For many churches, this Sunday is “Pulpit Freedom Sunday.” Because many churches are 501c3 tax exempt entities, and because the IRS has stiff restrictions on what such entities may do in the realm of partisan politics, many churches have drawn back from making their prophetic voice heard when it comes to the pressing moral issues of our day. This is a tragedy.
In response, some concerned Christians have designated this Sunday as a day on which pastors of such churches give their congregations an explicit political charge, from a biblical perspective. They then notify the IRS of what they have done, and they do it all together. Today is that day.
Because our church is an association, not a corporation, and is tax immune, not tax exempt, this does not really apply to us. But it is important to note our sympathy with anyone who wants the church to be able to speak freely. In order for the nation to be free, the churches must be free. If the churches are gagged, then it won’t be long before the process of gagging moves into high gear.
We have made a point of keeping partisan politics out of this pulpit—partisan politics of the “vote for Murphy” variety—but we believe that this is the judgment call of our session to make, and no business whatever of the federal government. We reserve the right to urge you to vote for a particular candidate if the circumstances demanded it.
The demands of the gospel are inescapably political. Jesus is a king, and moreover He is the king of kings, not the king of an irrelevant spiritual place in the heavenlies. He is the Lord of lords, the President of presidents. Remember that “Jesus is Lord” is the fundamental Christian confession. This has direct ramifications for issues like the outrage of abortion, the travesty of homosexual marriage, the balloon juice of American exceptionalism, and the bizarre belief that if the victim has to fill out a form, taking his stuff somehow isn’t theft. It is understandable that many men would want the church to shut up about this, but it is also important to us to realize that they are not honest men.