OPINION
The local church and the sacred cow of politics
Published January 11, 2024
Written by William
Photography by Simply American
MANY PASTORS BELIEVE IN THE MYTH OF NEUTRALITY.
In the nation of India, the cow is a sacred animal which cannot be harmed, harassed or mistreated. It’s literally “hands off” cows in the Indian populace.
Many local Christian churches have a similar practice and belief. But it does not involve worshipping bovine livestock. No, this is a completely different animal called “politics.” Politics is the “sacred cow” of many local churches. The pastors of these local assemblies purposefully avoid addressing the topic of politics from their pulpits and discourage or disallow congregants from making available or distributing literature they deem political in nature.
This is not about politicking for a particular candidate. We all understand that 501(c)(3) non-profit and religious organizations are prohibited from actively supporting or working against candidates for political office. No, the concern here is about taking a stand against the progressive and anti-biblical worldviews that fuel the platform, actions and activities of these leftist political organizations.
Part of the reluctance of the local church to biblically confront progressive politics concerns a misunderstanding and misapplication of the first amendment of the Bill of Rights. Some pastors believe the Bill of Rights instituted a formal “separation of Church and State” thereby creating an impenetrable wall designed to keep politics and religion forever separate. These religious leaders are mistaken but may be brought around to a clearer understanding of this issue with more study and discussion.
There are, however, some pastors and religious leaders who reject the idea that the local church has a responsibility to actively oppose progressive politics and the anti-Christian, anti-biblical positions and programs they promote.
These religious leaders hold to the mistaken belief that political parties and their platforms are somehow morally neutral. They insist that Christians can vote with good consciences for political candidates that endorse abortion on demand, transgender access for minors, same-sex marriages, drag queen story hour for children, etc. They treat politics like a sacred cow, reluctant to take a stand for fear of stepping on the toes of their congregants or, worst still, putting themselves and their church out of favor with the liberal community.
POLITICS IS A MORAL ISSUE. AND PASTORS, ESPECIALLY TODAY, NEED TO LEAD THEIR CONGREGATIONS TO BIBLICALLY EXAMINE POLITICAL CANDIDATES, THEIR PARTY AFFILIATION AND THEIR PLATFORMS.
The church has the responsibility to warn its members and the community at large about candidates and their political agendas that disregard biblical standards of morality, sexuality, the family and the sanctity of life. Church leaders cannot instruct their congregations how to vote, but they have a biblical responsibility to call out ungodly legislature, immoral political platforms and those candidates who support them.
Some local church leaders appear to believe that the teachings of Scripture apply only to the personal behavior and actions of the believer. They are foolishly mistaken. Reformed theologian Abraham Kuyper, the prime minister of the Netherlands from 1901–1905, understood that the Word of God has no boundaries. He famously stated, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, ‘Mine!’”
Scripture clearly teaches that God is the King of kings and the Lord of lords over everything that lives and breathes, including politicians and their politics.
It is the responsibility of the church to remind the secular world who it is that sits on the throne of the universe, ruler and judge of all and subject to none.
History has painfully taught us what can happen when pastors and church leaders do not vocally and vigorously uphold and apply biblical ethics to society at large. In Germany, during the rise of the Nazi party led by Adolph Hitler, most of the German churches—through fear and intimidation— remained silent. As Hitler rose to power these churches submitted themselves to the political dictates of the Nazi party, even to what could be preached from their pulpits. By relinquishing their moral and prophetic voice, the church in Germany looked the other way when the Nazi government began its program of mass extermination of Jewish citizens.
OUR LOCAL CHURCH PASTORS CAN NO LONGER STAND ALOOF WHILE THE BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF OUR NATION RAGES ON UNABATED.
There are no truces in this war, no ceasefires, no terms of peace. The threat is beyond the considerations of political parties, their candidates or their platforms. It is literally “good vs. evil.” This war is engulfing all of society, its institutions and its churches.
Pastors cannot tip toe around these moral issues in order to avoid marring their assumed respectable standing in their communities. They must give up the notion that politics is neutral—that their congregations are free to vote for ungodly and anti-biblical candidates and legislation. These pastors must come to the understanding that the sacred cow of politics must be sacrificed on the altar of Truth for the glory of God and the faithful witness of His church.
The opinions expressed within this article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the positions and beliefs of Simply American or its affiliates.