A new Lifeway Research survey found that 93 percent of Protestant pastors don’t plan to endorse political candidates during worship services. Just five percent said they intend to do so, while two percent were unsure.
That’s good news.
The survey, conducted in September 2025 and released this week, asked pastors about their intentions after presenting them with the IRS’s more permissive position on political endorsements by churches. Even with the possibility of greater legal freedom, few expressed an interest in endorsing candidates during worship.
The survey doesn’t tell us why pastors are reluctant. Some may have theological objections. Others may be concerned about dividing their congregations or damaging their credibility. Legal uncertainty may also play a role.
Whatever their reasons, I welcome their restraint.
In November 2023, I wrote about pastors and political endorsements, arguing that while I would defend a pastor’s right to endorse candidates, even from the pulpit, I questioned the wisdom of doing so.
I haven’t changed my mind.
I don’t believe the government should dictate what pastors can say from the pulpit through the threat of losing their churches’ tax-exempt status. The ongoing legal dispute over the Johnson Amendment raises legitimate religious liberty concerns.
But the freedom to endorse a candidate doesn’t make it a wise pastoral decision.
A pastor’s primary responsibility is to preach God’s Word, shepherd his congregation, and equip believers to follow Christ.
In 2 Timothy 4:1–5, Paul charges Timothy to preach the Word faithfully, correct error, exercise patience, and fulfill his ministry. He warns that people will seek teachers who tell them what they want to hear rather than confront them with sound doctrine. Turning the pulpit into a platform for political endorsements can distract from those responsibilities.
In Acts 20:27–28, Paul reminds the Ephesian elders that he proclaimed the whole counsel of God and urges them to care for the flock entrusted to their oversight.
Peter similarly instructs elders to shepherd God’s people willingly and serve as examples rather than domineering over those in their care (1 Peter 5:1–4).
That doesn’t mean pastors should avoid politics or controversial public policy questions. Quite the opposite.
Christians should engage in public life, and pastors should teach biblical principles that inform how believers approach political questions. That includes issues like abortion, justice, religious liberty, and the responsibilities of government.
Sometimes faithful biblical teaching will offend Republicans. Other times it will offend Democrats. Pastors shouldn’t be concerned about keeping either party happy.
They should also be willing to criticize candidates and elected officials when their actions or policies violate biblical principles.
But there is a difference between teaching what Scripture says and telling Christians which candidate deserves their vote.
Political choices often require weighing imperfect candidates, conflicting priorities, and questions of character. Christians who share the same biblical convictions can reach different conclusions about those choices.
Pastors should help their congregations develop biblical discernment rather than substitute their own political judgment for it.
There’s also the question of pastoral credibility.
A pastor who endorses a candidate ties some measure of his credibility to that politician. What happens when the candidate lies, behaves immorally, or abandons the principles he claimed to support?
Supporting a politician’s policies doesn’t require defending his character or overlooking his misconduct. Unfortunately, we’ve seen too many Christians willing to do exactly that.
Pastors should be especially careful about lending spiritual credibility to politicians who haven’t earned it.
I also worry about Christians confusing political victories with spiritual renewal. Elections have consequences, and government can accomplish legitimate good. But no politician can bring about revival, and no election can accomplish the church’s mission of making disciples.
That’s something the church needs to remember regardless of who occupies that legislative seat, governor’s office, or the Oval Office.
The Lifeway findings don’t establish that pastors share my reasoning. But I’m encouraged that most have no intention of endorsing candidates during worship.
I want pastors who will boldly proclaim biblical truth, even when it has political consequences. I also want them to recognize that their political preferences don’t carry the authority of Scripture.
A pastor should be willing to offend a political party for the sake of biblical truth. He should be far more reluctant to divide his congregation for the sake of a political candidate.