For years we have been used to hearing about tricks in politics and government circles, the use of methods which at the least are questionable. The word “politics” has long had a sinister connotation. It is taken almost for granted that government officials, be they ever so popular and accepted, somewhere along the line pull strings, use manipulative methods to achieve their ends and simply play the artful games of politics. The public has seemingly become inured to all this so that they accept it almost with a smile.
But regardless of that kind of routine acceptance of the political game, dishonesty and under-the–table methods, respect of persons who have power and money—all of these methods will always be wrong by any moral standards. And dishonesty will always remain dishonesty and unfairness, unfairness, and sin, sin.
All of this, as stated, is more or less expected(!) in government circles where it is taken for granted that politicians and so-called statesmen are not necessarily going to abide by the Ten Commandments or the Sermon on the Mount or any other biblical standard.
But when some of these same political methods are used in church circles, such behavior becomes not only disappointing, but totally reprehensible. The Bible is full of condemnation for those who pose as God’s anointed to suddenly betray their calling and engage in the same craft and cunningness as unregenerate men in society. Both the Old and New Testaments condemn partiality, respect of persons, and inequity.
Many church leaders are completely aware of some of these improper acts in the church, but apparently are unwilling to jeopardize their own standing in church circles. Unwittingly, however, they become accomplices to the devious tactics used. Their silence also reinforces the “all-is-well” attitudes of the people in the pew who out of innocence have the highest confidence in the church’s leadership and as a result come to believe that it is only a few negatively minded critics who are raising all the cries of alarm in the church. It should be stated, of course, that there are still many faithful leaders who are true to their calling.
Political maneuverings in the church, as in the public domain, are evidenced by such tactics as:
1. Controlling elections and appointments by careful selection of nominating committees.
2. Using parliamentary and unparliamentary procedures to achieve their goals.
3. Giving slanted coverage through the church media of church events or activities that seem to run counter to what certain leaders have before decided should be the course or program of the church, freely denigrating or misquoting persons who faithfully try to raise a prophetic voice in the church. (Incidentally, while so-called “prophetic witness” to the state is lauded, using the same kind of prophetic witness to the church is not.) It should be remembered that the prophets of the Old Testament spoke chiefly against the religious leaders as also did Jesus against the religious leaders of His day.
4. Making much ado about brotherly love—it seems, however, that this agape is to be exercised by the conservative element toward the liberal element and not the other way around.
5. Conducting studies on various issues which lack integrity in terms of being slanted, using only sources that favor the expected outcome. Various denominations in the past decade have been on a study binge, it seems, on such issues as homosexuality, human sexuality, women’s role in the church–studies which in almost every case are not objective but extremely slanted. One leader of a certain denomination which spent eight years studying women’s role has referred to these studies as being “as phony as a $3 bill!”
6. Using speakers in public programs, seminars and church school platforms who conform to the predetermined views and goals of church officials and program committees, and eliminating speakers who are known to take opposing or unpopular views.
All of the foregoing has been aptly characterized by Dr. Stephen W. Paine, President and Professor of Greek at Houghton College, New York, in these very pungent words:
The characteristic of modern ‘liberal’ critical teachers which amazes one most is their absolute confidence in their own conclusions based upon evidence however trivial, and involving tremendously important departures from tenets maintained for centuries by the historic church.
The serious element in all this is that such liberal leaders will one day have to give an account of their stewardship (as “stewards of the mysteries of God”—I Cor. 4:1). They will be judged on how they have handled the Word and their colleagues in the church.
In this hour of extreme crisis in the church, amidst what has been called the “great evangelical disaster” (Schaeffer) there is need as never before for courageous leadership that will stand up and be counted. Whatever the cost to our own reputation we must be men of integrity. There can be no legitimate alternative!
Reprinted from Guidelines for Today, Sanford G. Shetler’s editorial.
