What should pastors say about the election?

A dear pastor friend recently asked me for some advice regarding how he should approach the upcoming election from the pulpit. His question prompted the following resources.

My prayer is that this discussion will equip and encourage us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) in ways that advance God’s kingdom in these perilous days.

The urgency of the issue

Consider some data points:

• A higher percentage of Republicans and Democrats than ever before see those in the other party as dishonest, immoral, unintelligent, and even lazy.
• Election officials are installing panic buttons and bulletproof glass at election headquarters and polling stations ahead of anticipated violence.
• Only 21 percent of Americans are willing to marry someone of the other party. Those who do are significantly less happy in their marriage than those who do not.
• A growing number of married couples are seeking marriage therapy because of political differences that are affecting their marriages.
• Election anxiety is even causing many consumers to avoid large purchases such as houses, weddings, and cars.
• In a survey last spring, more than 40 percent of Americans reported feeling anxiety or depression over the upcoming election. As the time draws closer, that percentage will increase.

We are seeing the consequences of political incivility in every dimension of our lives. For example:

• How do parents and children get along when they disagree politically? This will especially be an issue over the upcoming holidays with families where children are home from school or visiting for the season.
• How do we keep partisan divisions from affecting the workplace? The classroom?
• What do we do to manage our personal stress when watching the news and dealing with the vitriol of the day?
• How do we act in a biblical way toward those with whom we disagree? How do we pray for leaders for whom we would not vote?
• How can churches process partisan divisions in ways that do not divide the congregation against each other or against their pastor? How can we redeem this season for the sake of God’s kingdom?
• How do we enhance our witness in such a vitriolic time? Long after November 5, every person we know will still matter eternally to God.

On January 27, 1838, Abraham Lincoln gave an address in Springfield, Illinois, on “the perpetuation of our political institutions.” In it, he asked:

At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant to step the Ocean and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia, and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest, with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force take a drink from the Ohio or make a track on the Blue Ridge in a trial of a thousand years.

At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction is to be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.

Just twenty-three years later, his words proved prophetic. A nation that won its independence from the mightiest empire the world had ever seen would soon fall victim to a civil war that took more American lives than any other conflict and brought us closer to the demise of our republic than ever before or since.

That war was a conflict of civility before it was a conflict of arms. Bitterly divided over slavery, states’ rights, and territorial expansion, they could achieve no political resolution and fell into disastrous and destructive conflict.

But this is not just a timely subject—nothing less than the future of our democracy is in question. Self-governance requires three things:

1. Citizens participate in elections.
2. We support those who are elected, whether we voted for them or not.
3. We work together with civility after the election is over.

Aristotle noted: “If liberty and equality, as some suppose, are chiefly to be found in a democracy, they will be attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost.”

What can preachers do to advance this cause to the good of our nation and the glory of God?

Three options

Pastors are responding to the election along a spectrum of approaches, but three viewpoints summarize our alternatives.

One: Avoid the subject

Some pastors believe “politics have no place in the pulpit,” often for a variety of reasons.

Some note that Jesus never directly addressed political issues, nor did Paul or the apostles. They recognize that the Old Testament prophets spoke to cultural issues, but add that they typically addressed political leaders only when asked to do so (cf. Isaiah 38).

They worry that when churches and pastors get involved in politics, they are often more influenced by the culture than the state is influenced by the church. Pastors are seen (rightly or wrongly) as seeking the favor of political leaders at the compromise of their convictions. Members wonder if this is the best use of their pastor’s time and ministry.

Some wisely note that politics can split congregations and divide people from their pastor:

• If a pastor takes a stance or endorses a party or leader with whom a member disagrees, what is the member to do?
• Will they be frustrated that their tithes and offerings are being used for what they consider to be political purposes?
• Will the vitriol of the current political climate infect the church?
• If the pastor is free to use his platform for political purposes, what of other staff members? Bible study leaders? Church members?

Some believe that in troubled times like these, people want an “island of tranquility in a sea of chaos.” They are inundated with political issues and news throughout the week, and the last place they want to hear more is from their pastor on Sunday. They need and deserve a respite and a safe place to worship.

Two: Embrace the subject

On the other side, some pastors and churches endorse political parties and candidates. Some pastors do so even from the pulpit on Sunday. (While this violates the Johnson Amendment prohibiting political campaign activity by charities and churches, the IRS has not thus far enforced the ban.)

