frank Turik but I agree where he's coming from. I get it!

I only suggest Dr. Turik should have addressed this presentation of politics at a Pastors / Leader conference. They're the ones who need to hear this and it would have gone a lot farther than speaking this to his own congregation. I'm assuming he delivered this message while at his Church.

Yes, the flock needs to be open to receive what's also going on in the world, thus politics and what's socially right and left.

But in this case from listening to his tone and short message this would have served better at a Pastors / Leaders conference.

However, I do agree with what Dr. Turik presented.

God bless you, brother.

Bob, thanks for your input. Tell me, as a pastor do you avoid politics? Why? Why not?

 

[Big Moose]

A church's position is almost understood as leaning right. A pastor really can't take a moderate position, as this brings into question advocating for some level of abortion and sexual inclusion. Keeping this in mind, is there really a need for a pastor to talk politics? The Bible addresses pretty much every political issue there is, so just teach the message and avoid the conflict.

This is why Pastors Avoid Politics. You may see preaching the message from the Bible as moderate, but the left in the U.S. see it as right wing, and the pastor will be labeled as hateful, homophobic, sexist, etc., etc., etc. All it takes is one activist with attorneys from the ACLU backing them up, to be denied a wedding by a pastor and that pastor would see the inside of a courtroom. Our pastor had our church council discuss this very topic back in the early 2010's. This very real possibility back then has now been put on the back burner since President Trump's nominees were confirmed to the SCOTUS.

 

[Major]

I remember these possibilities during the Clinton and Obama administrations. Had Hillary Clinton won the presidency in 2016 and been able to replace conservative justices with progressive ones on the Supreme Court, I am sure these cases would have been brought to trials to have it become case law. We did see the push to force Catholic institutions to pay for abortions as a part of mandated health care. We are on the precipice. One strong swing to the left and we will go off the edge.

LOL.............Some of my best sermons revolved around the Clintons. I sure hated to see them out.

 

[rtm3039]

This is why Pastors Avoid Politics. You may see preaching the message from the Bible as moderate, but the left in the U.S. see it as right wing, and the pastor will be labeled as hateful, homophobic, sexist, etc., etc., etc. All it takes is one activist with attorneys from the ACLU backing them up, to be denied a wedding by a pastor and that pastor would see the inside of a courtroom. Our pastor had our church council discuss this very topic back in the early 2010's. This very real possibility back then has now been put on the back burner since President Trump's nominees were confirmed to the SCOTUS.

Agree, but I did not say that church messages need to take on a moderate position. It can't take a moderate position.

Modern day politics and very difficult, so I blame no pastor for avoiding the issue. Let's go back to the issue of homosexuality. We know the church's position on this, so no need to discuss that. We have homosexuals that attend church regularly. We also have some church volunteers who are "gay." While we understand that we are to hate the sin, but not the sinner, I suspect this is lost in listening to the message.

Our school board is made up of politicians, as they are all elected. None have an issue calling on God, asking for prayers, etc. However, it is a public school, so all must be served. We have way too many teachers who have no issues telling their gay students that they are "going to hell" or refusing to address students by their selected gender. We even had one teacher go as far as posting a student's school record on her smartboard to show the class that the student was born a male and was not a female. While I share the teacher's beliefs, I cannot agree with the manner in which she shows it.

Politics is one of many "third rails" we have to negotiate. I can blame no pastor from avoiding stepping on that one.

 

[Major]

This is why Pastors Avoid Politics. You may see preaching the message from the Bible as moderate, but the left in the U.S. see it as right wing, and the pastor will be labeled as hateful, homophobic, sexist, etc., etc., etc. All it takes is one activist with attorneys from the ACLU backing them up, to be denied a wedding by a pastor and that pastor would see the inside of a courtroom. Our pastor had our church council discuss this very topic back in the early 2010's. This very real possibility back then has now been put on the back burner since President Trump's nominees were confirmed to the SCOTUS.

Agreed!

If you preach POLITICS you are not preaching Christ.
You will also alienate 50% of your people.

We must preach Jesus and stand against SIN no matter who or what a man in authority is as a politician.

 

[crossnote]

Is abortion politics, or should the pastor steer clear of the issue?

 

[BibleLover]

Here in the US, and elsewhere, political operatives, news outlets and the political parties that employe and promote them, are shamelessly advancing competing narratives.

Their contradictory political views are ALL “verifiable” by well documented examples of contradicting facts that are presented to us on similar styled, but philosophically opposing, media platforms. We can all rest assured that “whatever” is true because our favorite outlet said it was true.

