The recent reinterpretation of the Johnson Amendment by the IRS has been hailed as good news for churches especially with regard to the freedom of speech (see the excellent analysis by the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission here).
Indeed, the Johnson Amendment held churches captive in fear of losing their non-profit status or ability to operate without oppressive taxes or controls for decades if they endorsed a political candidate, party or platform. It made preachers think twice when preaching on clear moral and ethical issues for fear that it might be seen as taking a political position or siding with a particular candidate. We can rejoice that it seems the era of fear and intimidation is over no matter what side of the political aisle you might find yourself on any particular issue.
Before a pastor or church decides to declare once and for all their red or blue colors, however, it might be wise to consider the impact it might have on their witness. While we should never waffle on important moral and ethical issues, we should pause to consider if the positions we are taking are essential to the gospel or more an expression of our own political persuasion. A person who visits a church should not have to consider if he or she is welcome if they are not a member of a particular political party. We may find ourselves in the unfortunate position of creating a stumbling block to the gospel over something that is a non-essential, even if we have strong feelings about it. Our final authority and guide has to be Scripture rather than a partisan platform.
We should also consider the potential divisive impact of political affiliation for the local church. I remember serving as pastor of a church years ago where the chairpersons of the opposing local political party chapters were both active members. I had to learn as a young pastor to preach the Bible unapologetically but without reference to political affiliation. It was important for me to remember that there were different perspectives in the room at any given time. The Bible speaks with divinely inspired truth to all and for all. My job as pastor was to keep everyone focused on following Jesus rather than political leaders. Issues today seem even more divisive now than they were then, but I believe that is still the wisest course of action for our preaching and teaching.
In my opinion, a church or a pastor who steers clear of political affiliation can speak more powerfully to their community on issues of moral and ethical import from a biblical perspective as opposed to a partisan one. I believe it will also enable them to have a stronger witness for the gospel to those who may not have the same political views. As divided as our country is politically, we cannot afford to limit our evangelistic efforts to just the half of the population that agrees with us.
The bottom line is, while the reinterpretation of the Johnson Amendment makes it permissible for pastors and churches to express political preferences, we should exercise caution before doing so for the sake of the gospel.
