Dear Maye,

I've heard a variety of versions of this question, but I have to say, I beg to differ about its premise. The Bible is very much political.

When Moses said, “Let my people go,” and ultimately led his people home, it was political.

When Samuel confronted King Saul's increasingly oppressive rule, it was political.

When David spent years running from King Saul, it was political.

When Nathan faced down King David's increasingly oppressive rule, it was political.

When Elijah constantly rebuked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, it was political.

John the Baptist being beheaded for rebuking King Herod? Political.

Jesus confronting the abuses of the Sadducee and Pharisees? Political.

When they called Jesus “Lord,” it was a political statement.

When Jesus flipped the money changer tables, it was political.

When Paul caused riots in Jerusalem and was thrown in jail, it was political.

Even the Book of Revelation is actually a political statement.

For that matter, Jesus was crucified because the Roman authorities of the day saw him as a real threat to the state, a threat to political order and (most importantly), a threat to those in power.

Jesus didn’t end up hanging from a tree for being non-political. In the first-century Roman empire, wandering spiritual teachers posed no threat to the state if they weren’t political. But the things Jesus said and did were very much political.

As I said, when leadership begins to step on those who are already struggling, prophetic voices necessarily become more political. So, when Jesus saw what the Roman Empire was doing to those who were struggling and saw the inequality that was built into the system in order to privilege some and marginalize others, he spoke out – and the Roman government sentenced him to death because of his activity.

So, out of a call to love your neighbor and with biblical example after biblical example, I believe it is very fitting (and part of their call) for ministers to talk about political things in their Sunday sermon.

~ Rev. Dr. Mark Sandlin