Pensees: Did I Endorse Huckabee? Unpolished and Rambling Thoughts on Politics and Preachers - Again

Did I Endorse Huckabee? Unpolished and Rambling Thoughts on Politics and Preachers - Again

My post about the Bob Jones’ early endorsement of Mitt Romney drew some interesting responses. There are, of course, the typical responses that come from those who act as if the slightest public criticism of anything Jones is tantamount to peeing on the flag. I dismiss that.

I know in my heart that I respect the Jones, like the school, and that any mature and rational Jones knows that any criticism I’ve leveled is minor compared to the darts of flame they have hurled at many of their opponents in the past years. Criticism is par for the course for people who want to live public lives, particularly for preachers who want to make public endorsements of politicians who are in a cult. (Although “America’s pastor” says that in his mind Romney is a Christian.)

So the emails that winced and whined over my “verbal assault” (puh-leeze) on Dr. Jones were mostly dismissed. Yet they confirmed to me the effectiveness of an endorsement. A number told me that they were persuaded by Dr. Jones’ endorsement, but my simple blog was enough to change several minds. They are going to vote differently.

“Several” only means “two.” One from Iowa and another from New Hampshire. Yet my small blog has helped change minds. Maybe more than two. Because not everyone who reads writes me. Nonetheless, it goes to show that public statements have an effect. It is frightening the influence we can have. Why would anyone really want to use his influence to sway people to vote for a certain man against other equally qualified men when the way is so unclear as it was in October?

Does Bob Jones have insight beyond the power of mere mortals? Does he know how Romney will use his veto pen or who he might appoint to the Supreme Court?

Face it. Endorsing anyone is a gamble. And preachers of all people should be suspicious of the hearts of men. What a person might actually do once he has power is something no one can know. Even Reagan failed us in some ways.

American evangelicals practically worship Reagan. We’ve experienced 8 years of the millennium already according to them. But even with all of his wisdom as practically the fourth person of the trinity, he appointed Sandra Day O’Connor. Tsk, tsk! He should’ve known better.

The point was that I think it is not a preacher of the Gospel’s place to endorse people for presidency when there are so many other people that are viable candidates. I don’t need to try to explain myself here again. The criticism I get for criticizing Jones I can deal with.

However, the criticism of my post that alarms me is that my post could be read as an endorsement of Huckabee by ranking Norris’ endorsement of Huckabee as superior to Jones’ endorsement of Romney.

The endorsement was superior. I did not want to talk about the actual candidates.

Here’s the scoop: I did not (and do not) endorse Huckabee. I was merely attempting to point out the difference between what I thought sounded like a principled endorsement and a panicked endorsement. In my opinion, the principled-sounding endorsement happened to be endorsing Mike Huckabee.

As I’ve said, I don’t think it is our business as preachers of the Gospel to endorse at this stage of the game, particularly when some are professing believers and others are in a cult. How are we to know that God does not want to do a shocking work and place a Christian against all odds in the White House? Who are we to interfere so early in the game with a politically-savvy endorsement that undercuts the Christian?

Guessing on the heart of man is a tricky business. But, frankly, I wrestle with a profound trust issue toward Huckabee that is just as disturbing in my teeny-weeny psyche as the trust issues I have with Romney because while I think it is not appropriate for preachers of the Gospel to endorse politicians, I have stronger feelings about preachers of the Gospel running for president. And that is one reason why I don’t endorse Huckabee: because of what he says he was or is.

“It’s not like [I’m] stepping from the pulpit last Sunday and running for president.” (source)

Uh, really?

I have issues with Huckabee on a more visceral level. My pastoral instincts revolt. As a pastor, an under-shepherd, I don’t like what I see. I’m having a hard time getting excited about either Romney or Huckabee.

I am not a political expert. Jones’ may be right. Romney may be the only hope to beat Hillary. (Assuming that’s the only thing on the national agenda for evangelical voters.)

Whatever. But I think Romney is just going to be another dynasty-boy, slick and rich, with all the same disappointments to offer as did George W. Bush. Only a better talker (and that’s not hard). That’s my thought.

Granted, Bush did appoint two great justices.

At least for the moment. Consider Reagan’s record again.

But the point is, I don’t endorse Romney and I couldn’t endorse Huckabee. I don’t endorse anybody. This revelation, of course, has shattered the hopes of several presidential hopefuls who were hoping against all hope that PENSEES would publish an official endorsement. But until I get an all-expenses paid trip to Vail for a week of skiing and “prayer” with the candidates, I’m holding to the non-endorsement strategy.

Nonetheless, I can see how my dislike for Romney in the past post appeared to be a subtle endorsement of Huckabee. I apologize.

And to be fair, since I have let my distrust for Romney leak, I’ll just come right out and say my feelings about Huckabee as well. I am resolved to be an equal-opportunity offender.

I personally would have a hard time voting for a pastor. It’s that simple. If God called him to the pastorate, when did God un-call him? If he was never called to the pastorate, why was he a pastor? That would make him a charlatan either by his craftiness or by his ignorance. I don’t want either option for my leader. If he was really a pastor, why would he want to be anything else?

I think whoever ordained him should rescind his ordination. He should experience a Baptist version of defrocking. The Baptist synod or presbytery ought to convene and remove him from the sacred desk. (I speak as a fool. Baptists don’t do that. All it takes to be called a pastor is to have a church.)

A man who “pastors” big churches and climbs the ranks and then has nowhere else to go but outside the church to keep moving up is a man that makes me wonder if he ever had a true understanding of what pastoring is all about. It reveals the professionalism of American ministers that is fleecing the flock of God. The step from pastoring to politicking is a very small step for these guys.

And, judging from the picture on the right, Huckabee is savvy enough to know that while you can get away with being an overweight pastor, it will never work for politics. Baptist politics is so much more lenient on flabby political preachers than American politics. We Americans like our politicians fit. We Baptists like our preachers fat. Apart from that there is really not much difference for most Baptists between the pastor and politician.

At this stage of the game, I’d have a hard time voting for a pastor. But then again, maybe he has confessed that he was never called to the pastorate in the first place; maybe he has experienced an a Divine revocation of his call, or maybe he is in a delusion thinking that his ministry is still expanding. If so, he blights the pastoral calling. Has he admitted anywhere that being in the pastorate with the ego-gratifying perks of American ministry complete with fans, flattering introductions, and sighing mothers who swoon when your shadow falls on their babies has given him an appetite for politics?

That’s not an accusation. That’s just a question.

Bottom line: I did not/do not endorse Huckabee. I don’t endorse anyone.

However, if I must choose between a pastor and the devil, I’d place my bet on the pastor.