Should pastors address political issues and/or the moral and political positions of candidates? The answer from many is a resounding NO! This is particularly true of those who seek to trivialize faith or live contrary to their espoused faith.
Historically, pastors have been very outspoken in critiquing political issues and politicians in light of Scripture.
Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island, said that Quakers should not be governors since they were pacifists, because that would undermine the role of government. Historically pastors preached “Election Day Sermons” where they spoke specifically concerning candidate’s views and whether they should be elected
Pastors spoke clearly on the legitimacy of and need for the American Revolution. For example, “The Presbyterian clergy were so effective in preaching the ideals of freedom to our Colonial forefathers that the Presbyterian clergy in those days were called the “Black Brigade” by the political leaders of England.” The “Black Brigade” referred to the black robes they wore when they preached. Jefferson’s election fueled heated debates between the pulpits of the Puritans and Baptists as to whether he would destroy religious liberty or enlarge it.
Pastors have preached and led the charge to abolish slavery and to promote women’s suffrage. The civil rights movement was a Christian movement, and the leaders were primarily preachers, e.g. Martin Luther King Jr. pastored the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama and was co-pastor with his father at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer lamented the failure of the German Church to publicly refute the sins of the state, and believed that the Church’s silence allowed Hitler’s influence to spread throughout Germany with little or no struggle.
The famed London pastor, Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, ” I long for the day when the precepts of the Christian religion shall be the rule among all classes of men, in all transactions. I often hear it said, ‘Do not bring religion into politics.’ This is precisely where it ought to be brought, and set there in the face of all men as on a candlestick.” ((Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vol. 27 (London: Passmore and Alabaster, 1882), 225.)) At home and abroad, pastors have preached messages that addressed the politicians and political issues of their day. Had they not, America might be known as “England North”.
One popular speaker and writer who was a clergyman wrote, “Americans used to roar like lions for liberty, now we bleat like sheep for security!”
