“DO-NOT” #4: NEVER GET POLITICAL

A preacher of the Gospel must be careful not to get entangled in the affairs of the world when proclaiming the Law and Gospel in the open air. Paul wrote this to a young pastor in 2 Timothy 2:4—“No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.”

It makes no sense when you are on your soapbox to take sides on a political issue, especially if your focus is on saving souls. Why?

There will always be a segment of any crowd that will hear only your partisan stance, disagree with you, then shut out the rest of the really important stuff, like how they will be held accountable for their own sin and end up in Hell unless they repent and trust in the Savior. 
They’ll lump you into the enemy’s camp as a despiser of freedom, equality, and personal rights.  Of course, you’ll be a hater, a no-nothing, pro, anti-whatever sociopath that should be taken out back and shot.

Stay on point. Reference current events but don’t spill your political beans. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:22) What’s your purpose, to have people vote right, or get right—with God? When they get right, they’ll vote right. 

It’s so much easier, and certainly more effective to have everyone despise your message—and you—for the right reason: The Cross. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1Corinthians 1:18)

It’s an equal opportunity offender.

Read the first 3 “Do-Nots” here.

See an example of my non-political stance in action here.