Posted by : Shawn in (Stuff I Do)
Can Pastors Express A Public Opinion?
I was feeling a little feisty this morning so I twittered:
“Why are some people so afraid to let pastors have public views on politics or controversial church issues?”
And out of this a Twitter discussion has started as well as a Facebook discussion with lots of great thoughts and insight. What is even cooler is that it is a mix of folks, Presbyterians, pastors, World of Warcraft players, people I went to high school with and a few other random folk that somehow find it worth their time to follow my twitters or friend me on Facebook.
My intial question was basically expressing a frustration I have that as a minister I am supposed to keep any controversial views to myself - at all times. Of course, I certainly understand why people feel this way. The basic argument is that as a minister I hold a certain sort of power and people will view what I say as more of a “word from God” then they would a non-minister. So when I express an opinion there is the unsaid notion that “this is what a faithful Christian would believe.”
Here are my problems with this:
1) That’s a very un-Presbyterian thing to believe. The whole notion of the Reformation was that each and every person has the same access to God and the Bible, and that the priest/minister is no more holy or in touch with God than anyone else.
2) Does this rule apply to other people with power? Certain people in other roles have other sorts of power - police officers, soldiers, doctors, political pundits, top-level corporate executives, actors, media personalities, internet personalities, etc. There are people who will listen more closely to any number of the above roles and believe what they say for various non-logical reasons. So should all of these people have no public opinions either?
3) Jesus held some pretty public and unpopular views. He was killed by the government for speaking out against the government. I know I’m not Jesus, but like all Christians I’m called to follow him and try to do what he did.
4) What would have happened if Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (and countless other ministers at the time) had kept their views to themselves? There are times for the church to stand up to the culture around them. In the Presbyterian Book of Confessions we have the Barmen Declaration. This was a statement from churches in Germany that refused to align themselves with the Hitler’s government.
I’m certainly not advocating a scenario where I preach or teach who to vote for or whether or not God wants the Congress to pass a bailout plan. But I think it is sad if people are afraid (and it is fear we are talking about) of me revealing who I might vote for.
And have you ever noticed that it often isn’t the fact that a pastor has expressed an opinion that is the problem, but rather that the pastor expressed an opinion with which someone disagreed?
I think that in some cases personal views should be expressed. There has been plenty of condemnation of the banks by members of the clergy over here. When it is personal it can be a problem. As you say you hold a lot of power and some people who won’t make up their minds for themselves will often follow a spiritual guide. I don’t think a preacher should go as far as saying “I will vote for Mr Smith”, but you could certainly express similar concerns in a timely manner.
If a politician comments on a certain area of their political aims you could give your views on it without naming that candidate. I guess it depends how controversial your views are.
Hi Shawn!
My name’s Lou Gagliardi, and I’m going into the Salvation Army ministry..and I’m having the same problem as you…well not the same. My problem is is that I’m very open with my opinions, and that’s never been stifled before. Now, I’m not saying that the Salvation Army stifles it–in fact just the opposite.
But, I realize I need to keep myself in check when I get into that position, not because the SA says I need to; but because I don’t want people seeing me as an ineffectual minister.
But I have to agree with your positions. It just doesn’t seem fair. I mean I’m a person too, why can’t I, as a minister, express my views and show that I have an opinion. It just doesn’t seem right. I’m not saying as a church person, I’m saying as a person in general.
I’ll have to think on your points more, and pray about them. You are also in my prayers, brother!
Peace
Hey Shawn, I totally see where you are coming from. I’m not just a wow gamer, but I also lead a youth group at our church. Although I have no formal training, I’ve been doing this for coming up on ten years, and I like to think that is definatly on the job training!. Sometimes it feels that as a youth leader, as opposed to a pastor or minister, I have less pull with anyone in the church other than the teens. As you pointed out in your post, Christ had some radical views that went against the religious majority, as well as the government at the time. He spoke boldly what he felt, and paid the price(ultimatly the price for our sins as well). We are called to follow Christ, even to death. Are we as Christians in America(as comfortable as we are) willing to go this far? I like to think that I am, I just hope that I am not to stuck in my comfortable ways. I don’t want to be the rich man that comes to Christ and is unwilling to give it all up, no matter how good I’ve been I can’t put anything ahead of that relationship with Christ, or all I’ve done is for nothing.
