Churches Can Now Endorse Political Candidates, Part 2

Jon Whitehead, Center for Baptist Leadership:

(T)his muzzle on the prophetic, evangelical pastors in America has been removed. Churches have been unchained to apply the whole counsel of God to every aspect of our lives. This includes discussing political issues and even candidates, without fear of politically motivated retribution from the federal government…

(A) pastor who preaches on how biblical principles apply to candidates is not acting as a political operative. He is acting as a shepherd, guiding his flock to apply biblical principles faithfully to all of life…

Southern Baptists, with our long heritage of support for religious liberty and First Amendment freedoms, should be especially glad to see Caesar’s imposition removed from our pulpits.

To be clear, this ruling does not turn churches into political action committees. Churches must remain churches. Direct endorsements published outside worship, campaign contributions, coordinated political ads, and external campaign activities may be considered by the IRS. But faith-based communications within religious services—such as sermons, teachings, and gatherings where Scripture addresses public life—are not “participation” in a politician’s campaign.

For pastors, this is both an encouragement and a call to courage… Praise God, pastors should now feel free to speak up…

(T)he Johnson Amendment was an aberration, rooted in the misconception that the government can compel silence from churches because they are tax-exempt. However, tax exemption for churches is not a “deal,” but rather an acknowledgment that churches’ liberty comes from God. Churches should be free from government interference.   

While some pastors and nonprofit leaders may have held their tongue under the previous regime out of fear, I fear that other Christians have used the Johnson Amendment as an excuse to avoid hard moral teaching. Brothers, this should not be. Scripture calls pastors to equip their people for every good work, including their role as citizens. 

Regardless of what the government says we can or cannot say, Christ remains our ultimate authority. Pulpits should speak weighty, gospel truth without needless division. Yet, many political issues today are in fact biblical issues. Pastors and churches—not the IRS—should decide what needs to be said. 

Unfortunately, the Johnson Amendment created another bad habit: Justifying government intrusion as some kind of “Christian principle.” Even some Southern Baptist leaders will reflexively say the tax man’s rule just stopped churches from doing the wrong thing. “Churches should talk about political issues so clearly, they don’t need to endorse candidates anyway,” they say.

I disagree. The biblical line was never an “endorsement,” and the government shouldn’t define a line for churches. The weight of the Scripture should drive sermons, not the glare of the IRS.  

As I said on X, “Churches should be prudent, and always treat the Gospel as eternally important, while politics is temporal. So, FBC shouldn’t normally endorse candidates for City Dog Catcher. But in some cases, prudent pastors will tell churches how they’re applying Biblical principles to specific elections. And that’s okay.”

Ultimately, this ruling confirms a simple truth: Christ is the head of the church, not the state. The IRS has no authority to dictate sermons or silence God’s Word as applied to civil government, ballot referendums, or even candidates. Where shepherds see the need to shepherd, they should be free to do so.

For pastors striving to guide flocks faithfully in a politicized age, this judgment reminds us: Biblical fidelity must never bow to bureaucratic intimidation. Churches should speak boldly, teach thoroughly, and disciple comprehensively, confident that the First Amendment still protects the proclamation of truth—especially in the house of God.