Advice to prudent preachers
Max Stackhouse, in his essay on “Public Theology and Ethical Judgment,” asks, “What allows human life to flourish so that the common life can flourish?” If it is a question that is ever asked in the congregational setting, it will drive teaching and preaching toward other questions, and some answers, in the political realm of the life of the community.
Therefore, the prudent preacher who treasures his or her place will do whatever he or she can to prevent the question from ever coming up. Why? Because there is nothing prudent about wading into issues of civil politics with questions like this one that demand an honest examination of one’s own political views at the very place where following Jesus will lead right into the temple and confrontation with conditions of community life and political power.
That doesn’t mean preachers can’t be political in the pulpit and be prudent at the same time. In fact there are two paths to take. The first requires an ability to read the political drift of the majority of those sitting in the pews, and offer appropriate biblical platitudes that appear to endorse it while assuring everyone that Jesus approves. OK, really there is only one path. The other is to be deliberate in promoting one’s own political views, adorned with appropriate God talk, with the intention of building a congregation around them. The prudent preacher will, of course, choose the first path. The second can lead to great success, maybe even a hit television show, but it’s very risky, and prudent preachers avoid risk.
