Pastors and Politics

A couple of “asides” in a recent sermon of mine were upsetting to at least one hearer. (Others may have been upset, but did not tell me.) Our exchange after the service was respectful on both sides, and neither of us changed our minds. It’s not important to go into the specific issue, but the incident made me think again about the awesome task and privilege of preaching.

At First Church, we pastors customarily use one of the texts in the Revised Common Lectionary, a three-year schedule of Scripture passages that takes us through large parts of the Bible. On most Sundays, there are readings from the Old Testament, a Psalm, the New Testament (Acts or one of the epistles), and a Gospel. After some thought, study, and prayer, we usually focus on one of the selections and do our best to explore its meaning—in its own time, and for today.

Karl Barth, the great 20th century theologian, said that the faithful preacher should prepare a sermon with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. Because I love the historical study of the Bible, that part is easiest for me. I have to watch myself about sermon space, so that I don’t go on and on with the Bible background I so enjoy exploring, telling people more than they care to know about why the passage was written, in what situation, for whom, and more. I have to remind myself of the second part of Barth’s injunction—the newspaper, the context of current events—in the world and in the lives of the people in our congregation. I believe that people are hoping to hear something that is relevant to their lives this very week, and I try hard to make the connection between the ancient words and our current situation. I’m often surprised and grateful at how easy that is. Much of the Bible is truly timeless. Although our situation is vastly different from that of people of Bible times, we can see clearly that they dealt with the same human emotions we experience.

I do not believe a pastor should ever abuse the power and privilege of preaching by letting partisan politics intrude. But the Bible is full of exhortations and instructions about how people are to live together in community. The Bible speaks on war and peace, on justice and mercy, on taking care of those among us who cannot care for themselves, on the need for ethical, trustworthy leaders. In today’s world, these are often political as well as moral issues.

So what’s a preacher to do? I can only end where I begin. I start with Scripture. I read and think and study and pray…and in my small congregations, I see many of your faces before me as I do that. And then, with fear and trembling, I write and I speak. They’re not God’s words—far from it!—but they’re the best I can do, week by week.

A preacher friend of mine, when asked his political leaning by a new congregation, replied, “I’m neither Democratic nor Republican—I’m Biblical.” That’s what I strive to be, in great confidence that the Bible speaks to us today.