October 8, 2007

TITLE: Pastors and Politics

Should religious leaders have any influence in politics?  Why should anyone in the military listen to the moral advice of a preacher?  Why should our tax dollars pay for military chaplains?  Against these questions stands the principle that military personnel need the spiritual guidance offered through their chaplains and pastors.  This article is an attempt to outline the historical and moral strength of that argument.  I hope it clears up a common misconception about the phrase “separation of church and state.”  This may be one of the most important topics addressed in the “Message To Our Soldiers” series because it establishes the premise upon which these articles are written, namely to offer spiritual guidance for our men and women in uniform. 

America was attacked on September 11, 2001 by a religiously motivated enemy.  Our soldiers are successfully engaging this enemy on the battlefield.  But who will counter the evil philosophy behind the attacks of the Islamic terrorists?  Who will guide our leaders in determining whether our actions in this current war are correct?  Who will assist our soldiers with the moral considerations of killing the enemy, or the spiritual and emotional implications of watching their own friends die in battle?  Who will guide them as they contemplate whether their next mission might be their last?  The war and its implications for generations to come demand that our nation, our governing officials, and our soldiers seek sound spiritual guidance.

In fact, if we ignore the input of godly spiritual leaders, we will drastically and negatively change the course of our nation.  For the past two centuries the United States has been a beacon of freedom and source of hope for the world.  We have arrived at this position through a value system formed out of a Christian ethic and guided by leaders who overwhelmingly advocated Christian principles.  To depart from that heritage is to jeopardize all that has been built upon it.

Today our nation is facing a moral and political crisis.  We need spiritual guidance from pastors and chaplains who are not afraid to tackle the tough moral issues of our day. To speak biblically is to offend at points.  God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).  Those who proclaim biblical truth often contradict popular opinion.  Leaders who diminish their ministry to polite sermons on dainty topics designed not to offend their listeners only contribute to our lack of direction.  Such opinion driven ministries will result in the loss of what little moral authority we have left, and a headlong fall into further moral confusion. The Lord warns us, "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe."  (Proverbs 29:25)

An examination of our nation’s history and the role of pastors and chaplains will remind us of their significance in our society, our military and in public discourse. 

Historically, Americans have consistently received guidance from spiritual leaders

• The Pilgrims’ voyage on the Mayflower was undertaken to provide a home where they could worship freely.  The Mayflower Compact, the religious practices of the Pilgrims, the admonishing of their pastor, Rev. William Brewster, and their example of thankfulness to God in both good times and bad provide a stirring example of the faith of America’s earliest settlers. 
• Our earliest legal documents, charters, and constitutions are filled with spiritual references. The Bible is more frequently quoted and alluded to by our founding fathers than any other document.
• American clergy were at the forefront of the American Revolution, and rallied the people at the key junctures of our nation’s history including the abolishment of slavery, the victory over the Axis powers in WWII, and the civil rights movement.
• The very first act of the first session of Congress under our new Constitution was to elect a chaplain.  Secularists who attempt to eliminate chaplains from the armed services, or prayer from our public gatherings, are either embarrassingly ignorant, or willfully deceptive about our nation’s history.  It is hard to believe that the writers of the Constitution considered that religious duties had no place in government, when those same writers consistently offered public prayers, established offices of chaplaincy, and paid to print and distribute Bibles to the native American Indians.
• The preamble to almost every State’s constitution expresses our thankfulness to God for His blessings.

While these historical events make today’s secularists uncomfortable, they represent the prevailing attitude in this country up until current post-modern times.  Although some would prefer to ignore these events, “facts are stubborn things,” as John Adams once said.  The facts demonstrate that America’s leaders regarded our spiritual heritage as an extremely significant part of the national identity.

Indeed, those who seek the removal of spiritual input from open society advocate something entirely new in America.  The rush to de-spiritualize America comes out of the cultural revolution of the 1960's (some might argue the cultural rebellion of the 1960's).  Led by courts that write the law instead of applying its standards, the secularization of America is nearly complete.

Qualifications of Spiritual Leaders

If spiritual leaders are excluded from directing the hearts of their congregants and the community at large in political matters, then who should? Are we better off when Hollywood stars direct our moral conscience? Their qualifications seldom reach beyond their physical appearance and outrageous behavior.  Celebrities are not trained in morals, logic or ethics, nor have they devoted their lives to helping the poor, oppressed or disadvantaged. They lead privileged lives unattainable for the vast majority of Americans. Are we better off when talk show hosts, million dollar athletes, and other pop-culture icons direct the moral conscience of the nation?   What qualifies Ashton Kutcher, Snoop Dog, Madonna, or Sean Penn, to speak with any moral authority for the rest of us?   Our contemporary willingness to listen to such individuals for moral advice is both absurd and dangerous. Some people are willing to trust pastors and chaplains to speak about heaven, personal righteousness, kindness to others, and eternity, but then condemn them if they speak about taxation, war, abortion, or the environment.  Spiritual leaders devote their lives to the issues of morality and ethics. Although some of them are corrupt, as a whole they have chosen their life pursuit out of a sense of calling and have deeply considered many issues of morality. All of our political issues are also moral issues because they involve right and wrong.

A common misconception regarding the “separation of church and state” 

The First Amendment of the US Constitution provides freedom of religion and free expression. Its intent was not to forbid the public display of religion, or the teaching of religious principles.  The phrase "the separation of church and state" is not be found in the US Constitution, Bill of Rights, or the Declaration of Independence. The first time the phrase was used in any official documentation was in Everson vs. the Board of Education (US Supreme Court, 1947). Justice Hugo Black, for the majority opinion, wrote: "The First Amendment has erected a wall between church and state. That wall must be kept high and impregnable. We could not approve of the slightest breach." Justice Black took the phrase from a legal opinion that Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1802 for the Danbury Baptists in their attempt to prevent Connecticut from forming a State Church.  In Jefferson’s letter, he argues against the state establishing a central church, not against an individual speaking on religious matters in the public arena.  It amazes me that those who cry out daily for “the separation of church and state” incorrectly apply Jefferson’s intentions, and are unaware that the phrase never appears in our founding documents.

Finally, those who argue against religious influence in political matters should be more honest. The drive to remove spirituality from public life is a departure from our tradition as a nation. Religious leaders who speak and write about the importance of morality in relation to public policy are consistent with our nation's history. The secularizers are the ones who promote something new. It would be more intellectually honest for them to say, "We don't agree with our American heritage and the way our founding fathers designed our nation and we believe that it should change." Instead, they re-interpret our history and de-emphasize America’s spirituality.  Anyone willing to investigate the writings of our early legislators, judges and executives would draw the same conclusion. Armed with the facts of more than 230 years of American history, I am willing to stand by this interpretation.

I believe that strong spiritual voices are desperately needed in these trying days.  I pray that my voice adds to this chorus and that many others will take courage and lead their families, churches, and our society to consider the Lord’s ways and obey His commands.  Like the Apostle Paul, true spiritual leaders must seek their approval from the Lord, and not shrink away from their calling. "On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.”  (1 Thessalonians 2:4)