Take the pulpit and politics poll

Oh, come on! Did I load my question wording that badly? You're not asking the same question I did. It doesn't even look like you're asking about the specific action Mr. Howie advocated to get this whole discussion going. The Yes and No are totally loaded. And where's the option for non-churchgoers who think pastors should be able to say what they want? There's no box for me or a whole bunch of other people to mark.

I nonetheless look forward to reading your results and observations thereupon on Monday.

I thought you'd like it. Cory - your post which accompanied your poll put it forth this way…Do you want your pastor to tell you who to vote for?

My poll is exactly what Howie is advocating. You are right though I should have put another option for non-church goers who think pastors should be able to say what they want. I'll see if I can add it.

Of course pastors should speak the truth from the pulpit. That's an obligation before God. It really doesn't matter what the IRS or anyone else thinks. The only issue is whether or not a pastor will go to jail (or worse) for speaking the truth. That day is soon coming I am afraid.

Paul Washer has an insightful piece on persecution on Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7UyZYpeReY

Oh, Pastor Mike, there's Truth, and then there's endorsing political candidates from the pulpit, which is exactly what I asked and exactly what Howie wants pastors to do.

Steve, thanks for adding that last option… but the poll is still rigged!

Why can't pastors "tell" people who to vote for…Union bosses do it all the time! However I would rather pastor's tell us why they believe one candidate's legislation or action is within the bounds of Christianity and why another's is not

Why are Pastors any different than anyother persons? As citizens of the United States why are their rights to speak in some classification that does not exist? As American citizens, if their freedom of speech is compromised then who is exempt. Who is next? Are you the exception?

So is the current Administration above question, or is it the manner of the questions being asked? Are candidates and their character and principle above reproach or question? Why must the messenger be attacked, unless the questions are too close to the truth - a hiden truth or agenda. Are Voters entitled to know about their candidates?

Then who better than a pastor to inform his sheepfold. These are the families who are going to have to live with the outcome of our elections. Why aren't citizens entitled to be informed at the church of their choice? Like radio and TV, believe me they don't have to listen to their pastors. But for those who do listen, since when does the government have to determine what they are to listen to.

What's with the Paranoia????????

THE FIRST Court Justice of the United States of America, John Jay stated, "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian Nation to select and PREFER Christians for their rulers." Go Figure.

And John Adams, our second President who said, "We have no government armed with the power capable of contending with human passions, unbridled by MORALITY and TRUE RELIGION. Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

Who better than pastors to raise up, set before and call account of the moral, ethical and fundament family values for candidates as well as anyother persons. If there is nothing to hide, then why fear the light in the room?

I didn't like the wording of your poll. You wrote it to get the answer YOU wanted. I believe pastors should preach the word of God but should leave politics out of the pulpit. If VALUES were properly taught, we wouldn't have so many problems. And if current laws were in-forced, we would have fewer problems. But sadly our media puts out smut and we drink it like Kool-aide! We announce the birth of babies to un-wed mothers like it is the right way to have a "family". Politicians are caught in unlawful activity and allowed to stay in office. Pastors can stick to topics that will help remedy situations such as these.

RDPearman (Cheyenne River Sioux)
It is common in the tribes to ask the Great Spirit (the good Lord) for guidance at all times and we traditionalists pray to the Great Spirit each and every day. We pray for the well being of all living things however, even our enemies. The tribal shaman, our spiritual leaders, stress that the prayer ceremonies be practiced at all times which entail constant prayer to the creator for help with all our difficulties and to give thanks to our mother the Earth. Dishonesty and selfishness were not tolerated in any form. It is, however, a fact that the traditionalist ways in the native nations are fading in to the distance somewhat and being replaced by the terms I, me, and greed.

I answered yes, with reservations, to your poll question concerning the issuing of expostulatory political views from the pulpit based upon the pastor's personal interpretation of the bible or what ever he deems appropriate. I do not, however, see how the pastor's of this great nation could possibly do worse than is currently being done by the current elephant and donkey show. Are you dumba-crat or repubi-cant? The longer We The People allow this to continue, the tighter we the people close the garrote around our children's necks. My reasoning for answering yes is that the founding fathers saw the wisdom of instilling god in their daily lives and saw the infinite wisdom of the inclusion of the good lord in all phases of the U.S Constitution. We print it on our money, the ten commandments are cast in stone in the Supreme Court. If the good lord fades from our form of government, from our lives, and our institutions, We The People are in big, big, BIG trouble….