PASTORS: Provide necessary service

In the story “Pastors and Politics,” lame duck Idaho State Rep. Ed Morse is quoted as saying that pastors becoming involved in politics is biased, unethical and immoral. Wow, that sounds like a statement straight from the mouth of an antichrist. Let’s address these charges.

Bias? — Being biased against oppressive government is a good thing. I wish that all pastors were biased against abortion, corruption and sinful lifestyles.

Unethical? — What code of ethics is he referring to? It’s certainly not a Biblical one. Jesus’ disciples chose civil disobedience when oppressed by the civil authorities. When it came to a choice between obeying God or man, they chose God. Mahatma Gandhi, the famous Hindu religious teacher said, “Civil disobedience becomes a sacred duty when the state has become lawless or corrupt.”

Immoral? — Martin Luther King, the martyred Civil Rights leader, stated, “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.”

Bill Johnson, in his letter to the editor, “Pastors: Shouldn’t dabble in politics” states an opinion that is certainly open to scriptural disagreement. He claims that Jesus spoke against his followers becoming entangled in the “affairs of this life.” Actually; it was Paul who made this statement. The word entangled means to be so caught up in something that it is difficult to escape.

If pastors became so entangled in politics that they neglected their primary duty as spiritual leaders, I would agree with Bill. However, making information about candidates’ voting records available to their congregation every two years comes nowhere near entanglement. I believe these pastors are providing outstanding spiritual leadership by making this information available to their congregations.

ED TORRENCE

Coeur d’Alene