March 8, 2010

What is the role of the pastor in the world of politics?

Like most Americans who are somewhat interested in the current debate on health care reform, it is interesting to see the passion, almost to the point of fanaticism on this topic. It is amazing to see how partisan the politics have gotten. I'm not here to say which side I believe is right or wrong. Both sides of the debate do have something to offer, sometimes even constructive in nature.

I have been somewhat concerned as of late. Actually, for quite some time. While I realize that as a citizen in this land voting for elective offices would fall under the 4th Commandment, as well as obeying our leaders, I would expect my pastor to remind me of these duties. I am disturbed though by those pastors who believe they have a voice in this debate, or any political debate for that matter. Does the pastor get to have a voice in politics?

I like my pastor. He's a nice guy. Very solid in his teaching and preaching. This is what confuses me: What gives him the right to give me a lecture on his political beliefs? I don't know if he is speaking ex cathedra since he is speaking to me either in his vestments or while wearing his clerical. I apologize for sounding old-fashioned here, but I always thought that if the pastor was wearing his clerical that he was "on duty" and representing the Office of the Ministry.

I wholeheartedly believe that one who is serving in the Pfarramt should remind me that abortion is wrong, that the world that we are just passing through is sinful and corrupt, that there are things happening that we should be aware of and speak out against that affect us as Christians. Yet, I really don't want to know, or should know, that my pastor is a fan of Rush Limbaugh, CNN, Bill O'Reilly, Keith Olbermann, Michael Medved, Michael Moore, Fox News, ad nauseam. (Actually, I can't stand any of the aboved mentioned persons or news outlets. I get my political news watching the Daily Show and the Colbert Report, who do a wonderful job of poking holes in politicians and those who report on them.)

Before you jump right to making a comment, hear me out. Again, I understand that there is a duty to let the flock know that this modern world is not all that great and we, as sheep, love to go astray. My point is, which path is the pastor to be keeping his flock on?
According to AC XXVIII:

8] This power is exercised only by teaching or preaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments, according to their calling either to many or to individuals. For thereby are granted, not bodily, but eternal things, as eternal righteousness, the Holy Ghost, eternal life. 9] These things cannot come but by the ministry of the Word and the Sacraments, as Paul says, Rom. 1:16: The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. 10] Therefore, since the power of the Church grants eternal things, and is exercised only by the ministry of the Word, it does not interfere with civil government; no more than the art of singing interferes with civil government. 11] For civil government deals with other things than does the Gospel. The civil rulers defend not minds, but bodies and bodily things against manifest injuries, and restrain men with the sword and bodily punishments in order to preserve civil justice and peace.
12] Therefore the power of the Church and the civil power must not be confounded. The power of the Church has its own commission to teach the Gospel and 13] to administer the Sacraments. Let it not break into the office of another; let it not transfer the kingdoms of this world; let it not abrogate the laws of civil rulers; let it not abolish lawful obedience; let it not interfere with judgments concerning civil ordinances or contracts; let it not prescribe laws to civil rulers concerning the form of the Commonwealth. 14] As Christ says, John 18:36: My kingdom is not of this world; 15] also Luke 12:14: Who made Me a judge or a divider over you? 16] Paul also says, Phil. 3:20: Our citizenship is in heaven; 17] 2 Cor. 10:4: The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the casting down of imaginations.

18] After this manner our teachers discriminate between the duties of both these powers, and command that both be honored and acknowledged as gifts and blessings of God.

20] When, therefore, the question is concerning the jurisdiction of bishops, civil authority must be distinguished from 21] ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Again, according to the Gospel or, as they say, by divine right, there belongs to the bishops as bishops, that is, to those to whom has been committed the ministry of the Word and the Sacraments, no jurisdiction except to forgive sins, to judge doctrine, to reject doctrines contrary to the Gospel, and to exclude from the communion of the Church wicked men, whose wickedness is known, and this without human force, 22] simply by the Word.

Why must my pastor, and other pastors that I have encountered, wear their politics on their clericals? What is the reasoning for this almost obsessive need to try to "fit in" with the rest of the world and proclaim to be a member of some part of the political spectrum? Whatever happened to the thought of being in the world, but not of it? As Romans 12:2 states, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

If anything, a pastor should be apolitical regarding politics. A pastor should know that there is not a party that fully embraces all of Christianity, especially a Lutheran understanding. It does not take a theologian to know that something man made like political institutions is inherently corrupt. As Psalm 146 states, we should "trust not in princes." Why do some want to do that?

2 comments:

  1. I appreciate the concern you raise here. There's a line in The Diary of A Country Priest, where the young priest says to the daughter of the count, "A priest has no opinions." I like that, for as unrealistic, or even wrong, as it may strike some, the point is that the pastor cannot afford to unnecessarily let worldly matters get between him and the spiritual care of his people. In some cases it would serve the Church well if pastors would take some of the courage of their political convictions, and transfer it to their spiritual conviction.

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  2. Deacon, I agree that it would be nice if that courage was transfered to the spiritual realm. It would be invigorating for the members if there was that type of conviction from the pulpit. I guess there is the belief that you can't lose your call for your political affiliations

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