Tan: A minister's call to fellow ministers

Tan: A minister's call to fellow ministers

THIS position paper is written with a sincere intention and gracious appeal to fellow Ministers of the Gospel to stay focus on our calling to spiritually take care of God’s flock. I write this with bedrock conviction that a Minister of the Gospel must stay non-partisan in this coming 2022 Elections. I am also aware that not everyone will share my conviction, that there is much space for choice and dialogue.

It is hard to put into specifics the complex implications of a Pastor’s call to serve God’s flock and the community. However, it is of utmost necessity that a Minister must be clear of His main function. To take care of the flock, preaching, presence, and spiritual guidance. For this to happen prayer is the pastor’s preoccupation. While the spiritual influence of a minister is wielding a great spiritual impact in the community and politics, the more we must tremble because of this spiritual privilege. Words from the pulpit and words from a minister outside the pulpit is so convincing. Politicians are quick not to underestimate this, and therefore a wide venue of courtship is spread to solicit political help.

It is here that I sound the alarm. Let us learn the painful lessons of the past that while we think we are uniting God’s people to support a certain candidate we actually divide. Part of the Pastor’s sacrifice and sacred responsibility is to walk in godly discretion. Though he himself has the right to vote and choose the candidate of his choice, the minister chooses to restrain because his voice can be considered a big deal by the flock. Believe, me the tensions are high and the temptation is great. While other denominations are known for a united vote, most of the evangelical church goes the other way. Historically we respect the parishioners’ right to vote and personally listen to God to choose our political leaders. This is evolving and now being challenged by the subtle desire for power, making sure that the political powers are supportive of the evangelical cause. While this is of some advantage, the disadvantage is a greater monster of becoming power blocks instead of simply powerless followers of Christ.

The following are my Appeal to fellow Ministers of the Gospel and for the Evangelical church in general:

[]Deliberately stay away from endorsing any political candidate

[] No public prayers that endorse a particular candidate

[] No solicitation of any form of help in our favor, especially in this time of election

[] Don’t run for public office. We have our duties to our politicians as truth-telling prophets not puppets.

[] Whether there is an election or not, stand on biblical convictions, not political accommodations

[] We are ministers of God’s flock regardless of who they vote for. Elections will be over our ministry to God’s people continues

[] Refrain giving our pulpits for any politician to speak. When they come to church, they come to hear God not speak

I throw this piece of paper into the table of dialogue not as a hard and fast rule, but as an honest appeal for the evangelical community to consider. Believe me, with some known evangelical personalities running for elections, God’s flock will really be divided, let us not add fuel to this division. We do this by applying personal restraints, obvious political distancing, and respect to whoever they choose. We make an appeal by example to our parishioners who are running for office not to bring their political preferences especially when we gather for worship.

When the minister by God’s grace models this powerlessness it will help preserve the salt of God’s people, it will reflect the light of the gospel.

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