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Red State Jesus, Blue State Jesus
God, prophecy, and politics
A new IRS determination will allow churches to explicitly endorse specific political candidates directly from the pulpit.
While endorsements or suggestions about specific candidates have been happening for years, the new ruling from the IRS makes clear that this type of behavior is not prohibited.
Previously, the prohibition was only very lightly enforced, if at all.
United Methodists were quick to make clear their position:
And, in an OpEd in the Charlotte Observer, a North Carolina Presbyterian minister offers additional insight:
Faith communities can and must be political, our beliefs and values should shape the way we live. But it’s terrible when faith leaders become partisan, teaching their folks to be devoted, not to God, but to a particular political party. It’s only a short step from there to teaching people that a certain political party is God.
Pastor Kate explains, referencing the story of Amos:
Amos was political. God anointed him to call the people back to covenant values of justice…