BTW, as a side note, I hadn’t seen your blog as of yet, now I have it saved and will check it often. Good site, keep up the good works, as a minister, and as a podcaster! 4theHorde!
~Sylus
I think discussing the issues and the churches views on those issues is important. Maybe not the financial issues but definately the moral issues.
Ok so take one hugely hotbutton issue, abortion. Churches have a stance on that, one that most people will already know. I think its enough to have that opinon out there rather than say … Vote for X he agrees with us on the abortion issue. It should be enough that people can look at X and say that wow my views on abortion match (and my opinions factor in what my church teaches) lets vote for X.
*hugs*
One thing I should have said but forgot to.
Expressing my personal views should never get in the way of what I am called to do. If expressing a personal view becomes a roadblock to my ministry then that is a problem.
But I believe that in some cases expressing personal views can be an asset to a pastor. There is a generation/mindset of people who want there pastor’s to be real people. With real opinions, real joys, and real vulnerabilities. I know of some people who won’t trust a pastor who keeps too much from other people.
And I’m terribly excited that I have SJ *hugs* on my blog!
At this time, with the political maelstrom at its most fierce this is a topic I think is all the more important. In our lives we’ve heard or experienced moments where we felt as if we shouldn’t say something. We shouldn’t because of our social standing, our race or religious beliefs, our gender or sexual orientation.
This isn’t something that we should strive for. Each of us is important and bring something valuable to the world. We are made stronger for it but more to your point.
Its unfortunate that there are some pastors that get blow back for sharing their ideas. It shouldn’t be but I honestly think its an issue with perceived authority. Should we not hold the others you mentioned (policemen, actors) in the same regard? Of course not. No one should ever be made to be quiet. But with those others in position of authority or importance, they are in vocations that we can understand.
When it comes to our beliefs and religion in general, there is this idea that those in prominent position know something the rest of us don’t so when they voice an opinion it carries more weight (even if its imaginary).
I also think that there have been some who have used their position in the church to push their agenda outside the purview of their religion. This has made it more difficult to hold a similar position and not be met with a little resistance.
I think your closing is the pivotal point. We live in a society about competition rather than sharing. So those that would resist comes from not wanting to hear something that disagrees with them. This paints all of us into a corner. We’re denied the beauty of others because we’d rather win than give.
I apologize for the prolong comment, it just stirred me.
If I make what I think may be a controversial statement from the pulpit, I usually try to preface it with a ‘this is my opinion.’
If I think it’s a statement that might be challenging to people, but I think is pretty well based from scripture or a text, I might say something like “this is what I think this scripture might have to say to us.” or “Jesus might have this to say to us.”
I’m not sure that as preachers its possible to avoid controversial statements. I’m sure I’ve said plenty of things from the pulpit that people don’t like to hear (those are the sermons, I fear, where no one responds ‘nice sermon’ pastor.) But it we aren’t challenging people and their faith then I would suggest we aren’t really doing our jobs.
I preach about controversial stuff a lot. The economy included. Luckily, I’m at a church where they expect it and welcome it. A lot of people in the congregation readily disagree with me, but they appreciate the spirit of the discussion.
Our sermons become utterly boring and irrelevant when we don’t talk about the stuff that matters.
Hey Pastor Sean, I believe people do not want pastor’s to have a public opinion because it reminds them that they are sinners and want to have our earthly forum without spiritual tongue lashings. God is good in church and bedtime when saying prayers. After that, he/she has no place in man’s screwed up world. It just puts some people’s mind at ease that way. God FTW!
