Why Pastors Won't Take a Stand

I am constantly asked, "Chuck, why don't pastors take a stand and speak out?" I've been a pastor most of my adult life. I believe I am qualified to answer that question. Here is the stark reality: the vast majority of pastors today are "success" oriented. Beginning in Bible College or seminary, and continuing throughout a pastor's ministerial life, the emphasis is success. And that means church growth, larger congregations, bigger buildings, bigger offerings, burgeoning statistics, greater notoriety, denominational praise, invitations to speak at conferences, applause from fellow ministers, not to mention the financial perks and benefits that come with pastoring a "successful" church.

And the way to learn how to build a successful church is to learn from those who have done it. Pastors regularly attend church growth conferences to learn from the "big" church pastors on how it's done. They purchase books, magazines, newsletters, etc., that are all geared towards telling pastors how to build a successful church. They are constantly being schooled in the latest and greatest "how to" strategies of church growth and success. This usually entails more and more sophisticated programs, music, sound, lighting, atmosphere, classes, seminars, organization, etc. Everything, and I mean everything, is geared toward success as described in the aforementioned paragraph.

Most pastors today are in reality not spiritual shepherds as much as they are corporate CEOs. The same mentality, philosophy, and strategy that drive corporate boardrooms also drive the boardrooms of modern churches – to a tee. Pastors act like CEOs, dress like CEOs, talk like CEOs, manage like CEOs, and think like CEOs.

Dare I say that even the way pastors and churches cater, and "reach out," and "minister," etc., has mostly to do with "good business." Church members are babied and pacified and stroked and petted and fawned-over because it is "good business." Today's Christians are so spoiled and petted that any dereliction or lack of attention by a pastor, church, or staff usually results in them "moving their letter" down the street to a place that will more readily cater to their temperamental demands.

Have you not noticed how most pastors spiritualize away the great examples of Bible heroism and defiance against tyranny and despotism? Ask them point blank about Daniel and the lion's den or the three Hebrew children in the burning fiery furnace or Queen Esther or scores and scores of other acts of defiance lauded in Holy Writ and they will say, "That was another time." Or, they might say, "This shows God's great deliverance and protection." But the overriding principle that drove the great heroes of the faith to challenge and defy evil government is never even acknowledged, much less addressed.

The great lesson of the above-mentioned heroes and heroines is not that God delivered them, because many of them were NOT delivered. As Paul notes in Hebrews 11: "Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance...And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented...they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in caves of the earth." (Hebrews 11:35-38 KJV). The great lesson of the above-mentioned heroes and heroines is their willingness to defy evil authority – regardless of outcome. Listen to the three Hebrew children:

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden calf which thou hast set up." (Daniel 3:16-18 KJV)

These men knew that God COULD deliver them, but they did not know if He WOULD deliver them. And to them, it didn't matter: they were willing to defy the tyranny of King Nebuchadnezzar regardless. They were not going to bow to the unlawful, illegitimate authority of the state (in whatever form it appeared). That is the glaring lesson of every single one of these great stories of defiance.

Furthermore, most pastors and teachers absolutely refuse to tell the truth of Hebrews 11:34: "[They] waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." This Biblical passage lauds the courage of past believers who took up the sword against tyrants and despots. In the same breath that Paul extolled the sacrifice of believers who were willing to die for their faith, he also extolled the bravery of believers who were willing to fight for their faith. But you NEVER hear that from the vast majority of pastors today.

If you hear any mention of, say, America's Founding Fathers from today's pastors, it is that the founders were wrong, that they violated Romans 13, that God did not lead them to declare independence and revolt against the British Crown. Such is the ignorance and cowardice of today's ministers.

And while we are on the subject, the misinterpretation of Romans 13 is one of the chief reasons why most pastors and churches are so utterly indifferent or nonplussed about resisting evil government. This is why my son and I coauthored the book, "Romans 13: The True Meaning of Submission." I encourage readers to get this book and share it with as many of your Christian friends as possible. In the book, Tim and I prove from the entire Bible – including Romans 13 – that nowhere does God expect (much less demand) believers to submit to evil, wicked authority.

