No rule in America says preachers cannot talk politics from the pulpit. No rule says congregations cannot vote to endorse a political candidate.
There is no rule that says a politician cannot speak or even “preach” to a congregation – or to a national denominational gathering.
The only “rule” that keeps these obscene church/state liaisons from soiling the carpet in the narthex is something called the Johnson Amendment, a provision in the U.S. tax code since 1954, which says any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that endorses or opposes a political candidate can lose its tax-exempt status.
So, with our Constitution still intact at this point, nothing “prohibits” a church from endorsing or opposing a political candidate – except the potential loss of tax-exempt status.
If you feel it deeply, then speak, sing, shout all you want for or against Barack, Hillary, the Donald or anyone else. No one can stop you, jail you, kill you or eat you.
Since this “prohibition” is in the U.S. tax code, it does mean you put your tax-exempt status at risk.
Gifts to your organization would no longer be tax deductible by the donor, and your organization may well have to start paying taxes – something for which the non-religious already are clambering.
Of course, if you really, sincerely, deeply believe Politician X’s promises to make America a safe place to pray again, or that somehow this or that promise-maker will protect the church or the good people of your persuasion, a little thing like endangering your organization’s financial future should not stand in the way, should it?
Among those longing for a Johnson Amendment repeal – so that nonprofit organizations, specifically churches, can endorse or oppose candidates without financial fear – is the current occupant of the White House and several high-profile pastors and theo-political gadflies.
A few sane heads are trying to pull back on the reins and help them understand that such an unseemly liaison can only produce bastards.
In the maelstrom and milieu of the maddening desire to prostitute the church on the altar of politics, those elements of the church in America could take a lesson from the church in China.
According to a recent Associated Press story, the Chinese government, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, is working hard to “Sinicize” all the nation’s religions by infusing them with “Chinese characteristics,” such as loyalty to the Communist Party.
That includes stripping religious buildings of symbols unique to that religion, closing house churches and even encouraging Christians in at least one township to replace posters of Jesus with portraits of Xi.
All of that is discouraging enough for God’s children of all faiths. But this paragraph from the Associated Press story throws up a red flag, neon signs and fireworks warnings to Christians in this country: “The (Communist) party has long been wary of Christianity because of its affiliation with Western political values.” (emphasis mine)
In other words, entangling your religion with your politics threatens the ability of your Christian brothers and sisters in other lands to worship. Besides being bad for your own church – and nation – it’s bad the world over.
I lead a large adult Bible study class at a church with 500 to 600 in attendance. During a teacher training session last year, our staff minister asked all teachers what our single greatest issue is while teaching adults.
Every teacher said that it was the intrusion of party politics in any discussion about Jesus’ ministry.
When Kingdom issues coincided with news headlines, discussion descended into the secular – interpreting the ideals of Scripture through the discord of politics, rather than allowing Scripture to speak to the issues and to paint our perspective with the brush of faith.
As said the pastor of a church in Washington, D.C., any time the sermon is about Jesus’s care “for the least of these,” congregants railed against the pastor for supporting Democrats.
When the sermon touched on personal responsibility or respect for government officials, other congregants railed against the pastor for supporting Republicans.
Modern preachers for whom the spotlight of their own pulpits burns not brightly enough are easily manipulated by U.S. presidents who invite them to the White House, ostensibly to seek their counsel and to assure them the president will work the levers of state to facilitate their religious goals.
Although Billy Graham regretted his own fall into that seductive cauldron, many religionists respond to the current occupant’s beckoning to the bright lights.
What he really wants is photo ops so that it appears their constituents / congregants support his unchristian assault on immigrants, the environment at many levels, the poor and the disenfranchised among whom Jesus declared the Kingdom of God.
While religionists bask like moons in the reflected light of politicians, such mingling of church and state in this country is the very attribute that makes it difficult for true religion in other countries – and in our own.
Editor’s note: A version of this article first appeared on Jameson’s blog, Words and Deeds, and is used with permission.
Norman Jameson is a writer and fundraising consultant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he is a member of Ardmore Baptist Church.
