Politics in the Pew
Commentary from the Christian Science Monitor reminds us that not only is politicking from the pulpit a violation of IRS regulations, it is damaging to religion.
America's religious leaders, and politicians seeking their help, must be mindful of the danger of too much politics in the pew. For one thing, politicians err if they think of evangelicals, for instance, as like-minded voters. Subtle changes are occurring within this group, including the emergence of those who want to extend their social causes to alleviating poverty and helping the environment - traditional themes for Democrats.But the chief danger is to religion itself. Ultimately, people join churches for spiritual nurturing, progress, and fellowship. That purpose peters out when a church acts too much like a political party. A minister's highest calling has to be helping congregants to a better understanding of God, and giving them spiritual tools to deal with their life and their world. That's very different from telling them how to use these tools in political campaigns.