Some churches also produce and/or endorse “scorecards” that offer biblical responses to political issues categorized by parties and candidates. Some of these seem to be weighted to focus specifically on issues and responses that favor one candidate or party over another.

To support political engagement from the pulpit, we might note that John the Baptist specifically condemned King Herod for marrying his brother’s wife, a position for which he paid with his life (Mark 6:14–29). While Jesus did not address political issues or leaders, he did speak directly to social issues with political consequences, such as his famous edict, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21). Paul also addressed numerous cultural issues and questions, such as idolatry (1 Corinthians 8, 10), the family, and the role of women in leadership, which had political consequences as well.

Responding to political issues and leaders can seem especially urgent today since such massive issues, especially religious liberty protections, seem to be at stake in this election.

Three: Speak to the issues without endorsing parties and candidates

I personally support a middle position that seeks to draw from the wisdom of the other approaches while avoiding their negative consequences.

I am convinced by biblical examples and teaching that Christians should be engaged in their culture as holistically and redemptively as possible:

• We are “the salt” and “the light” of the world (Matthew 5:13–16). Our spiritual influence is, therefore, unique and vital.
• We are to “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lᴏʀᴅ on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7).
• Part of biblical citizenship is participating in our society (cf. Romans 13:1–7). This means that we are to vote, pay taxes, run for office where called (Daniel and Joseph are examples), and speak biblical truth to the issues of our day.

At the same time, for the reasons discussed with Option One, I am opposed to endorsing parties or candidates as a preacher. Not only is this forbidden by law, but it also invites division and disharmony in our congregation and easily distracts from the larger gospel message we are called to proclaim.

As a result, I believe we are called to engage cultural challenges with biblical truth in ways that focus on issues without endorsing or opposing political parties and candidates.

I grant that this is especially challenging with regard to some of the issues we face. For example, there was a day when pro-life supporters could be found in both parties, but this is less true today. Those who support biblical marriage may feel more aligned with Republicans than Democrats as well. On the other hand, many who champion racial and gender equality may consider these to be Democratic positions more than Republican.

Several years ago, Tim Keller wrote an op-ed for the New York Times addressing this dilemma, and his wisdom is as relevant today as it was then:

Increasingly, political parties insist that you cannot work on one issue with them if you don’t embrace all of their approved positions.

This emphasis on package deals puts pressure on Christians in politics. For example, following both the Bible and the early church, Christians should be committed to racial justice and the poor, but also to the understanding that sex is only for marriage and for nurturing family. One of those views seems liberal and the other looks oppressively conservative. The historical Christian positions on social issues do not fit into contemporary political alignments.

Nonetheless, our secularized culture is currently facing issues of enormous spiritual consequence. It is vital that we engage them with biblical truth and without partisan rancor. People deserve to know God’s word on the challenges they face. We are called to give it.

The second-century Letter to Diognetus states:

To sum up all in one word—what the soul is in the body, Christians are in the world. The soul is dispersed through all the members of the body, and Christians are scattered through all the cities of the world. The soul dwells in the body, yet is not of the body; and Christians dwell in the world, yet are not of the world. The invisible soul is guarded by the visible body, and Christians are known indeed to be in the world, but their godliness remains invisible (Chapter 6).

How to advance Christian civility in an uncivil time

Cultural commentator Daniel Darling notes:

Consider what you’d lose if you removed all Christians from politics. You’d not have Martin Luther King’s drive for justice, nor William Wilberforce’s lifelong fight against the slave trade, nor Susan B. Anthony’s crusade for women’s suffrage. A public life shorn of Christian witness would mean no hospitals, no care for immigrants, no policies such as PEPFAR, which arguably saved tens of millions of lives in Africa. What’s more, as Father Richard John Neuhaus observed forty years ago in his timeless book The Naked Public Square, the receding of Christianity from public discourse will only leave a vacuum that other ideologies will fill.

To engage our culture with civility and grace, let’s advance five biblical priorities.

One: Be discerning

“It is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:9–10).

Political parties have been part of American politics since our first contested presidential election. But three issues make this year’s political season especially divisive.

The first is abortion.

The battle is framed today as a conflict between those who want to “safeguard women’s reproductive freedom” and those who want to defend the life of the unborn child. Each sees the other as the enemy of women and children.

The second is LGBTQ ideology.

