In more than 25 years in politics, I’ve witnessed countless moments when churches welcomed political candidates to speak just before an election. It happens on both sides of the aisle. The subtle (or sometimes overt) implication is clear: this is an endorsement. And while the IRS’s recent green light may now make such activity explicitly permissible, the decision raises deeper concerns that go beyond the tax code.
For many Americans, including my parents, aunts, in-laws, friends, and myself, the church is a spiritual anchor. It is not a political arena, a social club, or an ideological battleground. It is a place of transformation and a refuge from the noise of the world. It is a space where we gather to hear the Word of God, not the platforms of politicians.
The IRS’s July 7 ruling, which allows churches to endorse political candidates without losing their tax-exempt status, may seem like a mere formalization of what’s already happening. But its symbolic weight cannot be overstated. What was once a line, albeit a blurry one, between pulpit and politics is now being erased.
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And this erosion matters. It threatens to deepen the very divisions the church should help heal.
Within church walls, the distinctions of the outside world should fade. Whether rich or poor, liberal or conservative, longtime believer or new seeker, all are equal before God. Everyone kneels the same. Everyone hears the same scripture. The church’s power lies in its universality, in its capacity to bring people together around something higher than themselves.
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But when pastors begin endorsing candidates, the unity can begin to fracture.
I’ve heard the same concern echoed over and over in recent conversations:
- I go to church to hear about the Bible, not about politics.
- I don’t know who believes what, and I don’t want to feel alienated by what’s said from the pulpit.
- What happens when the church backs someone, and half the congregation opposes?
- I might stop going altogether.
Will this transform the church, causing not just discomfort but also spiritual dislocation? Does this open the door for the church to lose its credibility, mission, and even its soul?
Small churches, already struggling to hold onto congregants, could see further declines. The bonds that hold members together, such as shared meals, community events, and the quiet comfort of worship, can unravel quickly when political agendas take center stage.
I understand that free speech and religious freedom are vital American values. But freedom also carries responsibility. I don’t want to see the church become a place where people feel silenced, judged, or divided based on party affiliation.
We live in fractured times. We desperately need places that rise above the chaos. Many people seek places that remind us of who we are beyond labels and politics. That is the gift of the church. That is its calling. And it is what we risk losing.
Let the church remain what it was always meant to be: a spiritual anchor in a divided world.
Hector Barajas is the founder of Amplify360 Inc., a public affairs and strategic communications firm with offices in Sacramento and Los Angeles, advising companies and associations on legislative, regulatory, and political issues across California.
X: @HectorMBarajas
