Mike Edmisten Follower of Jesus. Husband of Nicki. Father of Ryan & Brock. Communicator of the Word.

Political Answers

The presidential campaign is heating up with all kinds of interviews, stump speeches, debates, etc. I'm already getting tired of hearing non-answer answers that seem to flow so freely from the mouths of politicians. It angers me when someone ducks a hard question because they're afraid that an honest answer might cost them votes.

And yet, as much as I dislike this approach, it's incredibly easy to do in ministry. It's easy to transition from being a pastor to being a politician. Honesty and authenticity might "cost you votes," so instead you speak in religious platitudes and catch phrases. A minister might feel that he can't be honest about his struggles or shortcomings because people won't like him as much anymore. He feels like his preaching or teaching or worship leading or youth ministry might suffer if people got to know the real person behind the facade. So he keeps up appearances. He keeps playing the game.

The problem is that, at its best, this is dishonesty. At its worst, it is hypocrisy.

I'm done playing the game. A few years ago, I committed to make a radical shift in the way I carry out my ministry. Instead of superficial spirituality, I want to minister with an authentic and honest passion for Jesus. Part of that means publicly owning up to the fact that I don't have it all together. I striuggle with some things in my life. I sin. Please notice that I'm speaking in the present tense. It's not just that I used to sin or that I sinned once upon a time. I still engage in behavior that the Bible says is sinful. I'm not involved in the sins that get preachers fired, but I do sin…and in God's judgment, sin is sin. He makes no differentiation.

So there it is. I love Jesus. I do. Passionately. Totally. And yet, I sin. I'm better than I used to be. Far better. My walk with the Lord is growing, but that doesn't mean that I've achieved a life free of struggles and frustrations and sins.

I realize that I would be a terrible politician. I'm too honest. But that's because I truly believe that God works best through people who love Jesus too much to be religious.

Thought I'd get some of these thoughts posted as I prep for our next series called Confessions of a Pastor. This baby is gonna be the real deal…and I'm 100% convinced that God has some big stuff up his sleeve.