Politics In The Pulpit

Rev. A.R. Bernard is pastor of The Christian Culture Center in Brooklyn, New York.
It has a membership of over 30,000.
Like most influential pastors, if he tells his congregation to do something, chances are, they'll do it-simply because they trust his judgement.
And given Rev. Bernard's track record of generosity and work in the community, he's earned that trust.
But occasionally, people like Rev. A.R. Bernard will take advantage of that trust, and will make an effort to lead their congregation or community in a direction that's against their best interest.
Case and Point:
Last month, Rev. Bernard suggested to his congregation that they should stay home on election day.
His reason:
"Because the president's stance on gay marriage goes against the word of God."

For the record I don't support gay marriage, but I'm sure gay people who want to get married wouldn't support some of the things I do either-so we're even.

Rev. Bernard would have you to believe that his suggestion to his congregation was based strictly on his "religious belief".
But in my opinion, it was done based on his "political belief"!
Rev. Bernard is one of the leading voices in the black conservative movement.
And within the black conservative movement, is a network of pastors who support that movement because (let them tell it) the republican party is the party of family values, and godly principles.
(Since when did discrimination, voter suppression and outright racism become godly?)

During the civil rights movement, the FBI and local officals used black ministers to create division within the movement by encouraging them to tell their congregation not to follow Dr. King because he was an adulter.
In return for doing so, those ministers received money from the FBI.
The same thing is happening today, except today, they're receiving donations to their church from Super PACS.
If your pastor tells you NOT to vote, tell him to keep his politics out of the pulpit!