Many people cringe when either of these words are brought up in a conversation. “It’s personal.” “It’s my business, not yours,” people say or think as they change the subject. If we talk about both politics and religion at the same time, it’s like mixing oil and water. Maybe that’s the reason so many people break the ice with comments like, “Nice weather we’re having, huh?”

When people ask me for my political or religious views, I normally give them. I don’t feel threatened if someone has an opposing view or supports a candidate I don’t. I feel secure in my religious beliefs just like I do in my political beliefs. If they are willing to chat about it, I am willing to chat back. I like to debate the issues. I don’t normally debate about which religion is best, as I believe each person should have a relationship with God they are comfortable with. Besides, in the end, each of us will find out if we were right or wrong, correct?

When I learn that a candidate is running for public office, I will often check the candidate’s religious views before most of his/her other views including to which party they belong. Do they attend church regularly? Which one? What does their church believe? Basically, I want to know if they believe the same as I do on moral and religious issues.

Faith must be important to other people too, as most bios about a candidate lists his/her faith. When I learned about Barack Obama’s faith, I checked on it. Same with John McCain.

Other people may feel the same about a candidate’s environmental views or their views on guns or other issues.

This brings me to an article that was recently published in the Washington Post called, “33 Pastors Flout Tax Law With Political Sermons.”

These pastors have decided to test the law, passed in 1954, that prohibits them from endorsing political candidates from their churches. It deals with non-profits and taxes and that “deep” stuff. I don’t believe there have been many prosecutions since this law was enacted – maybe just a handful.

So, on Sunday, these pastors talked about the candidates for President. Good for them.

Personally I think it is fine for a pastor to give his/her opinion about a candidate from the pulpit. They are the leaders of the church, and I’m sure some folks would welcome it. As with any church congregation, there are others who probably dislike it.

I would gladly welcome my pastor’s view on the candidates from the pulpit. I’d like to hear where my pastor feels candidate “A” differs from candidate “B” in regards to the teachings of the Bible, and what my church believes compared to what the candidate believes.

On the other hand, I don’t think passing the bucket to collect money for a candidate would be prudent, nor do I think the church giving campaign funds to a candidate or running an ad in the local newspaper would be the right thing to do.

Most people attend a certain church because they like the church’s doctrine, the pastor or pastors, the music, the services the church offers, the activities happening at the church, the location, the size of the church congregation, the community outreach from the church, etc.

We’ve all seen churches change much in the past 30 years. Some people are not happy with the direction of churches today. People want things fast today, like a fast food drive-in or stopping at a convenience store – in and out in a flash and more churches are accommodating the fast-food crowd these days. Some churches are changing with the times. Now, just maybe, the times demand we talk about the candidates and politics in church.

Here’s a clue – many in the congregation are already talking about the candidates.

Of course if the pastor decides to speak about a candidate, they are giving their viewpoint and their opinion on what they believe. Although some of my friends may disagree, isn’t that what they are doing when they preach any way?

We’ll see how far this issue gets. It won’t be decided any time soon, but these pastors made a good first step in bringing it to the forefront.

There’s also another side to this issue, so click HERE to read about it.