Letters: All about the pastor and the politician

Jeffress not a hypocrite; rewrite editorial

As Baptists, it is normal that we have differences of opinion on various subjects, especially politics. But to call a pastor we disagree with a hypocrite is certainly over the line.

I know Robert Jeffress personally, and he is not a hypocrite. I would suggest you rewrite your editorial and focus only on why you disagree.

Bob Dean
Dallas

A church can’t avoid politics

Thank you for what was an excellent, well-crafted and well-thought-out opinion piece about Dallas First Baptist Church pastor Robert Jeffress’ endorsement of Donald Trump for president.

When I saw and heard the endorsement on TV, I perceived his endorsement to be personal and that he was not speaking for First Baptist Church Dallas as a whole. I can, of course, accept that others perceived it differently.

My opinion is that pastors and congregations need to quit worrying about tax-exempt status and begin shouting the truth about the kind of lunacy that has occupied the White House and Congress over the past several years, a goofiness that is destroying our country. Be assured the Catholic Church won’t lose its tax-exempt status for political statements made by the pope, nor will African-American churches that have Democrat political candidates who speak from their pulpits lose their tax-exempt status. And I doubt that a Muslim mosque will lose tax-exempt status for being political. It seems that only evangelical churches are threatened with loss of tax-exempt status.

As for me, I applaud Dr. Jeffress and his willingness to endorse a candidate for president. I don’t mind telling people I’m for Donald Trump, Ted Cruz or any candidate who tells the truth and then stands by it.

A church can’t avoid politics. Religious and secular politics played a major role in the crucifixion of Jesus.

C.C. Risenhoover
Granbury

Demeaning the office of pastor

Regarding “The ‘downward death spiral’ of hypocrisy“: When I “mount the pulpit” each Sunday morning—to use that quaint old phrase from the past—I am not climbing upon a political stump.

To serve as the pastor of Christ’s church is to answer a high and holy calling. Holy—set apart—reserved for special and sacred use. For a pastor to demean his office by so ignoble an act as the mere promotion of a political candidate is like using the altar in the temple for a tailgate barbeque.

Glen A. Land
Lynchburg, Va.