“Preaching Politics!”

   I find it very interesting that I have often been accused of “preaching politics”. What is meant by “preaching politics”? It means my accuser:
     1.makes a distinction between preaching a sermon(preaching the 
​        Bible), and a political message.
     2.believes I support my political party over their political party…from
​         the pulpit!
Therefore, my accuser concludes I’m guilty of violating either or both of the previous points.   
   First, in early America, it was common for preachers to “preach politics”. Before any election in a given year, colonial preachers called special services to address both the life and policies of those seeking political office. These sermons were so common they were called ‘Election day sermons’. Historically, we have many records of these sermons because colonial preachers wrote-out their sermons, and read them to their congregations!
   Second, there are no scriptural passages forbidding “preaching politics”.  
   Third, Nathan the prophet’s rebuke of David for adultery(2Sam12); the prophecy that the Messiah would carry government on His shoulders(Is9:6;); John the Baptist’s rebuke of Herod for adultery(Mk6:18); Jesus’ rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees (Matt23), are a few among many Bible passages where men of God spoke to political authorities.
   Fourth, ‘preaching politics’ became a national problem beginning only in the late 1950’s when Democrat Senator Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) attached “pork” to a bill preventing preachers from  addressing “politics” from the pulpit. A preacher attacked him during his reelection bid, and he retaliated by passing legislation making all such actions going forward illegal. The law now states that a violating church can lose its 501c3 status, which designates it a non-profit, preventing people from writing-off any donations on their tax returns. In other words, violation of LBJ’s law can have huge financial consequences for the church!
   What is most interesting however, is that the term ‘preaching politics’ is impossible to define! How is it then enforced? History reveals it has been almost exclusively politically enforced! For example, to this day---either black or white Democrat politicians often appear in ‘Black churches’, to speak to congregations—which is a direct violation of LBJ’s law. However, it is extremely rare for a Republican politician to address a church. Why? Because that church would jeopardize their 501c3 status! This is an irrefutable fact!
   Now back to my topic. I find it most interesting ‘when’ I am accused of ‘preaching politics’. The accusations most often fly during two times:
1.When I preach against the sins of abortion, gay marriage, homosexuality,  transgenderism, or ‘contemporary’* racism. In other words, if I call the previous  behaviors sin, I am accused of “preaching politics”!
2.The second time is when I mention the word “liberal” from the pulpit. At times, I will call-out liberals as responsible for promoting the previously mentioned sins.
 
   What I also find interesting is ‘how’ I am accused! In other words, what is the criteria used to convict me of ‘preaching politics’? Following is the deciding principle:  certain positions/topics are re-categorized and re-designated as ‘political’; so that when that position or topic is mentioned, the person who mentions it--is now designated as political!
   What I have found sadly true is that those who accuse me of ‘preaching politics’, do not consider whether what I say is Biblical(theological), because in their minds, they take-sides with those** who have re-defined my point as political! For example, homosexuality. Because the Bible clearly declares homosexuality sin***; the only way for a Christian, or a person who calls themself a Christian, to support a political party which promotes homosexuality as morally good, is to remove the behavior from the category of theology(Bible), and re-categorize it as political!!!
   Let’s take another example: abortion. There have been times in the past, when I preached against the horrendous evil of abortion****, that I have been accused of being a Republican! Why? First, the Republican Party holds to a pro-life party platform position, i.e.considers abortion murder. Second, the person accusing me is a member of the Democrat party, which holds to a party platform that abortion is a woman’s right. So, which is right? Resolving the issue becomes a two-fold dilemma:
1.Do I consider this a theological/Biblical problem?
2.Do I consider this a political problem, i.e.Republican vs Democrat?
  Sadly, for many ‘liberal’ Christians***** in order to justify their allegiance to the Democrat party, which supports abortion, simply reject what the Bible declares about abortion.
   In their minds, they can accuse me of “preaching politics” because they have re-categorized abortion as political which NOW makes the matter their personal opinion verses my personal opinion!
   The problem is that this thinking rejects God’s opinion, i.e. God’s word, in favor of man’s opinion! Anytime man’s opinion is chosen over God’s word, it’s called idolatry—plain and simple!
    In conclusion, theology drives philosophy! This means, every person derives their philosophy of life from their theology, i.e. their view of God. If a person, chooses to call good what God calls evil, or call evil what God calls good(Is5:20), that person actually declares allegiance to their god…self! I repeat, this is idolatry!
   Charles G. Finney(1792-1875), a Presbyterian minister, and leader of the second Great Awakening in America, who was president of Oberlin College(1851-1866) in Ohio, one of the first colleges formed to educate blacks, wrote:
"The time has come for Christians to vote for honest men, and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them...Politics are a part of religion in such a country as this, and Christians must do their duty to their country as a part of their duty to God. God will bless or curse this nation according to the course Christians take in politics."
 
*This is what I call “liberal racism”.  
**Who are primarily academia, media, and entertainment.
***Lev18:22; Lev20:13; Rom1:26-28; 1Corinthians 6:9; Jude 7
****Gen25:22; Jer1:5; Ps139:13,14; Lu1:36,41,44.
*****Remember, liberalism is a doctrine of atheism, so you have to decide if this is possible.
 
Quotebit
The greatest gift you can give to somebody is your own personal development. I used to say, "If you will take care of me, I will take care of you." Now I say, "I will take care of me for you if you will take care of you for me" – Jim Rohn