Tim (a constitutional attorney) and I coauthored a second book that is also relevant to this discussion. It is called "To Keep or Not To Keep: Why Christians Should Not Give Up Their Guns." This book searches the entire Bible and conclusively proves that self-defense is not only a God-ordained right; it is a God-ordained DUTY – and that Christians are totally justified in NOT surrendering their means of self-defense to any civil authority.

Order "To Keep or Not To Keep: Why Christians Should Not Give Up Their Guns" here:
Keep Your Arms

The fact is that all of these great Bible stories of lawful, God-ordained defiance of unjust authority are totally ignored by the vast majority of today's pastors and churches. None of these great Bible truths are made relevant to attempted acts of tyranny in today's America. None of them.

Again, it is all about success. To the average pastor, nothing is as anathema as controversy. And nothing is more controversial than politics. Therefore, pastors are taught to avoid politics like the plague. Of course, they won't tell you that the controversial nature of politics is the reason they avoid it; they will tell you that "God has not called me to get involved in politics," or, "I'm trying to build a church," or, "That's not our mission," or any number of other pious-sounding clichés. But the reality is they are trying to be successful, and they believe controversy hinders success.

That's also why you seldom, if ever, hear "hard" sermons from the modern pulpit – even though that is exactly the kind of sermons that Jesus Himself preached. (See John 6:60.) To the success-driven religious CEO, people must always feel good; they must be permanently ensconced in their comfort zone; and they must never be rebuked or informed of misconduct or irresponsibility. And as far as freedom goes, the shallowness of the average pulpit refuses to acknowledge the responsibility of the church to do anything to preserve it. All they talk about is praying for your political leaders and being good little subjects of the state.

Plus, don't forget that most churches are up to their eyeballs in debt. Therefore, pastors are afraid if they offend people, offerings will go down and they might not be able to pay for all of those fancy buildings and exorbitant staff – not to mention their own personal financial perks might be endangered.

And, yes, I must also add that the 501c3 non-profit tax-exempt status most churches operate under poses a serious intimidation against the pastor and church, which keeps them from taking a stand or speaking out on issues that might be construed as political.

But here is the bottom line: as long as Christians in the pews continue to attend and financially support these stand-for-nothing churches, the churches will continue to languish in their indifference. After all, by the attendance and offerings of all of these people in the pews, pastors are being continually convinced that everything they have been taught is working: their churches are successful.

The ONLY WAY Christians can start making a difference in their country is to GET OUT of these clueless, cowardly churches and find a pastor who is not afraid to be politically-incorrect, who is not afraid to preach and teach the biblical principles of liberty, and who is not afraid to preach and teach the principles of righteous defiance against any act of tyranny. Find a pastor who is not trying to be successful. You don't need a successful pastor; you need a truthful pastor.

But this means that people in the pews must truly WANT to be in a church that takes a stand, doesn't it? We have the kind of pastors and churches that we are willing to support. If that's the case, Christians should stop complaining about the indifference of their pastors and simply accept the imminent slavery to which they are being led.

Christians are people who have a right to have a voice in government same as everyone else, their Christians morals inform their decisions same as everyone else’s morals or lack of them.

The only “separation” is that government not make laws creating a state church (and allowing government to define what a church is violates that) and government cannot interfere in the free exercise of religion (which is does a lot).

There is no wall. It is a limitation on the power of government, not people of faith. As a matter of fact the whole Bill of Rights is about limiting the power of government.

I agree. Christianity encompasses all aspects of an individual’s life, or should.

Tyranny is when government encompasses all (or more than very few) aspects of an individual’s life. This necessarily forces God into a subordinate role.

The main evil of Sharia Law, philosophically speaking, is it combines religion and societal law governing secular behavior. Of course Islam is a religion in the same way the Mob or the KKK is a religion, but I digress.

The root of evil in Baal worship was the combination of religion, family, commerce and law under one umbrella, all controlled by religious authorities. Byzantine society had similar issues.

Our current situation resembles the system of Baal, except controlled by unelected bureaucrats.

Yes, there are many passages imploring Christians to stand against tyranny. How many pastors will stand for separating the Schools from the State?

“Beginning in Bible College or seminary, and continuing throughout a pastor’s ministerial life, the emphasis is success.”

