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To what degree should church leaders engage in political discussion?

EvolvingChristian

EvolvingChristian

Member
I frequently see church leaders and the Pope engage in political discussion. I believe it is a mistake.

Jesus and his fellow Jews lived under three totalitarian authorities: the Romans, King Herod, and their own Pharisees. To my knowledge, Jesus never engaged in political discussion. The only time Jesus came close was when he told people to pay their taxes.

If Jesus avoided politics, why do many church leaders not do the same? Why do they not follow Jesus' example? Do they know something that Jesus didn't? I'm being facetious, of course. :)
 
I don't think having political opinions and talking about them if asked is wrong. I do think trying to influence others to share your opinions or else they're sinning or insinuating that they're a fake Christian is.
 
Which is why I dislike most Christian groups or forums that put a heavy emphasis on political discussion. It leads to a lot of fighting and hard feelings.
 
I'm a left leaning centrist, by America's standards for left and right wing. Main issues that keep me from being fully left are gun control and abortion. Overall, I only just barely qualify as left, at least according to the political compass test.
I would say that I do qualify as socially liberal. Fiscally/policy wise.......I'm somewhere between left and right. I favor a capitalist system, which is more of a right wing thing, but I support regulations and safety nets as needed which is a left wing thing..... you feel me?

I don't think political ideology, outside of a few clearly moral issues, is all that important so far as our goal for Christianity is concerned.

So far as churches goes, my church doesn't force political commentary. The most the pastor has said from the pulpit is to pray for the President, which is Biblical as we are supposed to pray for our leaders.
 
I think the Sermon on the Mount could be interpreted as political?
"Blessed are the poor...."
Seems he wants those that feel powerless to be encouraged. That the last will be first in His Kingdom.
 
evenifigoalone said:
don't think political ideology, outside of a few clearly moral issues, is all that important so far as our goal for Christianity is concerned.
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Christianity goes deeper than political ideologies. To only support one side is to be blinded.
I think real Christians embrace the good points of both.
Someone like the Pope could be accused of being communist. I think he goes much deeper than that. He has real concern for the disenfranchised. Yet he respects the need for capitalism. He's not an idiot as some portray him.
 
humble soul said:
American Christians seem very political to me. Don't most vote conservative? Due to abortion, pro life issues? That issue seems definitive.
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I don't view opposition to abortion as being political. Telling others not to kill their offspring is a moral matter, not a political matter.
 
humble soul said:
Christianity goes deeper than political ideologies. To only support one side is to be blinded.
I think real Christians embrace the good points of both.
Someone like the Pope could be accused of being communist. I think he goes much deeper than that. He has real concern for the disenfranchised. Yet he respects the need for capitalism. He's not an idiot as some portray him.
Click to expand...

I think it's ok and normal for a Pope to have his own opinions on economic systems and various forms of government but, considering that much of the world listens to him, I believe he should keep those opinions to himself and that he should focus on spreading the word of Christ. After all, does he want to emulate Christ or does he want to emulate Shaun Hannity or Rachel Maddow?
 
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