Pastors and Politics

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 27, 1896

Pastors and Politics.

The Superior Consistory of Russia, the highest Protestant ecclesiastical authority in Germany, has made a pronouncement on pastors and politics which has a little of the old-time Protestantism in it, albeit it comes from a state church. Of late some of the younger and more liberal Protestant pastors have been dipping quite deeply into political matters. Upon this the address of the Consistory thus speaks:—

“In view of this the Consistory regards it as its duty to ask the pastors to desist from this work as inconsistent with their calling and profession. It is not a part of their vocation to take part in political and social agitations. Their work is to faithfully attend to their duty as preachers of the word and as pastors of souls intrusted to their care. It is not denied that Christianity is to be the salt of the earth; but it is not the pastor’s duty to take a direct or immediate part in such agitations. Let the pastor in the line of his direct work instruct his people in godliness and in love to their neighbors, and these teachings will then bear their fruit in the callings and walks of life. Not directly, but only indirectly, is it the duty of the pulpit to influence the affairs of political and public life.”

And this is the Gospel idea. Would that the many pastors in this favored land believed in the Gospel idea. More would be done for the people in the true preaching of the pure Gospel of Christ in a year than can be done in an eternity by political means. But one difficulty lies in such a protest; it comes with ill grace from a body that has so lost faith in Christ and the word that it has united with the state. The pastors reprimanded will not be convinced or helped. The preacher is in politics to stay till the unnatural union shall have developed its virulent poison, and then follows from its continued infusion the destruction of church and state. The only hope of permanent benefit is in the power of God’s word, preached by ministers untrammeled by creed or state. The life in that word will be operative. It will if received bring life and healing to the dying and dead. Political machinery may build the form or magnetize the dead body, but it can not give life. Christ only can do that in his own way.