Why Pulpit Freedom Sunday is a Really Terrible Idea

Last updated on: October 5, 2012 at 8:48 am by Tim Suttle

Why Pulpit Freedom Sunday is a Really Terrible Idea 2012-10-05T08:48:24-06:00 Tim Suttle

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This Sunday morning hundreds of pastors will participate in what is being called, “Pulpit Freedom Sunday.” The program is the creation of a conservative political action group called the Alliance Defending Freedom, formerly known as the Alliance Defense Fund (you can read a little bit about them here). The agenda behind Pulpit Freedom Sunday is to entice pastors to openly endorse a presidential candidate from their pulpit during a Sunday morning worship service, then to send evidence of the endorsement to the IRS, hoping that the IRS will bring a case against the church to revoke their non-profit status.

First let me say that I think there are some legitimate questions at work here: 1) non-profit status for religious organizations and 2) the relationship between religion and politics, and most importantly 3) how pastors can help their congregations to have a helpful conversation about politics in an election year. The third one is, by the way, part of why I wrote the book Public Jesus. However, none of those things are worth dragging a congregation into a bitterly divided election year squabble by publicly declaring advocacy for a specific party or candidate in the middle of a worship service.

I think Pulpit Freedom Sunday is a really bad idea. For one thing, it’s a rude intrusion of Pharaoh’s government into the sacred space of the worship of the one true God. For a second thing, it’s really not about freedom of religion. Pulpit Freedom Sunday grows out of the unholy marriage between the political right and American evangelicals. You need to look no further than the title sponsor (ADF), for that to be made clear.

Yet, none of those are the main reason I object. The main reason I object is that this is not what churches should be about.

If I stood up and endorsed a candidate in my church during a sermon, it would cause terrible division, would make those who disagree feel unwelcome, and leave us all more confused and divided than when we came. It’s called sewing the seeds of discord and it is not what worship should be about. The pastor’s job is not to prop up some politician, nor is it to encourage their congregations to put their trust in any political candidate or party.

I’m all for pastors having political convictions. But, there has to be a better outlet than the pulpit on Sunday morning for those convictions to be expressed. Doing so is an abuse of what we are there to do. The propaganda supporting Pulpit Freedom Sunday cites the history of pastors who used to pulpit during the abolitionist movement and civil rights. But this is a fundamentally different situation. Pulpit Freedom Sunday isn’t pastors protesting injustice, but pastors stumping for political candidates. Pastors should not be placing trust in politicians and we shouldn’t drag our church into the political blood-sport by endorsing a candidate from the pulpit.

I sometimes write about politics for The Huffington Post, Sojourners, and here at Paperback Theology, and I feel conflicted about it every single time (including right now). Writing on politics has taught me how vulnerable pastors are on this issue. I try to write about it in a way that transcends party politics, but my beliefs come through and I know that. My deepest political conviction is that Christianity is itself a politic (an organizing narrative), that is altogether separate from Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or any other kind of politics in America. Although talking about politics is one of the things I do on this blog, I try not to endorse any single candidate and hope to poke all sides with a stick when appropriate. But, even a blog that has no connection to my church feels really vulnerable to me, and that is why I won’t be making an all-out endorsement of any candidate this year, and I certainly won’t be preaching in support of a candidate this Sunday Morning.

So here’s my advice for Pulpit Freedom Sunday:

Pastors: let this idea fly by and call it what it is, a trap that will only further divide the body of Christ. It should be called Pulpit Slavery Sunday, as the pastors who participate make themselves slaves to the empire the moment they endorse a candidate for Pharaoh.

IRS: ignore the tapes and don’t swing at a pitch in the dirt.

Congregations: If you pastor endorses a candidate this Sunday, I’d love to tell you to stand up and fire back, to challenge them in front of the congregation, but that would only exacerbate the huge mistake they’ve already made. If your pastor does this, you’ve been put in a terrible position. Don’t leave. Don’t fight. Don’t make a huge deal out of it. All you can really do is to pray for them and bear their sin. Seek a time to speak with them privately and express your disappointment with their decision, but don’t stoop to their level and create a scene. If they won’t relent after a private audience, take a like-minded brother or sister along and try it again. If they still won’t see reason, then seek the counsel of your church leadership (elders/deacons).

Uncategorized

Alliance Defending Freedom

Alliance Defense Fund

Pulpit Freedom Sunday

Religion and Politics

Previous Post

October 4, 2012

Here's My Take on Last Night's Debate

Next Post

October 7, 2012 Contemplative Prayer: The Path to Wisdom

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category abortion corruption Donald Trump elections Empire Entertainment Ezra Klein ideology Justice Lacan politics race Sports Ta-Nehisi Coates Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 March 2026 September 2025 March 2025 June 2024 January 2024 December 2023 May 2023 February 2023 October 2022 April 2022 March 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 September 2020 July 2020 June 2020 March 2020 September 2019 July 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 August 2010 July 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said: "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

James Paul Moses Peter