	Bob Hostetler > Writing

Not a Campaign Stop

by Bob Hostetler

Mike Huckabee is an ordained minister, a Baptist preacher who served twelve years in the pastorate. He has also been governor of Arkansas. Now, of course, he’s a Republican candidate for president.

On many Sundays, Huckabee accepts an invitation to preach. On those occasions, he explains, “I’m not here to do something political,” pointing out that the pulpit is no place for a person to advocate himself or his candidacy, but to advocate Jesus.

Good for him. But even with such qualifications, Mr. Huckabee would not be eligible to speak in my church. Not because he’s Baptist. Not because he’s Republican. But because he’s a candidate.

They all do it, of course. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Mitt Romney, Fred Thomson, Rudy Giuliani—all have been guests of honor at churches of various denominations and inclinations.

But not my church.

Why? Precisely because of Huckabee’s claim, one that is convincingly contradicted by his presence in a pulpit during the course of a presidential campaign—disclaimer or not.

When God’s people gather on a weekend for worship, there are always more than enough distractions to true, authentic worship. It’s hard enough for the human mind to set aside the worries of the week, the temperature of the room, the squirming kid down the row, the late arrivals, the feedback from the sound system, and so on. Injecting a guest speaker who just happens to be running for political office is an unnecessary addition to the list.

Moreover, while I’m sure Huckabee is utterly sincere in his desire to advocate Jesus instead of his own candidacy when he speaks in a church, there is every likelihood that his sincerity may not be shared by everyone, and the mixed motives of political operatives as well as political thrill-seekers can do little to invite or enhance true worship. (Admittedly, mixed motives are always present in a large worship gathering…but that is not to say they should be encouraged).

It’s also hard enough to present a well-rounded array of Bible messages in the course of a year, balancing Old Testament and New Testament texts, topics ranging from prayer to finances to integrity, not to mention expository studies of Bible books or equipping the saints with specific skills, and so on. The last time I checked, none of us have more than fifty-two weekends in a year to try to accomplish all that, and even the most conscientious participation from a political candidate can hardly make that task any easier.

Most importantly, however, I don’t plan—ever—to allow a candidate to speak in my church in the course of a political campaign because the only good reason to do so would be the wrong reason. That is, the more “attractive” a candidate is—whether because of his or her fame, popularity, positions, etc.—the greater the likelihood that he or she will distract from the One who is the only legitimate object of our interest and worship as a church. The greater a candidate’s “star power”—the more likely that person would elicit cheers and admiration from the flock—the less able he or she or anyone would be to sing or to say, Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.

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