On one side are advocates for “civil liberty” akin to the civil rights of the 1960s; on the other are advocates for biblical morality. The first considers the second to be homophobic and dangerous, akin to KKK members and Jim Crow advocates. The second considers the first to be immoral and a threat to religious liberty.

The third is the rise of partisan media and digital technology.

There was a time when media was popular to the degree that it was objective. Now, due to focus group studies and sophisticated analytics, media outlets know the specific audience they serve and to whom they sell ads and content. As a result, they tailor their content to these audiences to the detriment of objectivity.

Social media exacerbates this vitriolic time as everyone has a megaphone to broadcast their personal views and a headphone with which to curate only the content that agrees with them. And bad actors at home and abroad are weaponizing artificial intelligence and digital technology to promote fake news and political divisions.

None of these issues is going away any time soon. In fact, we can expect the divisiveness of our day to be exacerbated in the coming years. It is, therefore, vital that we understand the root sources of our present political rancor and respond appropriately.

Two: Think biblically

“The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

We can interpret Scripture through the prism of culture or culture through the prism of Scripture.

The former is the approach of our postmodern “post-truth” culture that makes the Bible say whatever we wish it to say on same-sex marriage, abortion, euthanasia, or any other moral issue.

The latter positions us to hear God’s word and live accordingly. It leads to the life and nation God can bless.

To think biblically, know what God says about the key issues of our day. Then interpret what you see reported and said by political candidates in light of this unchanging truth. As J. V. Langmead Casserley noted, God’s word is an anvil. We don’t break God’s word—we break ourselves on it.

Three: Pray fervently.

“I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions” (1 Timothy 2:1–2).

Scripture requires us to pray for our leaders. Paul makes no reference here to the individuals in authority. If we cannot support the person, we must pray for their position.

If believers living in an Empire that sought their destruction could pray for their leaders, so can we. I have met Christians in the underground churches of China and the persecuted congregations of Cuba who pray fervently for their leaders. It is vital that we do the same:

• The less you agree with our candidates and leaders, the more you need to pray for them.
• Pray for our nation to experience the spiritual awakening we need so desperately.
• Pray for our pastors and spiritual leaders to share God’s word in empowering and transforming ways.
• Pray for God to redeem the divisiveness of our culture by drawing us beyond ourselves to him.
• And pray that, as he does, the Holy Spirit will show us any ways in which we need to change as well.

The more you pray, the more you will be empowered to act redemptively.

Four: Act redemptively

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

I have been referencing the work of sociologist James Davison Hunter for many years. He teaches us that culture changes top-down as we achieve our highest place of influence and then live there faithfully. He calls this manifesting faithful presence.

To do this in our political season, remember these biblical facts:

• We must not say about people what we would not say to them. Jesus was clear: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone” (Matthew 18:15).
• We must not slander in private: “Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy” (Psalm 101:5).
• We must not slander in public: “Whoever utters slander is a fool” (Proverbs 10:18).
• To the contrary, we are to answer our critics “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

Accordingly, use social media in ways that honor God and advance his kingdom. As stated earlier, we can run for office as God calls and support those who do. Remember that loving your neighbor as yourself is vital to God’s purpose in your life (Matthew 22:39).

And in all you do, protect your witness. The eternal souls you influence will matter more on November 6 than the election on November 5.

Our mantra should be Ephesians 4:15: “Speaking the truth in love.”

G. Campbell Morgan prophetically stated:

We do not believe in God if we are indifferent to the presence of the sins and corruptions that are cursing our cities. At last the King will set these in order, but while he is hidden he can only be known through us, and we have no right to live in any township or city in which the township and city does not come to know that we stand for the throne of God, for the establishment of righteousness, and for the preeminence of Jesus Christ.

Five: Live optimistically.

“This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24 NKJV).

We serve a king whose rule is not subject to the whims of our politics. We serve a Lord who created the universe and measures it in the palm of his hand. He is still on his throne, no matter what happens in our fallen world.

So live optimistically. Remember the word of the psalmist: “This is the day that the LORD has made.” It is the only day there is. Then decide, “We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

And know that he made you “for such a time as this.” If he could not use you in this day, you would not be living in this day.

As I often say, the darker the room, the more powerful the light. And the God who redeems all he allows wants to redeem the incivility of our time by using us as his salt and light in ways that glorify our Father in heaven.

My favorite of all my favorite Tim Keller quotes is this:

“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”

Now it is our privilege to share this hope with our broken world, to the glory of God.