The Catholic Church has taken this path of non-neutrality in regard to abortion. We have all seen the bumper sticker: "You Cannot Be Pro-Choice and Catholic". I recall, when Mr. Obama gave his Commencement Address at Notre Dame University, the images of an elderly white haired Catholic Priest being bound and taken away by the South Bend Police as he non-violently protested the President's involvement in the Commencement Ceremony. I remember that I openly wept.
I have made this public vow: Never again will I NOT be there. Never again will I watch from the comfort of my living room. Never again. The next time I will, with grave seriousness in my soul, stand beside the next Catholic Priest that "takes a stand" in public defiance of politicians who are willing to sanction the killing of defenseless babies. I have made this promise: I have never before been in jail, but... The next time, the police will take two of us away.
It seems to me to be an oxymoronic idea that one can be publicly Christian and privately political. Is that not the very idea of which Jesus spoke when he commanded us not to hide our light under a bushel? Can a follower of Christ be private?
I whole-heartedly agree that a Christian pulpit should never be a political pulpit. Never should the pulpit be the place to endorse any particular personality except Jesus. But if the pulpit is a place for a presentation of the Truth, then it is a logical and short trip to connect the dots that would lead us to conclude that we should not support certain politicians, as well as publicly take a stand against them.
This does indeed present a bit of a conundrum for a Pastor. But to hide behind the pulpit, when we are in fact not behind it, seems to be a much too convenient way to avoid the beating our public popularity might take if we came out from behind our sacred hiding place. The Christian in the pew doesn't have this advantage, so neither should Pastors.
Let me ask a question: Is a King a politician? Jesus declared himself a King in John 18. In fact, it seemed that Jesus was unable to keep his ministry as a Preacher clear of the problems created by his position as a King. Did not his political rivals ultimately kill him? Was not the public charge posted against him, "King of the Jews"? The religious/political powers of his time viewed him as a threat to their tyrannical political power, so they took him down by crucifying him.
Which brings me to my point: History repeatedly warns us... History shouts at us... And to Preachers specifically it demands a response. Public neutrality is not an option. Watchman Nee, Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, Jonas Clark, John Knox, Dietrich Bonhoeffer... the list goes on and on of those for whom politically neutral public silence was not possible. Are we different than these? Do we get a pass? If we fail to join the ranks of Christian leaders such as these, what shall be the result?
As Christians, we should all take heed. If we allow a religious vacuum to exist in the arena of public policy / politics, then do not be surprised when the same is filled with Sharia law.
We can all hope and pray that America will return to it's Christian roots, but it is looking less and less with each passing day like that will happen. Christian pastors need to be prepared to make a choice. However, the choice to which I refer is not a Republican or Democrat choice. It is not a Tea Party / Independent choice. When the time comes, we will all wish it were that easy.
The choice to be made (if history does indeed repeat itself) may very well be: Underground Pulpit or Public Prison.
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