Pulpits, Politics, and the Price of Compromise: Why Endorsements from the Pulpit Miss the Mark

As a pastor who loves the Church and believes deeply in its redemptive mission, I’ve been watching the recent IRS decision with deep concern. The ruling that pastors can now legally endorse political candidates from the pulpit may seem like a victory to some. But to me—and to many other pastors I know—it feels more like a warning light flashing on the dashboard of American Christianity.

Let me be clear: I am not against Christians being politically engaged. I believe in voting. I believe in advocacy. I believe in seeking justice in the public square. But I do not believe our pulpits should become political platforms. And I believe that this ruling, while legally permissible, is spiritually dangerous.

The Role of the Pulpit Is Prophetic, Not Partisan

Throughout Scripture, prophets speak truth to power. They call kings to repentance. They call nations to justice. But they do not cozy up to political parties. They do not serve the interests of one ruler over another. Their allegiance is to God alone—and their credibility comes from their independence.

When a pastor uses the pulpit to endorse a candidate, it compromises that prophetic edge. It sends a message that our hope lies in a particular person or party rather than in the kingdom of God. It reduces the gospel to a political agenda. It risks alienating half the congregation—not because of the offense of Christ, but because of the offense of human politics.

Our calling is to preach Christ crucified, not candidates endorsed.

The Church Risks Losing Her Distinctive Witness

The early Church thrived not by gaining political power, but by living as a countercultural community shaped by love, humility, and sacrificial service. The Church grew because people saw something radically different in the way Christians lived, loved, and worshiped.

But when the Church gets entangled with partisan politics, she loses that distinctiveness. She begins to mirror the world rather than transform it. And instead of being salt and light, she becomes just another noisy gong in a culture already flooded with division.

Endorsing candidates from the pulpit may feel like “taking a stand,” but too often it sounds like taking sides. And the gospel is not a tool to be wielded in political battles—it is the good news of Jesus Christ for all people.

We’re Already Struggling with Division—Let’s Not Add Fuel to the Fire

Let’s be honest. Churches are already deeply divided along political lines. Many pastors I talk to feel like they’re walking a tightrope—trying to preach faithfully without triggering outrage. The pulpit has always been a sacred space, but in our current cultural climate, it’s also a minefield.

This IRS ruling gives pastors permission to walk into that minefield with a lit torch.

Is that really what we need right now?

The Church is called to be a place where people of different backgrounds, ethnicities, and political leanings can gather around the shared table of grace. If we use that table to push a candidate or a party, we risk turning communion into a campaign rally.

And that, I believe, breaks the heart of Christ.

There Are Better Ways to Equip God’s People for Public Life

Now, this doesn’t mean we should be silent about injustice, policy, or values. The pulpit should be a place where we preach about life, dignity, stewardship, compassion, and truth. We should address issues like poverty, racial justice, immigration, and care for the vulnerable—not from a political framework, but from a biblical one.

We can equip our people to think Christianly about civic life without telling them how to vote.

We can encourage participation in the public square while reminding them that their ultimate citizenship is in heaven.

We can train disciples who are politically active without making our churches political actors.

That’s the kind of Church I want to be part of.

A Word to My Fellow Pastors

Brothers and sisters in ministry—this is not a moment for triumphalism. It’s a moment for discernment. Just because the IRS says we can endorse candidates from the pulpit doesn’t mean we should.

Our authority doesn’t come from government. It comes from God.

Let’s steward that authority with humility and restraint.

Let’s resist the temptation to turn our churches into echo chambers for partisan ideology.

Let’s keep the cross at the center—and refuse to trade it for a campaign slogan.

And let’s remember that our people don’t need more political commentary from the pulpit. They need gospel clarity. They need moral courage. They need pastors who will lead them toward Christ, not just toward a voting booth.

Final Word: The Kingdom Is Not on the Ballot

One day, every nation, tribe, and tongue will bow before the throne—not of a president or a party, but of the Lamb who was slain.

Until that day, may we preach as those who belong to a different kingdom.

Let’s not sell our birthright for a bowl of political influence.

Let’s preach Christ. Let’s shepherd well. And let’s remember that our true power lies not in what the IRS allows—but in what the Spirit empowers.

And let's be honest. Your congregation may clamor for your opinion or endorsement of a candidate, that is, until you endorse a candidate different than the one they want....
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