Pastors and Politics

We've had another example in recent days of why it is a bad idea for pastors to delve too deeply into politics and align themselves with a particular candidate. You probably know that John McCain has rejected the endorsements of John Hagee and Rod Parsley. An portion of one of Hagee's sermons recently surfaced about God, Hitler, and Holocaust. McCain called Hagge's comments 'crazy and unacceptable.' Parsley has made similar statements.

Although I'm neither a Hagee nor Parsley enthusiast, I understand what they've said. Many others do as well, including Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg of San Antonio who recently defended Hagee. He said, "The Pastor interpreted a biblical verse in a way not very different from several legitimate Jewish authorities. Viewing Hitler as acting completely out of God's plan is to suggest that God was powerless to stop the Holocaust, a postion quite unacceptable to any religious Jew or Christian."

So Hagee's comments are neither crazy nor unacceptable. Comments like those in his sermons are bound to be misunderstood by the world. In a super-charged political environment seasoned with political-correctness, they are made public, hurting Hagee and McCain by extension.

I don't see the real benefit of pastors coming out publicly for political candidates. In the end, it winds up hurting our witness and lessening our influence. I think we should preach the Word, stand for truth, and label sin as sin. But I also think we should keep particular personalities out of the discussion. May the latest flap over pastoral endorsements serve as a warning to all of us. Stay above the political fray and stay away from personal endorsements.

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