Why An Apolitical Christian Faith Doesn’t Exist (If You Listen to Jesus)

You should stick to preaching the Gospel and stay out of politics! – A reader

I get this frequently, especially in an election year.

I’m not sure what “Gospel” this nice gentleman was referring to but it certainly isn’t the one Jesus mentioned:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come – Jesus, Luke 4:18-19

Every so often I am similarly chided by a well-meaning friend, complete stranger, or soon-to-be-disconnecting social media pal for being “too political”, as a Christian and/or as a pastor.

I’ve long ago learned that this is carefully constructed code language, which almost always can be translated as, “The personal faith convictions which…