Church has become a place of rose-colored glasses in a world where such a view does not correspond much to reality in most places. I have never owned a pair of those glasses and I am not in the market for a set - but I am also not a pastor!
What I think we can do is get to the issues through education. What we should do is explain to people with a sense of trust what we do believe without fear that things would be taken personally which tends to be the source of problems.
But I do think that we need not be afraid of teaching each other about what and why we believe. That is a conversation missing in my church and I would think that it is similar in many other churches as well.
I also will never say that something is only my opinion. But I will say that I have done my homework and I think that based on my judgment that this is the most reasonable conclusion. I also welcome challenge and disagreement. We are so worried about offending each other that we cannot get past some of these social barriers that prevent deeper and richer growth. Not being a pastor gives me some freedom with this, but I wonder if what we need to do is look at the social assumptions of our congregations and then find ways to negotiate these assumed boundaries through education and discourse to effect change?
I think as long as it is not done in the context of preaching or teaching (but especially preaching, since that moment has near-sacramental quality [supposedly] for Presbyterians), pastors should be able to hold and express personal opinions. As long as it is done honestly and with love and respect for others, it seems like it should be part of what incarnational ministry is all about. As you point out, surely Jesus had personal opinions about all sorts of things, including the political issues of the day.
But we should always take the lesson from Paul: “About XYZ, I say — I, and not the Lord…” He distinguished between his opinions/judgment and the Word. And so should we.
First of all Shawn - I think you are totally cool. Also, let me say that I look forward to your next How I Wow podcast with Patrick.
Secondly - I believe that church should be a place - maybe the ONLY place on earth where a person can gather to worship God and gain inspiration without being subject to the pastor’s personal political belief system.
True, everyone who happens to aggree with your politics will gain great satisfaction and yet think about the other people - the people who have come to gain something spiritual to lift their lives just a little, only to be confronted by yet another political environment.
It is a careful tightrope you walk young man - I feel for you.
JoeTheSlug - not my real name (wink)
Shawn, I like this post, and I have to agree with you. Regardless of personal opinion, you’ll still be a Christian. Differing views on things are part of fellowship - keeping each other accountable and bouncing ideas of each other. I think the only thing to watch for is, at least with small issues, is “will my view on something be a stumbling block for someone else?” Causing unnecessary strife, I think, only creates problems. However, and I think this is the case most of the time, we should feel free, even if you’re the pastor, to voice your opinions.
In the end, ask yourself if your view or issue or opinion is one that reflects how Christ lived and reflects His Word, and if you do that, and pray about it, you can’t go wrong.
Hey shawn! I’ll make this quick for you, first i love listening to you on How I WoW and just this episode i found out you were a christian. I personally am in the Defenders of Theramore guild on windrunner and that is a Christian guild. So i just wanted to say hello and props on the podcasts. I’m a loser and dont have a twitter but you can catch me on my myspace if you have one.
God Bless
Dan
At my last committee level review, a bunch of what I’d blogged came up. My perspectives on abortion, homosexuality, and other faiths were front and center in much of the discussion. I fully expected that, but I worry deeply about pastors becoming fearful to express their opinions on things both mundane and controversial. If we’re not public thinkers, we’re not doin’ our job.
I think we are called to express a public opinion - especially when it is theological in nature, but in doing so we also have to be aware of our audience’s responses and willing to accept them, even if the response means they are not willing to accept us. I keep thinking of Jesus who wiped the dust from his feet and went on. We need to preach/speak in a way that people can hear us. If we have a congregation of young people, most will want honesty and transparency rather than pious dribble. If we have a congregation of older people, we have to realize that they may be coming from a different experience that requires that we keep our mouths shut until God gives us the right occasion to speak. To tell the truth, I really don’t like the diplomacy I feel is necessary to be a pastor, though. Some days I’d really like to tell it like it is and not worry if I’ll still have my job afterwards. .I suppose that’s a faith issue for me. Welcome to my presbytery.