Speak Pastorally, Not Politically
Speak Pastorally, Not Politically
In this post we continue looking at how to preach the headlines effectively. You can access the first of these posts here. In this post I want to consider the need to speak pastorally, not politically when preaching the headlines.
One of the greatest challenges in preaching the headlines is that, unless you are careful, your hearers will begin to identify you with a political party. In the United States, as I’ve mentioned in previous posts on this subject, a large section of the Christian Church became identified with the Republican party. Not only did they become identified with it, but some of the racist, misogynistic principles espoused by leaders in that party at that time was projected onto the Church. Therefore, to be a Christian, many in our country thought, you were also against immigration of people who were not white, and you wanted women to not get an education because they belonged in the home with children. When you preach the headlines you should speak pastorally, not politically. Let’s explore that a little more fully in this post.
The Bible and Politics
Jesus and Government
The Bible doesn’t give us a huge amount of material about how to view politics. Jesus didn’t seem to care about the fact that the Roman Empire was in charge. In fact, he very pointedly said to Peter, when he struck the High Priest’s servant in the garden, “No more of this!” (Luke 22:51J).
Paul and Government
Paul the Apostle also didn’t seem all that concerned about what government was in control. In Romans 13 he gave explicit directions on how we are to relate to the government.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.The authorities that exist have been established by God.2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
Paul said this of the government that would, according to tradition, order his beheading.
Concerned with the Eternal
You see, our perspective is very limited. God is much less concerned with the temporal, and more concerned with the eternal. God is less concerned with the finite, and is much more concerned about the infinite.
That’s why we are charged with a very important mission: to declare good news; to make disciples; to prepare people for eternity. When we get identified with one or the other political party, we lose the ability to speak to much of the population. When we seek to preach the headlines, we need to speak pastoral, not politically.
And it is just too easy to misinterpret the political party that we want to put forward. Many years ago I was speaking to one of my brothers, who was a very conservative Republican. He said, “I just can’t imagine any Christian voting for a democrat.” My wife had a similar conversation with one of her co-workers in the area of public health. This nurse who worked with the poor said to her, “I just can’t imagine anyone being a Christian and voting for a Republican.”
Let me say it again. When preaching the headlines you should speak pastorally, not politically. Your people should hear God’s eternal perspective in your messages. Once you identify with a party, you limit who will hear your message, whatever it is. In fact, George Barna, noted observer of trends, say that those outside the church in the US have a pretty negative view of believers. You can read of that research here.
