The Politics of the pulpit

As a minister myself I have been asked a lot lately about my opinion on the comments “Obama’s pastor” made in his career as a UCC pastor. One of those questions were why would a pastor get involved in politics in the first place. Black liberation theology aside, I find that to be a misinformed statement. With the poor quality education the many public schools offer, especially in History, it is no wonder that so many have no clue that the pulpit was the foundation of the founding of America. I cannot of course in a short article explain the entire history to you, but I will paint a small picture in hopes you will be inspired to investigate further.

First, it is sadly unknown that a signer of our Declaration of Independence was indeed a minister. John Witherspoon represented New Jersey in the Continental Congress and was in fact one of many to sign the all important document. More importantly was his influence on America politics. As a professor and president of what became Princeton University, his students would later become judges, thirty seven in fact. Three of which would later hold spots on the Supreme Court. Ten became cabinet members, and twelve served in the Continental Congress. Twenty-eight served in the senate, while forty-nine became US Congressmen. Most importantly one Aaron Burr became Vice-President and another , James Madison became the President of the United States. One pastor had a huge influence on the politics of the day. His pulpit was the classroom since the main purpose of the college then was to train ministers. If there was such a thing as separation of Church and state, why would he sign the Declaration, and also serve in the Congress himself?

This Presbyterian minister was one of the most influential founders in America. His sermons, as well as his classes, shaped America’s future leaders. How can the NEA stand here today and say we were not founded on Christian biblical principles? Many Revolutionary Era sermons were calls to shrug off tyranny and stand up for the moral high ground. Today’s pulpits are void of this because they foolishly think their tax exempt status would somehow be in jeopardy. So they avoid what God’s word says about key cultural issues like gay marriage, abortion, poverty, and yes even racial equality. Was what Wright said justified. Absolutely not! But does God speak on racial equality? Absolutely yes! God is not a “respecter of persons.” Race or gender is not an issue with the Father. Does he care about the poor. You better believe it, and what so-called churches are doing about now is embarrassing. They build giant buildings to house the hypocrites that walk on the other side to avoid the down and out. Occasionally tossing token money to an issue Jesus said we would have with us always. The pulpit, when we were founded, was the center of the Revolution to dispose tyranny. Today it is nothing more then the Harlot of party politics, both sides, and has lost it’s once prominent position of moral compass, and is now so blurred that it seems to resemble the world more then the Lord Jesus Christ. This has been One Man’s Opinion, I pray you share it.

Rev Chris M Fluharty