Religion and politics
the Rev. Andrew McHenry
Friday, July 23, 2010
We are entering the season of political mudslinging, which gave me some thoughts on how different churches in America approach politics in different ways.
Some withdraw. They denounce politics as worldly or of the devil and separate themselves from all participation.
Some become a political monolith. Everybody is either a liberal Democrat or a conservative Republican.
Dr. Joel Gregory once observed this at a church he served in Texas: “To say that First Baptist had a high identity with the Republican Party is to say that fish have a high identity with the ocean. If there were Democrats in the church, they could have gathered in a janitor’s closet.”
Some churches go by the moniker that says “Religion and politics don’t mix.” Pastors and church leaders will intentionally avoid public political involvement so as to avoid controversy. It’s considered a separate part of life from one’s faith in Christ.
And some churches take the “big tent” approach. The church is made up of people with diverse political interests, which are superseded by their common faith in Jesus Christ. Everyone is welcome to participate in politics; no one is discouraged from it. But at the same time, there are people of differing political persuasions who have been great friends in fellowship for years.
My convictions and experience have led me to the last of these categories. A few Bible verses come to mind.
- John 13:34 — Jesus said to “Love one another.” This is a command for Christians in their relations with other Christians. And because no two Christians are exactly alike, this means loving people who are different from you. We can disagree about politics, sports affiliations, musical tastes, or anything else as long as we obey Christ’s command to love each other.
- Romans 12:2 — “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Christian non-conformity applies in a couple of ways here.
First, it means not being swallowed up in all the rancor and hostility of political exchanges, but expressing your perspective in a Christ-like way. Sometimes, I admit, this is challenging when arguments get heated.
And second, it means that churches should not be ideologically captive to a political group, whether it be left-wing, right-wing, or buffalo-wing. The role of Christians and churches is to offer prophetic critique — not to become a subset of any faction.
Gregory put it well: “To graft a secular political agenda onto the kingdom of God never felt comfortable… the Church had best not hitch its wagon to any political party… It is easy to be co-opted and hard to stand with independence.”
- Exodus 5:1 — Moses said to the Pharaoh “Let my people go.” Sometimes God’s people are inspired to pursue political actions and lobby ruling officials. It is particularly important to have some outlet for this in a voting democracy like ours, where a free exchange of ideas is necessary for good decision-making. Therefore, I don’t see political silence or noninvolvement as good options. This is especially true for Christians. If Christ is the center of our being, no part of life should be exempt from Biblical influence.
All this makes me think of a man named Richard Cordley. Born in 1829, he came with his parents to America from England when he was only 4 years old. He went to college at the University of Michigan, after which he entered Andover Seminary, near Boston, to study to become a pastor.
As a committed Christian, Cordley didn’t believe in political inaction. He and three of his friends committed help the cause of Kansas in 1857, arriving as abolitionist missionary pastors. For Cordley, it almost cost him his life. His pastorate was in Lawrence, where he narrowly avoided being killed on Aug. 21, 1863, when William Quantrill and his band of raiders murdered and ransacked the town.
Quantrill and his men sought to kill the “abolitionist preacher,” but Cordley avoided death by fleeing across the river. His political stance certainly was risky. But sometimes risks are worth taking.
In the Civil War years, Lawrence was basically an armed camp. Cordley ministered by holding services in the camp, visiting the sick in the hospitals and even taking turns standing guard at the blockhouse. At the close of the war, the Grand Army Post made him it permanent chaplain.
Cordley pastored in Lawrence for 18 years, and then came here to Emporia, where he pastored from 1878 to 1884 — after which he returned to Lawrence and pastored there until his death in 1904.
Cordley’s contributions to present life in Kansas are enormous. He was one of the founders of the University of Kansas. In fact, the first degree ever given by KU was an honorary Doctor of Divinity, given to Cordley. Today the Cordley Elementary School in Lawrence is named after him. It’s an inspiring legacy.
- “Sunday Sermon” is a forum for Emporia area ministers to share their sermons, thoughts and observations. This week’s sermon is from the Rev. Andrew McHenry, pastor at First Congregational Church.