People aren’t stupid. If you can’t teach Biblical truth from the pulpit in such a way that your congregation knows the kinds of things to look for in a candidate then you’re doing it wrong. Remember, the part that makes this “pulpit freedom Sunday” is the actual endorsement of a particular candidate. Pastors are allowed to endorse values and to condemn sin all we like.

I’ve been meaning for several weeks, since I first heard about “pulpit freedom Sunday,” to write something about it. Now, it’s the day before it happens and I need to spend the time on my own sermon rather than lamenting what other folks might do with theirs. Nonetheless, I want to give a few brief thoughts about why this is a monumentally bad idea.

• We are ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

• We ought to minister the gospel. No more, no less. 
• And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5,  ESV)
• I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5 ESV)

• This has the potential to alienate more than it does to unite. 

• Caveat: I am not a relativist. I believe in real truth – moral truths which dramatically affect the way we view the world and the way we live. Preaching without application is not Christian preaching. 
• The Christian Church (and local churches) is not to be unified around any particular application of the truth (be it homeschooling, social justice, or being a Republican). The Christian Church is to be unified around “…one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6, ESV)
• When we create dividing lines in the church they need to be gospel dividing lines. Think of it this way, ministers: If someone in the pews is going to tune you out forever, should it be because they were offended by the Gospel of Jesus Christ or by your endorsement of Mitt Romney?

• This isn’t helping anyone overcome fear of man.

• An argument I’m hearing regularly now is that this IRS restriction on preaching has caused pastors to shy away from preaching Biblical truth. (From the article linked to above: “Jim Garlow, senior pastor at Skyline Wesleyan Church in La Mesa, Calif., says the prohibition has caused religious leaders to shy away from speaking about what they see as theological truth…”)
• Let’s be realistic. Which kind of pastor is more likely to participate in “pulpit freedom Sunday:” the man who is afraid to preach the Word faithfully because of IRS regulations, or the man who loves to push the envelope, stir up a crowd, and see his name in the newspaper? Allowing for occasional exceptions, my money is on the latter. The minister who was ashamed of the Bible already isn’t going to be helped by this.

•  It’s unnecessary (and dangerous!)

• People aren’t stupid. If you can’t teach Biblical truth from the pulpit in such a way that your congregation knows the kinds of things to look for in a candidate then you’re doing it wrong. Remember, the part that makes this “pulpit freedom Sunday” is the actual endorsement of a particular candidate. Pastors are allowed to endorse values and to condemn sin all we like.
• To endorse an individual from the pulpit is a serious thing even apart from breaking a civil law. You are communicating to the congregation something that is bigger than just “this guy is better than that guy.” If you endorse truth – the truth can never let you down. If you endorse an individual? It [link] can [link] be [link] very [link] complicated.

• This particular election may be the worst time ever to do this.

• Caveat: I’m no political idealist. I understand that when we vote we are always voting for the lesser of two evils. I think most folks in our congregations understand that too. This last point I want to make should be an article all to itself so I’m going to be very brief.
• Two of the most dangerous things a pastor can do: 1) try to bind someone else’s conscience where it should not be bound; 2) try to cause someone to act against conscience in an area that Scripture leaves to conscience.

• Conclusions: No Christian pastor should tell anyone who they must vote for in order to “vote Christianly.” No Christian pastor should tell another Christian that they must vote for a candidate who also happens to be a Mormon.

Paul Mulner is a Minister in the Associate Presbyterian Church (ARP) and is the Pastor of Covenant of Grace Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem, N.C. He blogs at I’m Paul where this appeared and is used with his permission.