Preachers and politics – Magnolia Tribune

Matt Friedeman says too many church individuals take heed to or learn Sean Hannity and Taylor Swift and their ilk way over they do the Bible or interact different technique of grace. 

So, throughout class this week, a seminary pupil requested me tips on how to deal with a congregation that wished him to speak about politics and the approaching election. 

I’ve spent loads of my grownup life within the media (print, radio, TV) and have seen one thing quite dismaying on the American political scene—now we have digressed increasingly right into a team-sport mentality. We select our facet after which collapse into defending it and demonizing the opposition. Bifurcation has turn out to be the order of the day, and when preachers are requested to stake a place on which staff they like, it may possibly shortly devolve into an unsightly scenario. 

Together with being a professor I’m additionally a pastor. And so the dilemma is consistently earlier than me as as to whether I leap into the murky waters of political controversy or search safer waters. I normally go for controversy, not by selecting a favourite of flawed candidates however by blaming who actually must be blamed for our nationwide mess. Christopher Dawson has famous that Christianity is the “soul of Western civilization. And when the soul is gone, the physique putrefies.” 

We, the Physique of Christ, are that soul. And due to our lack of grace, we’re gone in many beneficial senses, and thus, America has rotted on our watch. 

Jesus stated, “You’re the salt of the earth,” and “You’re the mild of the world.” He was speaking to His disciples then, and, alas, He talks to us immediately by means of them. He wasn’t speaking to the equal in His day of CNN, MSNBC, FoxNews, The Washington Submit, the New York Occasions, Nationwide Evaluate, or the longer record of secular change brokers in our world. He was, and is, speaking to His disciples and the Church. And it behooves nobody to take part in what has turn out to be commonplace fare of a blame sport regarding who we predict is the cultural offender immediately, whether or not our finger factors to Republicans, Democrats, the President, Congress, the Supreme Court docket, state/native governments, or well-liked tradition. 

Who’s accountable for our communities’ darkness and our establishments’ rot? The Gentle, the Salt (extra to the purpose, the dearth thereof). That’s you and me. 

Many listeners of discuss radio and the 24/7 information cycle of your favourite community assume they know all they should know to make an knowledgeable determination concerning the coming election. However mark it effectively – the media (conservative or liberal) should not biblically instituted “technique of grace” and thus must be seen as doubtful guides to accountable vote-casting. 

However you probably have been looking for God by means of scripturally acknowledged “means” like day by day prayer and Bible examine, common fasting, church and discipleship attendance, the Lord’s Supper, and common works of mercy among the many needy, then God has in all probability already revealed His will on issues of voting. Sean Hannity’s and Taylor Swift’s recommendation won’t be vital. 

However right here’s the unhappy level: Too many church individuals (the Salt and the Gentle, bear in mind) take heed to or learn Hannity and Swift and their ilk way over they do the Bible or interact different technique of grace. 

On the discuss radio present I as soon as hosted I might take a contrarian view to voting on Election Day. Whereas everyone was cajoling their webs of affect to get out and vote, I might be saying, “If you’re knowledgeable concerning the candidates and the problems, get out and vote. If you’re not thus knowledgeable, do Mississippi and America a favor and keep house.” 

Nonetheless, what if the identical have been stated to the Church – you probably have an actual private relationship with Jesus and day by day search Him in what the Church has known as prayer and Bible examine, are concerned in worship at Church and in a discipleship group, often take communion, quick to hunt His thoughts and often minister to each the poor and the unchurched on a routine foundation…then vote. 

For those who don’t often interact in these technique of grace – why not? 

And in case you don’t, can the Lord really matter on you to vote in a method that displays His issues?