Minnesota Preacher Gets "Political"

This one caught my attention...I try to bite my tongue when it comes to politics. I very rarely speak about such things in the pulpit and if do, I try to keep it innocuous. The hard thing is that people in the pews are very passionate about these things and when they bring up their complaints regarding President Bush...or their concerns with Senator Obama...all I can do is kind of helplessly shrug my shoulders and change the subject.

This guy up in Warroad brings up an interesting point. Do preachers hide behind their tax-exempt status too often and fail to speak on issues that they have a duty to speak about? It's inarguable that a preacher should vocally chastise abortion and the pro-choice movement. Shouldn't they in turn chastise the candidate who is pro-choice?

I don't necessarily agree that we need to start speaking from the pulpit on various candidates...in fact I'm totally against it. The pulpit is for the proclamation of the Gospel...not a stumping platform for politics. But pastors often find themselves having to deal with the intersection of the two kingdoms...how does a citizen of the kingdom of the right live in the kingdom of the left? I'd argue that we need to find ways to speak clearly about this intersection.

Imagine if St. Paul had said, "I'd like to talk about that, but the government won't let me!"