WASHINGTON (ABP) — Christians can be lobbyists and still maintain a clean conscience, as long as they generally believe in what they're peddling, said Southern Baptist professor Mark Coppenger.
Coppenger, professor of apologetics at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and a pastor in Chicago, spoke Nov. 15 to the Evangelical Theological Society in Washington, D.C., on the topic: “Is Christian lobbyist an oxymoron?”
It's okay if a Christian is “not quite on song” with the lobby group he or she works for, Coppenger said, as long as the Christian generally believes in the organization's ideology.
For example, he continued, the pork industry is “awfully important” to American interests and the economy. So it's fine for evangelicals to lobby on behalf of farmers who also advocate restrictive pens for pregnant cows and pigs and supports the slaughter of horses.
In a year when lobbying scandals played a key role in a voter revolt on election day, Coppenger conceded the position of lobbyist has “a certain stench.” But, he added, “on the face of it, it can be a legitimate thing.”
He pointed out the history of Christian lobbyists, like Francis Willard and Mary Hunt, includes great accomplishments. If it weren't for early Christian lobbyists, he pointed out, the mail would still be delivered on Sunday and “In God We Trust” might not have been put on U.S. currency.
Lobbyists — so called for their propensity to hang out in the lobby of a historic Washington hotel in the late 1800s to button-hole congressmen as they walked through — now number more than 35,000 in the United States. A Christian who wants to join the ranks of lobbyists could have a flourishing career, said Coppenger, a former Southern Baptist official and seminary president. But he offered some caveats.
“It can be dangerous to get into lobbying…,” he said. “There are seductions there. It is a realm where believers must [protect] their souls.”
Financial contributions and special relationships between lobbyists and policymakers all take incredible delicacy and integrity to do correctly and legally, if at all.
“Schmoozing” done the right way is nothing but good manners, Coppenger said. But done the wrong way, it becomes pretense. “I believe some people can do it incredibly well and keep their integrity,” he said.
Most importantly, Coppenger concluded, people shouldn't separate their faith from their work. Follow a code of honesty and integrity, and don't quit lobbying because of trivial things, he said.
“I think you should go to work for somebody you can believe in,” he said. “It doesn't have to be the grandest thing.”
“Conscience is an incredibly important thing. … Honor your conscience.”
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