Politics & The Pulpit: Should Preachers stick to the Gospel or be able to Talk Politics Too?
East Texans Sound-Off on clergy and any commentary or candidates they may endorse.
September 30, 2009 - 7:53am
Tyler—
East Texans respond to our Question of the Day from our News Partner: KTBB.
Should Preachers be allowed to talk to congregations about political issues and candidates and risk losing their Tax-Exempt Status?
Let me see. We'll not talk about adultery, stealing, lying, cheating, abortion, euthanasia, gambling, drinking etc. etc. Afterall this is what the politicians are involved in, at least most of them. Some of them trying their best to legalize some of the above. I guess all that's left is to talk about the Friday night football game. In case of emergency we'll call God. The rest of the time we are just too busy with our lives to bother. You know, all that organized religion and such.
katie007
3 weeks agoWhy shouldn't they speak? It is a free country. People always want to tell you about their thoughts on religion or government anyway. Why not here in the church.
All the news folks go to the Green Acers Church in Tyler, too.
Heck, we have the Traditionl Knights of the Ku Klux Klan out in Hallsville, a "fine" Christian group, and you know they are all about politics!
Plotics has always been in the church, just as church has often (not always) been in politics.
Kenny
1 month agoIt is common knowledge that black congregants get their political marching orders from their pulpits and anyone saying anything else is lying.
For example, when Jesse and Reverend Al and the 1st black prez W.J. Clinton want to sell an idea or anything else where do they go?
Atlanta churches come to mind for some reason. It has been a while but I remember them campaigning for something or other from one of Atlanta's largest black churches.
And no, I haven't yet heard of ANY black church that has lost or even had its tax exemption threatened! After all, they are special; they are black!
rollinson
1 month agoYes Tony Watson needs to keep his mouth shut and not get involved in politics. His congregations does not stand to gain or lose anything by allowing liquor inside Smith County, so he just needs to sit down and shut up. There is no place for politics in religion, and he makes no legitimate valid points.
Guy
1 month agoYes, preachers should be apolitical, not only to be true to their calling but to honor taxpayers for their exemption.
Of course, if this were to come to pass; would so many black people be as propagandized as they are now?
After all, how would they get a 96+% vote for our next so-called black-but-really-arab prez if they weren't propagandized in church?
And how many of their churches have been threatened with loss of their tax exemptions?
rollinson
1 month agoI do believe preachers should be able to speak about polotics because in a lot of ways polotics is the devils workshop. What ever happened to freedom of speach? Now the government is telling us when and how we can talk about or insult the president. I can tell you right now, I don't hate him but I disagree with what is happening and how he wants to socialize America. We need to go back to our roots and bring on another revolution and maybe our president and our government will listen again. I am 31 years young and my thoughts on the wars of the world are this: If you want to solve problems in other countries, take educated people from America and send them to third world countries to be president. The people might not be for it at first but when they see the outcome of it all, they might have a change of heart when the benefits start pouring in for them.
Brandy Rice
1 month agopreachers should definitely keep their mouth shut in the pulput about politics. Church is about unity, not division!!
T D
2 months agoI have found that very few preachers actually know what the Gospel is. Besides, if we use Jesus as the example; (Recommeded)He never spoke about or denounced any political movement. In fact, Paul clearly says, "What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?" (ICor. 5:12)
I heard a preacher once say, "You cannot be a democrat and be a christian". What an idiot.
But I think this is a partial answer to why the church is dwindling in numbers. Idiot preachers and people who refuse to accept truth.
David
2 months agoKeep it all from the scripture!! Maybe some of the politicians will be listening and learn from it and lead in the way God wants them to.
Me
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