A Judge on Pulpit Politics

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 20, 1908

A Judge on Pulpit Politics

The following article from the Kansas City Star, coming from the immediate vicinity of Judge Wallace's field of activity in the Sunday-enforcement campaign, will be read with interest by all. Judge Phillips' rebuke of pulpit politics is timely, and touches the heart of the matter. We quote:—

The first opportunity that Judge John F. Phillips has to tell the preachers they preach too much about politics, Sunday closing, and affairs that concern the civil administration of the state and nation he is going to do it. He said so yesterday, and he said some other things too. Judge Phillips is a Presbyterian, and so is Judge Wallace, but they do not hold the same views about Sunday closing.

“This trying to force men to observe Sunday instead of preaching to them the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ that will make them good is radically wrong,” Judge Phillips said. “The complaint is that too few people attend church. No wonder! People go to church to hear the beauties of the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to worship God, not to hear the preachers talk about what they see in the papers, about the things that are at fault in the business world, about politics, and about various other things that a man struggles with during all the week, and longs to get away from on Sunday.

“The preacher is not expected to take up every reform issue that comes along in the administration of civil affairs. The very minute that preachers begin dabbling in politics and the administration of civil affairs and passing resolutions about things separate and distinct from the affairs of the church, they forsake their calling as preachers of the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ, and arouse prejudice and hatred in the hearts of men over questions which should be separate from the church.”

The judge’s remarks should appeal with striking force to every true exponent of the gospel of our Lord, and to every man who values the bread of life above the husks of trivial and temporal things.