I don’t trust the profit driven news business’ of Fox or CNN to relay an unbiased report of what is really happening. They both have their base audience they pander to and this is all orchestrated at a higher level by someone who wins WHENEVER we are divided.

The result is that “man’s” truth is more elusive and relative than any time in history and so Chaos and its promoters are having a great moment on the earth.

I Trust in God.

It's always a good idea to recognize that everything concerning the political sphere is controlled by the father of lies who is clever enough to be able to use truthful facts to craft cunning lies. All the world's governments, including the United States and all other countries, belong to the devil. God exercises a measure of control at times, but the property deed for them has Satan’s name on it. Once we recognize this, everything becomes clear; we don't need news commentators or political pundits to make us understand the lies.

 

[Major]

Is abortion politics, or should the pastor steer clear of the issue?

I never did!!!

It is SIN and we must stand against SIN no matter who it is that promotes it.

The SBC encourages all of its pastors to deliver an anti abortion or a life choice sermon every January!

 

[Major]

Hello brothers;

To be fair, the protestors were wrong for storming in but were actually being escorted by security (regarding Tucker's report.) When security called for reinforcements he didn't get a valid response. Pelosi didn't bother to call the National Guard when she had to power to do so.

(According to CNN) both sides were responsible and the fabrication, speculations and blame have been unproductive.

This was a breakdown from both sides of the party, and then some. Over all this was a shame and will go down in US history.

So how do we reconcile these points back to Why Do Most Pastors Avoid Politics?

God bless you all.

Why Do Most Pastors Avoid Politics?
EASY............Money.

The facts are that only a very small fraction of American pastors invoke politics from the pulpit. The reason isn’t ministers’ fear of running afoul of the IRS, but instead a strategic calculation about their own careers and the future of the churches they lead.

They know and have been taught and told in the schools that they attended that they run the risk of losing 50 % of their members no matter which way they lean! Yes.........it is just that simple!!!!!!!

 

[bobinfaith]

Hello brothers;

To be fair, the protestors were wrong for storming in but were actually being escorted by security (regarding Tucker's report.) When security called for reinforcements he didn't get a valid response. Pelosi didn't bother to call the National Guard when she had to power to do so. (According to CNN) both sides were responsible and the fabrication, speculations and blame have been unproductive. This was a breakdown from both sides of the party, and then some. Over all this was a shame and will go down in US history. So how do we reconcile these points back to Why Do Most Pastors Avoid Politics? God bless you all.

Bob, thanks for your input. Tell me, as a pastor do you avoid politics? Why? Why not?

Hello crossnote;

No, I cannot avoid politics. I have to stay tuned to world events including the ongoings in our government so I know how to pray for our leaders, the battle against high crime, gender identity and dysphoria, etc...

But as the Lord gave me the Word to preach each week, many times politics was included in the areas of taxes, money, gender identity, country division, and loss of respect for human life world wide were part of the sermon mixed with Scriptures.

My problem is, if I spent more time what the TV, newspapers and the internet reports I would get overwhelmed with different versions of today's headlines. I would spend less time preparing the Word of God.

I stand corrected on the Secretary of State calling on the National Guard. I believe it's the Secretary of Defense. I could be wrong on both.

This is why I support Dr. Turik and why he should address Pastors and Leaders on this topic.

God bless you, brother.

 

[crossnote]

Agreed!

If you preach POLITICS you are not preaching Christ.
You will also alienate 50% of your people.

We must preach Jesus and stand against SIN no matter who or what a man in authority is as a politician.

Major, can you reconcile the above statement with the two below?

I never did!!!

It is SIN and we must stand against SIN no matter who it is that promotes it.

The SBC encourages all of its pastors to deliver an anti abortion or a life choice sermon every January!

Why Do Most Pastors Avoid Politics?

EASY............Money.

The facts are that only a very small fraction of American pastors invoke politics from the pulpit. The reason isn’t ministers’ fear of running afoul of the IRS, but instead a strategic calculation about their own careers and the future of the churches they lead.

They know and have been taught and told in the schools that they attended that they run the risk of losing 50 % of their members no matter which way they lean! Yes.........it is just that simple!!!!!!!

 

[rtm3039]

Hello crossnote;

No, I cannot avoid politics. I have to stay tuned to world events including the ongoings in our government so I know how to pray for our leaders, the battle against high crime, gender identity and dysphoria, etc...

But as the Lord gave me the Word to preach each week, many times politics was included in the areas of taxes, money, gender identity, country division, and loss of respect for human life world wide were part of the sermon mixed with Scriptures.

My problem is, if I spent more time what the TV, newspapers and the internet reports I would get overwhelmed with different versions of today's headlines. I would spend less time preparing the Word of God.

