Brian McLaren and others make Obama Ad...

What do you think? 

When I first heard about this ad, I didn't think much of it- I thought Brian would be speaking as an influential Christian voice/writer. But it's pretty clear... "As a pastor" he says. I'm a little uncomfortable with pastors (and this ad is chock full of them) endorsing a candidate AND tying their pastoral role to that endorsement. 

While not illegal (in the IRS kind of way), and not unethical... something about it still makes me uncomfortable. 

I'm not adverse to letting people know who you vote for as a pastor. I've done that. But actively campaigning for a particular candidate... Hmmm... 

The role of a pastor should be a bit more in the "prophetic" area when it comes to politics- that is, asking hard questions not just of the candidates, but of those who are looking to the candidates to solve all their problems and either usher in a new golden era or take us back to the good old days. 

I'm more comfortable with pastors challenging the idolatry/idolization of candidates than with endorsing them... but that's just me. :)

Comments

[Bob Hyatt]

Hmm.. I'm not so much making judgements on the candidates. I think my eyebrow would have been equally raised if this had been a McCain commercial.

To me, the salient issues here, isn't that Brian endorsed someone- that's his right and privilege as a citizen and "thought leader." To me, this issue is the use of the title "Pastor" in that endorsement. That's where it feels kind of hinky- particularly as it seemed very intentional in this ad filled with pastors...

I think if he had said" I'm an author, a citizen who cares" even "a leader among young Christians trying to rethink Christianity" (though that last one gets pretty close to the same territory as pastor)...

[Dan Brown]

That horrendous ad is a prime exhibit of what I consider the most pernicious aspect of the public's expectations for presidential candidates:

http://www.reason.com/news/show/126020.html

[lisa DeLay]

It seems like there is really a double standard. Endorsing a candidate on the right side gets thought of as narrow-minded, but when it's for Obama, it's just personal opinion/rights.

The whole commercial is sort of creepy to me, not because these folks don't have the right to make the commercial, (they don't and they can say what they please) but because they seem to be part of the machine of politics. It seems manipulative. It has a yuck factor.

Promoting ideas is so much more appealing. Rather than saying a man is such a good Christian, when it's easy to check the record and find such conflicting votes on issues about not letting unwanted babies live after they are born, and so forth. It just feels so much like a ploy for robot to follow, it's hard to stomach. however, these are very nice people I like.

Politics is starting to get very interesting this year!