I discourage our congregation from talking about politics or sport’s events at church functions. Why is this?
1. Our purpose for coming together is to focus on Jesus and what is eternal, and these things are very temporal.
2. These topics can easily become divisive.
3. God’s Word says to be “diligent to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3), and I think this approach helps do just that.
4. Jesus prayed that we would be one in Him (John 17), and that this unity would make a powerful statement to a watching world. Our unity is in Jesus and not in some political party or loyalty to the same football team.
5. We are commanded to build up one another in love, not to build up one another based on athletics or politics.
6. Our country is so divided right now when it comes to politics, and when visitors come to our church, I want them to hear us excited about what God is doing in our lives. “Fix your eyes on Jesus” (Hebr. 12).
7. Hopefully we attract all kinds of people: Republican, Democrat, Independent, Bulldawgs, Gators, Yellow Jackets, etc. I don’t want people who visit our church to think that Living Hope is more about one of these labels than about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
8. Particularly with political issues, there are always different perspectives on various issues, and in the limited time we have at church, the discussion will likely not be fruitful. If people want to get together and discuss such issues outside of church functions, I actually encourage this, as it could be mutually enlightening, especially if they disagree at the outset. So as you can see, I am not at all saying we should not talk about these things. But I am saying there is a time and a place for such discussions. And I would suggest a “policy” of sorts that whenever we speak about political issues, we stop and pray for our leaders before going our own way (see 1 Tim. 2:1-4).