I stand corrected on the Secretary of State calling on the National Guard. I believe it's the Secretary of Defense. I could be wrong on both.

This is why I support Dr. Turik and why he should address Pastors and Leaders on this topic.

God bless you, brother.

It was close enough. The National Guard are state assets (aka: The original well-regulated militia). Before they can deploy to do big government work, they have to be federalized and that's an Executive Branch decision. And .... you originally said Nancy Pelosi who was actually the Speaker of the House. I believe that position is authorized to order lunch and maybe control the temperature in the main bathroom on the second floor.

I find no national news source reliable enough to take their word for anything. Like has already been noted, Fox, CNN, etc. all have their following and they have to be focused no to allow the network(s) to get the "big bucks" from advertising.

Maybe it would be best if you refine your meaning of "politics" vs. political.

 

[bobinfaith]

It was close enough. The National Guard are state assets (aka: The original well-regulated militia). Before they can deploy to do big government work, they have to be federalized and that's an Executive Branch decision. And .... you originally said Nancy Pelosi who was actually the Speaker of the House. I believe that position is authorized to order lunch and maybe control the temperature in the main bathroom on the second floor. I find no national news source reliable enough to take their word for anything. Like has already been noted, Fox, CNN, etc. all have their following and they have to be focused no to allow the network(s) to get the "big bucks" from advertising. Maybe it would be best if you refine your meaning of "politics" vs. political.

Hello Ray;

Thank you for the reminder, brother. When I prepare a sermon and get a Word from the Lord relating to politics, I'm referring to "political." It's not easy, it's a work in progress and as much as possible I will avoid giving my opinion during the sermon.

God bless you, Ray, and your family.

 

[Major]

Major, can you reconcile the above statement with the two below?

What part was confusing to YOU.

Preachers preach against sin just as did every Prophet of God!

Preaching against SIN is not preaching politics brother.

Preaching Politics is saying from the pulpit to a congregation something like...........
"I am here to tell you and I am expecting all of you to vote for George Wallace next Tuesday. He is a good man who wants everyone to stay in their own place. I AM Voting for him and I expect for you to do the same thing!"

OR........."Richard Nixion is a CROOK and since he is a republican you can bet that they are all Crooks so I am telling you today to vote the Democratic ticket next week".

Differnce........."President Billy Bob just signed a law that all children under 1 years old needs to be killed."

Now THAT brother would and should encourage every preacher to stand against MURDER AND against President Bolly Bob not because he is a republican or a democrat but because he is a MUERDER according to the Word of God.

 

[crossnote]

What part was confusing to YOU.

Preachers preach against sin just as did every Prophet of God!

Preaching against SIN is not preaching politics brother.

Preaching Politics is saying from the pulpit to a congregation something like...........
"I am here to tell you and I am expecting all of you to vote for George Wallace next Tuesday. He is a good man who wants everyone to stay in their own place. I AM Voting for him and I expect for you to do the same thing!"

OR........."Richard Nixion is a CROOK and since he is a republican you can bet that they are all Crooks so I am telling you today to vote the Democratic ticket next week".

Differnce........."President Billy Bob just signed a law that all children under 1 years old needs to be killed."

Now THAT brother would and should encourage every preacher to stand against MURDER AND against President Bolly Bob not because he is a republican or a democrat but because he is a MUERDER according to the Word of God.

On the one hand you said "If you preach POLITICS you are not preaching Christ."
On the other hand you said
"
EASY............Money.
The facts are that only a very small fraction of American pastors invoke politics from the pulpit. The reason isn’t ministers’ fear of running afoul of the IRS, but instead a strategic calculation about their own careers and the future of the churches they lead."

Just wondrin', no biggie.

 

[Big Moose]

I stand corrected on the Secretary of State calling on the National Guard. I believe it's the Secretary of Defense. I could be wrong on both.

It was close enough. The National Guard are state assets (aka: The original well-regulated militia). Before they can deploy to do big government work, they have to be federalized and that's an Executive Branch decision. And .... you originally said Nancy Pelosi who was actually the Speaker of the House. I believe that position is authorized to order lunch and maybe control the temperature in the main bathroom on the second floor.

From what I could find, the Capital Police have the responsibility for the security of the Capital. They have a Capital Police Board which oversees the Capital Police. The Board is comprised of the House and Senate sergeants-at-arms and the architect of the Capitol. The Speaker of the House has authority over the House Sergeant-at-Arms. This board had the final decision to request the National Guard to be available to be called. There was no one person in charge to direct security. The executive branch also had to be included to activate the National Guard. This caused delays in calling in the NG because the board didn't make the request ahead of time.