Pastor Participation Increases for Pulpit Freedom Sunday 2010 |

Nearly 100 pastors from almost 30 different states participated in ADF’s third annual Pulpit Freedom Sunday. Click here for a link to the list of participating churches. These pastors spoke freely from their pulpits and applied Scripture’s teachings directly and specifically to the issue of candidates and elections. The goal of Pulpit Freedom Sunday is to protect a pastor’s right to speak freely from his pulpit without fearing government censorship or control and to challenge the constitutionality of the Johnson Amendment.

By all accounts, Pulpit Freedom Sunday was a great success. Pastors participating reported that their messages were well-received by the congregations. One pastor reported that his message drew a standing ovation from the congregation that was the largest standing ovation he had received in over 40 years of ministry. All of this is, of course, anecdotal, but I believe it is also powerful evidence that when pastors are free to speak Scriptural truth from their pulpits without fear, then the Church and society at large benefits.

I will have more to say about Pulpit Freedom Sunday in future blog posts (and especially will have more to say about some of the criticisms), but for now wanted to highlight that Pulpit Freedom Sunday was a success and that we are excited about the days to come as we stand together with pastors across the country to protect the right of a pastor to speak freely from the pulpit.

Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts or follow us on Facebook to join the conversation. http://www.facebook.com/SpeakUpChurch

Shannon

I agree that as we do have freedom of speech in this country, that freedom should not be limited. If there are KKK groups still in this country that are allowed to meet (as long as they arent breaking any laws or killing anyone) then I don't see why God-fearing, God-loving people can't preach the Word of God from their pulpits. Even if there are groups out there (like the God-hates-America church somewhere in the south, i'm forgetting where at the moment, but i'm sure everyone's heard of them) as long as they aren't breaking any laws are causing physical harm to anyone, the constitution is the constitution. Sometimes we are forced to allow stupid conduct like theirs, but the fact is, they like everyone else, is constitutionally protected and allowed freedom of speech. We can't have it both ways. Because who is to decide what is “acceptable” free speech, and what's not? The fact is, the liberal left would like it to be their brand of free speech, and put a silencer on all views that don't agree with their “progressive” values, but if they want to have the freedom to say whatever they want, they have to allow everyone else that same right – even people who don't agree with them.
http://www.christianityisjewish.blogspot.com Marsha Nylund

Thanks for the encouraging word. Speak Up Church is a bold offensive move that hopefully more and more pastors will discover and join. To God be the glory.
Pastor Jack

I was one of those pastors and when I got out of the pulpit that day there was a deep sense that if I had never done anything before that would have honored God and made our founding fathers proud, I just had. I was faithful to the Lord to protect those He had given me responsibility for.
JAD

Please point out, in the Bible, were God instructed Jesus and his disciples to become political?
Eileen

I've no time to look up verses now, but I know that God expects pastors, and all Christians, to stand up for righteousness. Pornography, abortion and homosexual activity are mainstream now in the western world, and these are all antithethcal to Christian principles. But, you seldom hear these topics even mentioned in sermons or written about in church bulletins, because they cross over into the political realm. Due to this lack of leadership on these and other practices against biblical teaching that are so rampant in society, studies often show that Christians are as

involved in these activities as non-Christians.

When pastors completely avoid addressing moral and ethical issues which happen to involve politics as well, they are not doing their job of standing for righteousness. I believe, for this reason, the culture is influencing the Church more than the Church influences the culture.
Eileen

I've no time to look up verses now, but I know that God expects pastors, and all Christians, to stand up for righteousness. Pornography, abortion and homosexual activity are mainstream now in the western world, and these are all antithethcal to Christian principles. But, you seldom hear these topics even mentioned in sermons or written about in church bulletins, because they cross over into the political realm. Due to this lack of leadership on these and other practices against biblical teaching that are so rampant in society, studies often show that Christians are as

involved in these activities as non-Christians.

When pastors completely avoid addressing moral and ethical issues which happen to involve politics as well, they are not doing their job of standing for righteousness. I believe, for this reason, the culture is influencing the Church more than the Church influences the culture.

Pastor Participation Increases for Pulpit Freedom Sunday 2010

Author Erik Stanley - ADF Senior Legal Counsel

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