As a pastor I know I have a great responsibility to shepherd
and disciple the amazing people of State Street Baptist Church. I also know that I will be held to a higher standard
as a pastor (James 3:1). The political season is well upon us and I understand
that pastors and ministry leaders are giving their official endorsements of candidates.
I am certainly not criticizing them. As long as they have sought God and they
are being obedient to His following, they need to do what the Holy Spirit leads.
However, I have never sensed the Holy Spirit ever lead me to
specifically endorse a candidate. I came across the following article recently: “Is It Even Legal for a Pastor to Endorse a Political Candidate? If So, Should You?” I found it very informative and I absolutely
agree with this portion of the article and this is where I stand: “…at
the end of the day, we want our people to think for themselves and to learn to
listen, deeply, to the both the Word of God and the Holy Spirit’s voice within
them. This is the long-game we’re in and it’s not
about pushing the easy button, pointing to a candidate or checking a box—it’s
about discipleship.” My heart is to disciple the people God has graciously allowed me to
pastor. You won’t hear me telling you
who to vote for, but you will hear me address, from God’s Word, the issues that
are at stake in our nation.
The only caveat I have about the article is to understand that one day we may live in a
country that may make pastors choose between obeying man’s law or obeying God’s
Holy and perfect Word. When given that choice, I will chose obedience to God,
even it deemed illegal by the state. The
early church dealt with this when the Sanhedrin forbid the disciples to speak
the name of Jesus. The Sanhedrin said, “’We strictly charged
you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your
teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.’ But Peter and the
apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” (Acts 5:28-29) I know it sounds cliche, but my King will ultimately always be Jesus Christ.
