{"id":495,"date":"2017-05-15T13:38:39","date_gmt":"2017-05-15T17:38:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/cbf\/?p=495"},"modified":"2017-05-15T15:49:26","modified_gmt":"2017-05-15T19:49:26","slug":"johnson-amendment-christian-voice-public-square","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/cbf\/2017\/05\/johnson-amendment-christian-voice-public-square\/","title":{"rendered":"The Johnson Amendment and the Christian Voice in the Public Square"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

By Matt Sapp\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Woe to those who make unjust laws,<\/em>
\nto those who issue oppressive decrees,<\/em>
\nto deprive the poor of their rights<\/em>
\nand withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,<\/em>
\nmaking widows their prey<\/em>
\nand robbing the fatherless. <\/em>
\n-Isaiah 10:1-2<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Matt
Matt Sapp<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There\u2019s been a lot of talk recently about the role of the church in the public square, particularly with respect to the Johnson Amendment, a piece of legislation that prohibits churches (as 501(c)3 organizations) from publicly endorsing or specifically campaigning against candidates for public office.<\/p>\n

A recent executive order<\/a> instructed the IRS to overlook the Johnson Amendment when reviewing the 501(c)3 status of non-profit organizations\u2014in effect saying that churches and pastors should feel free to endorse political candidates without fear of IRS reprisal\u2014and many American Christians cheered.<\/p>\n

I wasn\u2019t one of them. During last year\u2019s presidential election, I wrote<\/a> that I objected to pastors publicly endorsing political candidates and gave my reasons why.<\/p>\n

But a larger question remains: What is<\/em> the appropriate way for churches and religious leaders to engage the political process? What\u2019s the mission of the church when it comes to engaging and influencing government and public policy?<\/p>\n

My answer: We are to be prophetic witnesses to what a world governed by Kingdom principles looks like.<\/p>\n

The prophetic mission of the church is to call the world to a new and higher standard of justice\u2014a standard not of fairness, but of generosity.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The prophetic mission of God\u2019s people extends back thousands of years. Isaiah\u2019s challenge to lawmakers (see above) is 2700 years old. It has been the mission of God\u2019s people to sound the call to justice at least since then.<\/p>\n

2000 years ago, Jesus sounded the call, too, in Matthew chapter 5<\/a>:<\/p>\n

38 \u201cYou have heard that it was said, \u2018Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.\u2019[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.<\/em><\/p>\n

43 \u201cYou have heard that it was said, \u2018Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.\u2019 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.<\/em><\/p>\n

Jesus teaches that we live in a world that celebrates an ethic of fairness\u2014and eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, love for love, and hate for hate. But he clearly states that the prevailing ethic, while it might be sufficient for tax collectors and pagans, is insufficient for Christians.<\/p>\n

Christians are called not to uphold standards of fairness, but to be prophetic examples of what a new standard of justice might look like\u2014a standard of generosity that offers more than is expected, more than is reciprocal, and more, even, than is fair.<\/p>\n

Jesus is saying, \u201cYou have heard it said of old, be fair. But I say, be generous.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

As the church engages the issues that dominate today\u2019s public square\u2014issues like health care, taxes, civil rights, education, poverty, and immigration\u2014we must consciously be aware that the Christian standard of justice isn\u2019t fairness, it\u2019s generosity.<\/p>\n

We have to stop asking, \u201cWhat\u2019s the fairest thing we could do in this situation?\u201d\u00a0As Jesus says, even tax collectors and pagans do that.<\/p>\n

The question the Christian must ask instead is: What\u2019s the most generous thing we could do in this situation?<\/p>\n

And, as Isaiah reminds us: What\u2019s the most generous policy we could advocate for on behalf of the poor, the oppressed, the widow and the fatherless\u2013categories of people in whom and toward whom the God of scripture consistently exhibits an interest and a bias.<\/p>\n