Why Are the Pastors Silent?

For various reasons, most spiritual leaders in America have chosen not to speak out on abortion, elections, and many other important moral issues of our day. These reasons include:

• a belief that spiritual leaders should remain separate from the political realm because it is “evil” and “divisive”
• a belief that spiritual influence in peoples’ lives does not give them a right to speak into their followers’ social, moral, or political views
• a theological belief that this is not their responsibility
• a fear of losing congregants
• a fear of losing financial support
• a fear of the IRS

I’m sure there are other reasons which could be listed. However, regardless of the reasons, no honest person can refute the fact that most leaders in the church have disengaged from public involvement in politics and national moral issues. While I respect my peers in the Body of Christ and understand the challenges facing them in today’s polarized and volatile culture, I fear that our choice of silence on many issues has come at a devastating cost. Inevitably, this absolution has filtered also into the pew. Few Christians are willing to make a stand on social issues, preferring to remain aloof and silent. Only about half of Americans who claim to be evangelical Christians are even registered to vote, and many who are registered don’t bother to do so. Most statistics make it clear that evangelicals could turn any national election in America if we all voted, and did so based on biblical values, not party lines. Yet most spiritual leaders fail to confront this.

“For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.” (I Thessalonians 2:4; NLT)

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:

• If you are a pastor or other leader who has come under the fear of man in any area, keeping you from speaking out for righteousness’ sake, take a moment and repent. Decide to teach on these matters, and lead your congregations in prayer and action on moral issues in your community. Determine to encourage other pastors and leaders to do so also.
• All of the rest of us, consider the same, and repent, as needed. Determine to open your mouth and speak up! Talk to your pastors, encourage them to be more bold, and support them when they are.
• Have an election coming up? Educate yourselves on the candidates and issues. Intercede over these things. Hold prayer meetings in your church or community. Go vote.
• Register to vote, if you aren’t already. Re-register, if you have recently moved.

A prayer you can pray:

Lord, forgive me for being afraid of what others will think of me, when I take a strong stand for truth. Forgive my lack of speaking out, teaching on, and leading prayer for moral issues clearly addressed in the Word of God. You have more than an opinion on these things. You have commandments on these matters, and I have been largely silent. The Body of Christ is weak in our representation in society, largely because our leadership has not led the way. I repent for not leading in prayer or encouraging leaders to do so. I forgive others for their silence, as well. Help the Body of Christ to open our mouths and speak and pray on things that matter, like the killing of the unborn. Help us to act. We need to pray, gather to intercede, educate ourselves, and act. How else will we ever see our nation turned to righteousness, if the Church does not do these basic things? Thank you for Your mercy, God. Turn our nation, as our hearts and ways turn, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today’s decree:

Our nation will turn, as the Church speaks out on moral issues, prays, and votes!