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Can a Minister Stand on
a Soapbox?
Here is a subject which can bring up volatile
responses from the congregation from time to time and which can result
in stumbling blocks being thrown before the brethren.
I suppose that all of us at one time or another hold strong political,
moral and/or emotional positions on just about every subject under the
sun. Here are some examples:
a) government in general
b) the current Federal administration [the President, a member in
government or Congress]
c) a political movement [conservative Republican, liberal or progressive
Democrat, etc.]
d) a bill before Congress
e) an election [usually Presidential]
f) a political flashpoint [abortion, women's rights, human rights,
animal rights, etc.]
g) a petition drive
The question is, just how much may a
minister use his position, the pulpit or the church to wax eloquent on
these subjects? Just how much may he get involved? Let me give you
what I feel is the bottom-line on this subject right up front.
Once a minister is ordained, his position and his life become the
expressed property of Jesus Christ. As a minister, his life
belongs to God and the Church. His duty is clear and specific.
He must preach Christ from the Word of God. Now certain subjects
from the short list above are addressed in the Bible, such as abortion,
the role of women in the Plan of God and what God thinks and feels about
animals. If a minister speaks on these things, the primary focus
should be the Word of God and not the human political movements
regarding these issues. This isn't to say reference cannot be made
to them, but the primary focus should always be the Word of God.
I don't believe that the ministry should use the pulpit to support a
Presidential candidate, a bill, petition or movement based on his own
emotion or personal feelings about that subject. It is almost
certain that he will find himself in opposition to at least someone in
the audience and could actually lose that person from the congregation
on a subject that has nothing to do with Salvation.
Now I do not see a problem with a minister stating his personal
admiration for some human being who has demonstrated certain Godly
principles. That person might be a certain living or dead
President of the United States or some statesmen of another country.
As long as the minister has his focus on the Godly principles of the
person or the admirable qualities he or she demonstrates, I don't see
many potential problems though there might be one or two in the
congregation who just dislike that specific person. Clearly they
will not necessarily deny Godly principle, which is the focus of the
minister's presentation about that person.
E-MAIL AND INTERNET ETIQUETTE
We all have friends in the church who send us e-mails with all manner of
jokes, information, inspirational items and the like. I,
personally love getting these items from the brethren as they brighten
up my day or contain something I can use in the weekly Web Report or web
sites. Keep those coming!! I appreciate them greatly.
We also receive e-mails with Internet links to petition drives, certain
political movements or something with an encouragement to send it along
to everyone in our e-mail address book. This is where it can get
dicey for the ministry. When a minister passes something along on
the Internet, his name, ordination and position in the church is loudly
attached to that item. The ICG and EA names also go with what he
might send out. It enters the area where the minister might be
getting involved in various causes or political positions. I feel
this is a potential minefield for the minister and could cause unneeded
situations, raised eyebrows, hurt feelings or even possible divisions
among the flock. Each minister in the Body of Christ has to make
his own decisions about this and most I know are very circumspect on the
matter.
I am not talking about the minister in regards to his family or close
friends and confidants in the church, but rather the idea of shot
gunning e-mails out to hundreds of people in and outside the church.
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