The Pastor's Pre-Election Perils
Fred Smith
October 1, 1984
"A time to keep silence, and a time to speak," said the Preacher of Ecclesiastes. This fall, as Election Day approaches, American preachers face the quandary of what to say and what not to say. Unfortunately, Solomon isn't around for counsel. I went to a large church this past summer and listened to a nationally known guest minister. A U.S. senator and several other political dignitaries were there as well, and before the morning was over, Christian faith had been thoroughly mingled with conservative politics. I sat thinking about two or three friends of mine, members of that church, who are leaders in the "other" party. They are Bible-believing, spiritual men who love God, but they must have felt like foreigners that morning-in their own church. This is wrong, I said to myself. But must pastors say nothing about political affairs? Is the whole subject taboo? We have been tripped up by our labels. We've been talking about being conservative or liberal, right-wing or left-wing, rather than what Scripture defines for us: right versus wrong. Certain friends label me conservative, while others have decided I'm liberal; neither tag bothers me too much. What does concern me is my integrity. I was playing golf with the pastor of a large church recently, and when the talk turned to politics, I said, "Are you conservative or liberal?" He alertly responded, "On what issues?" "Well, choose them yourself," I said. "I'm very conservative theologically," he replied, "and therefore I'm very liberal politically." I was intrigued by his word therefore, as if the matter were automatic. I asked about that, and he said yes, the one dictated the other. So I asked, "Are you for bureaucracy?" "No, I'm strongly opposed to it." "Then how are you going to administer ...
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