In 1954, a provision appeared in the federal tax code called the Johnson Amendment. It stated that a church could lose their nonprofit status if they participated in "any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office." While it has not always been enforced, that has been the law for more than seven decades. 

That has now changed. 

A court ruling last month said that when a church speaks "in good faith speaks to its congregation, through its customary channels of communication on matters of faith in connection with religious services, concerning electoral politics viewed through the lens of religious faith" it does not run afoul of the Johnson Amendment. 

Throughout the course of my life as a pastor, I have always done my best to give no signs of my political convictions from the pulpit. I have them. I’ve discussed them in casual conversations with many of you. But I have steered clear of it in my role as your pastor. There are plenty of elections where brothers and sisters in Christ will disagree on the best candidates. I do not want to be disrespectful of people who have a differing vision than I do. 

So, I avoid talking about specific candidates. 

And although the law has changed, I’m not sure my approach will. What I will share is something that I think would have been legal before. And that is this: You should vote how you pray. 

What does that mean? With much regularity we pray together the Lord’s prayer. “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Sound familiar? It is how you pray. 

And I believe you should vote how you pray. What candidate… what policies… do you believe will help bring the kingdom to earth as it is in heaven? Simple question. And not so simple. 

No candidate or policy is going to be perfect. And no candidate or policy is going to be “the end of civilization as we know it” regardless of what you read on the internet. But who is your best choice to bring the kingdom of God into reality in our community? (I will say, there have been times I didn’t see a lot of encouragement from either candidate on a ballot and simply not voted in that race.) But for the most part, I can make a selection. 

If we reach an election where I do feel compelled by the Lord to speak out for or against someone, I will do so. But God’s voice will need to be crystal clear before I do so. 

Otherwise, my thoughts on politics from the pulpit would be: Make a Kingdom vote. 

On another note, I’m excited to be back at work. Click HERE for an article about my time away. If you would like to hear more, let me know. I’d be happy to talk about it! 

If it’s Sunday, you want to be at Due West, 

David