Have preachers lost their nerve?

Do most American preachers stay silent on public issues to keep their congregations happy?

Researcher George Barna’s comments on a radio show recently caused quite a stir in the evangelical blogosphere. Barna says that a whopping 90 percent of the preachers he surveyed refrain from preaching on critical social and political issues, in spite of the fact that they believe the Bible has much to say about them. Why are preachers tongue-tied? According to Barna, they worry that raising controversial issues might have a negative impact on church attendance, financial support, and participation in church programs. 

It’s hard to respond to Barna’s claims without being able to see the actual data. But his conclusion that 90 percent of pastors never mention pressing social, cultural, or political issues in their sermons is certainly not consistent with my experience.