Do you think that it is wise for religious leaders to meddle in political affairs?
by 
tabithap5
ANSWERS: 7
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I think it's natural for them to try, and dangerous if they succeed.
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Politics and religion do not mix.The USA was NOT founded on religious beliefs and back then they thought it was a bad idea to allow religion anywhere near politics.If you look back in history of those you will notice religious leaders do not frequent the White House.I wish they would follow that premise these days,for we see the negative results with religion creeping in.
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Depends on what you call meddling. Being an active participant in political discourse is fine by me - they can provide a useful counterpoint to some extreme positions. In informing public debate, the more viewpoints, the better. But threatening, dictating how their congregations should vote, etc., is not acceptable.
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i think that the church needs to focus on being the church and leave political action up to it's members consciences. i'm a fundamentalist Christian - but the closest political party i fall into is libertarian when it comes to my views on how this country should be run. if we as a church (meaning Christians on a whole) would do what Christ said to do (look after the least of these - i.e. those in need) and vote according to our own consciences on election days i think we'd all be better off. trying to pursue a particular political agenda in the Name of Christ is wrong - especially when the political party most Christians support is probably not the one HE would fall into.
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Yes, I think it's wise for religious leaders to stay involved in politics. Quick question though, how do you define "meddle"? Is meddling exercising their God given and constitutionally protected right to free speech and free assembly? Running for office? Participating in the electoral process? Stumping for their favorite candidate? Should religious leaders not have a voice or an opinion?
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No, it is not wise for them to do so if they wish to have God’s favor. The Bible is very clear about this. When standing before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate on the false charge of sedition, Jesus said: “My kingdom is no part of this world. If my kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be delivered up to the Jews. But, as it is, my kingdom is not from this source.” (John 18:36) For this powerful reason the true attendants of Jesus Christ likewise preached only “the kingdom of the heavens,” “the kingdom of God.” Jesus referred to the Devil as “the ruler of the world” and said that the Devil ‘had no hold on him.’ (John 14:30) They could see that Jesus did not seek involvement for himself or his followers in Rome’s political system but that he was fully occupied with declaring “the good news of the kingdom of God.”—Luke 4:43. By involving themselves with mankind’s political system, clergymen today ally themselves wit God’s enemy Satan and actually are opposing Jesus and disregarding his counsel.
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If they are US citizens, do they not have the same right as any other citizen? Is it right for teachers unions to meddle? How about steelworkers? Some politicians want to meddle into my private life and demand I use a universal, government ran health insurance plan instead of using the perfectly good one I pay for now. Some insist that my 2 year old next year to be in a state ran day care facility though my child is well taken care of by her parents and other family members. Remember, the clergy are also citizens, and have the same rights as anybody else.
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