50: Talking politics

In the midst of an election year, Converge church planting leaders Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee discuss what you should — and shouldn’t — say about politics from the pulpit.

1:09 Danny says planters cannot completely ignore politics because it is such a cultural issue. It can be a discipleship issue of teaching your people how they ought to engage culture.

2:09 Lee says it’s important to remind your people to address political issues from a biblical standpoint. "What does the Bible teach? Try to allow the Bible to be your grid as to who you’re going to vote for and don’t just focus on one small snippet, focus on the whole."

3:04 We have freedom of speech, but as Christians, we don’t have the right to be mean. "Don’t lean so hard into your liberties of what the nation does that you lose sight of what it means to be a Christian witness in the midst of this season," Lee said.

3:34 Danny says sharing your political views can cause you to lose your opportunity to share Christ with someone. "What’s more important for me to proclaim? Is it to proclaim Christ or to proclaim the candidate or party that I am a part of?"

4:25 Lee says part of the discipleship process is helping people understand social media — be careful what you post and how you post it.

5:29 Using your church building as a polling site provides a great opportunity to be able to connect and love people and allow them to walk into your building and see what you’re doing.

6:06 Lee says, looking back, he backed away from some social justice issues that probably would have been more appropriate for him to say something. "I do think that there’s a moment where pastors need to speak up for those that are facing some of the injustices that exist in our world. But there is an appropriate way that you can address those conversations and not alienate everybody."

7:18 Danny and Lee share their thoughts on bringing public servants or candidates in to pray for them.

9:26 Lee talks about how to deal with someone from your church who is running for political office.