Living Together

Have you heard someone say, “the Church should not be political?” This sentiment typically comes from folks who value peace and communal harmony, which are important. Though well intentioned, this idea reveals a contrast within our Christian life. The word “politics” comes from the Greek world politiká, which just means “city affairs.” The Old Testament, the New Testament, and Jesus’ teachings are lathered with views and instruction for how God’s people are called to live together in community.  If we are not careful, then the phrase “the Church should not be political” can easily become “our faith should not have real-world implications in our community.”

We are called to live together. We have neighbors. If we have a community with rules, customs and cultures, then we will have politics. Therefore, our Christian life is unavoidably political. The effort to keep Jesus solely in the spiritual realm misunderstands the Bible and our calling to live as Jesus teaches us.

What the Church ought not to be is partisan. Whenever I preach, I am articulating an interpretation of biblical values that is undergirded by my lived experience, my seminary education, and my personal worldview. I rigorously strive to never endorse a political party or candidate from the pulpit. If I misspeak, I will quickly admit my error if something I say crosses the line into partisanship. Although values do need to be articulated, the line of partisanship should not be crossed.

In fact, thanks to the Johnson Amendment passed in 1954, it is illegal for churches to become partisan. Admittedly, it is sometimes difficult to detach values and policies from candidates and parties. But still, an honest effort to differentiate them should be made. While the Johnson Amendment is rarely enforced, the awareness of the law is still useful. Put simply, you can only violate the law if the law exists.

There is currently a court case in Texas between two churches and the IRS regarding the enforcement of the Johnson Amendment. If approved, this would allow churches to endorse candidates from the pulpit. In my view, this dismantles the separation of Church and State and opens the door to corruption. This would allow for churches to openly support candidates, not just with rhetoric, but also with funding. Imagine people donating to the church for political reasons. Imagine using the church to dodge campaign finance laws, where names are not public and amounts are limitless. If the Johnson Amendment is repealed, candidates would soon be publicly endorsed by congregations and denominations. This would be a catastrophe.

While the Church and the State can sometimes be partners, it is important that they remain separate. Churches and nonprofits have a glorious history of reaching people in need through hands-on and innovative methods. Don’t get me wrong, funding from the government is important, but without nonprofits, the groundwork of helping people in need would not be accomplished. Charities are often started and funded by churches, sometimes entirely. Imagine the Church becoming another area of society that is saturated by partisan jockeying. The Church’s mission to serve people in need cannot be compromised.

It is important to understand why we have the separation of church and state in America. Early American settlers from Europe were fleeing injustice and intolerance as governments in England dictated religious restrictions. This intolerance fueled the work of the people who founded our country as a place where religious freedom would not be infringed. Since our beginning, we have been the beneficiary of nonpartisan religious institutions.

The Church is a place where we find hope, develop our trust in God, and learn about the values that shape how we setup society. The journey of self-discovery must be done without the ugly trappings of partisanship. The creation of God-inspired community cannot be done with the toxicity of tribalism. God is calling us into such a time as this. Together, we stand up for what we believe. It is love for one another that unites us. I promise, God’s love is big enough for us to rally around. The sacred balance of both peace and conviction is where we are called to live. Together we love and serve, rooted in God’s love for all people.

Grounded in love,

Pastor Lucas

Photo by David Trinks