Violating the Culture War's Code of Conduct

IF the reports are accurate, then Pastor Chan Chandler of East Waynesville Baptist Church in Waynesville, NC, has committed a violation of the "Culture War's Code of Conduct." Oh, if only we actually had one...that is a Code of Conduct for the Culture War...an equivalent to the Geneva Code. It would be refreshing to have a fair and decent debate guided by a set of rules to which both sides agreed. We could stop shooting the wounded and quit using chemical weapons on each other. If I could help write such a Code, it would include a statement that both sides of the debate are free to follow their consciences and to practice their values or religion.

If Pastor Chandler really did what he is accused of, he has violated that code because he has forgotten what his religion, Christianity, is about. Fundamentally (no pun intended), Christianity is the worship of Jesus Christ as one's personal Lord and Savior and requires obedience to Jesus' commands as taught by Himself and His apostles as recorded in the Holy Bible. A Christian pastor should teach and preach from scripture regarding the issues that are at the center of the Culture War: the value of life, the value of marriage between one man and one woman, about idolatry, about living out our faith in Christ, about telling others about Jesus in obedience to His Great Commission, and about anything else that the scriptures teach us. Under the "Code" he would not be allowed to claim that he is practicing Christianity by telling his congregation how to vote. He might claim from the beginning that his interpretation of scripture does require or allow this approach to the worship of Jesus Christ. While I would vigorously disagree with his interpretation of scripture, at least his congregation would know before they joined his church (or before they called him to their church) that they are joining the "Christian Church of Conservative Politics," but he must not claim to be a Baptist.

I do not care that advocating and supporting a specific political party or specific politician may violate the Internal Revenue Code [Section 26 U.S.C. 501 (c) (3)] which states:

Corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or international amateur sports competition (but only if no part of its activities involve the provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided in subsection (h)), and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.

What is important to me is that this pastor has done damage to the body of Christ by bringing politics into his church. He may end up apologizing and recanting. His church may kick him out and call a new pastor. The damage has already been done and it is a sad thing to see. As in real war, some soldiers go too far and damage the war effort by abusing prisoners or committing other atrocities. If the reports are accurate, Pastor Chandler has gone beyond the proper worship of Christ. Also as in real war, I am sure that Pastor Chandler will pay the price.

This is not to say that Christians should stay out of politics or that Christians may not create organizations with political purposes! Far from it. Christians MUST engage in the democratic process to the fullest extent. We must be soldiers in the Culture War. However, we must also keep politics out of God's house.  ¶ 7:12 PM|