I would argue the “Rapture Theory” fits right into this mentality of “success” by any means—don’t “scare” the Christian soldiers; convince them that they will avoid the tribulation and won’t have to fight evil in the End Times (get their hair mussed) because they will fly away to safety. (If you’re a “good” Christian and pay your tithes, you’ll avoid anything “upsetting”.)

If God’s Kingdom will be here on earth...where the h*ll are the “Rapture” believers going???

Revelation MEANS “to reveal”, and Christians should testify against evil in the End Times.

Thank you WxrGina, (although I know many would disagree with the point I’ve tried to make); and many thanks for this post. It is quite eye opening and refreshing to read.

I’ve heard the “famine” in the End Times is for the Word of God—the truth—not for food.

(and we are in dyer need of very good shepherds of the truth in THESE days.)

In Buddhism we have the “Eight Worldly Concerns, which come in four pairs of concerns that people either excessively chase after or avoid:

1. Pleasure or Pain.

2. Fame or Shame.

3. Loss or Gain.

4. Praise or Blame.

Certainly a focus on these is the best way for anyone of any religion to get off track, but especially those who seek to lead others. Very tempting.

“It is not the job of my pastor to fight my battle in the realm of worldly politics.”
I will have to respectfully disagree with you on this one. The pastor is the shepherd of his flock, and by necessity, as any good leader, he must lead by example to be believed. We need someone to go into the temple of the elites and overturn a few tables. Chuck Baldwin gets it.

I'm not a Baptist; I'm a Catholic.
I do agree with you 100%.
I looked up Chuck Baldwin. I guess he "get's it" too!

A good pastor has to say it like it is. Jesus did. He is God. Who else would we listen/turn to?

I would argue the “Rapture Theory” fits right into this mentality

Theology is always lived out, ideas have consequences. Pre-mill/pre-trib, dispensationalism, open-theism, anti-nomianism, Radical two kingdom, Pelagianism, synthesis with Existentialism, word of faith- name it and claim it prosperity gospel, cheap grace, and feminism have all worked mischief on the preaching of the whole counsel of the Word of God.

There are pastors that are throwbacks to a time when the Word of God had application to all of life. BTW- I pastor a church that is not incorporated nor a 501c3 and I preach politics every Lord's day. You see the name of the church is Christ the King CPC. That is in itself a political statement - Christ is the king, means that His law is law, magistrates are His ministers to be a terror to evil by executing His law, the church and the family are under His law. All will be judged according to the law of God, but those in Christ will be judged according to perfect obedience of Jesus Christ the righteous. The gospel is not just news, but good news to be obeyed. Even move it is the hope and promise of a judgement to come. I have urged my flock to only vote for able men who fear God, men of truth, who hate covetousness. BTW- Mitt did not meat those qualifications. I teach parents to homeschool, youngsters to marry as virgins, men to never retire, households to plan an inheritance to their children's children, women to submit to their own husbands in all things, young earth creationism, post-millennial optimism and continuity between the testaments, etc. I tell my magistrates that Psalm 2 is for them. I have been on the local news as a vocal opponent of abominable sexual practices and proponent of discrimination against unrepentant breakers of the moral law of God.

We are out there, we may be few, our congregations may be small, but the power God is displayed all the stronger when we are weak, but faithful.

Luckily, the pastors of the abolitionist era didn’t shrink from the fight in the realm of worldly politics.

Today’s “men of the cloth” are, by and large, cowards, wed to their tax-exempt status and the nice, hefty cash streams they collect from the “faithful” who don’t demand too much from their “leaders.”

“I’ve heard the “famine” in the End Times is for the Word of God—the truth—not for food.”

It sure reads like it’s speaking of death by hunger. Not to mention disease, war, and wild animals:

“I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.” - Revelation 6:8

“I don’t believe Paul really said earthly governments are ordained of God to punish evil doers.”

Of course he did. It’s explicitly stated in Romans 13.

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same or it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil...”

I used to really admire a preacher at a big church in Georgia. There are many reasons I started to dislike him but when he said “I pray for President obama every day”, that was it for me. I haven’t given a dime to that church since. I’ve tried to find churches with pastors like this article talks about but haven’t had any luck.

The Christian Church is quickly going away. It’s all about “God will make you feel good and bless you with wealth.” And the worse the economy gets, the more these frauds bring in. They take advantage of peoples’ pain.

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