Saturday, September 25 was First Amendment Day, a day to celebrate the document that allows all Americans to practice a faith (or not), publish, speak freely, gather in protest, and petition the government for changes they see fit. It marks the day in 1789 when Congress sent the amendments that became the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights to the states for the final OK.

If we look at the text of the 1786 Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, we gain more insight into the thought behind the First Amendment. It reads: “… no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced … in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.”

The key phrase here is “shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.” In a word, don’t mix politics and religion. 

But as we know, there is a long history of mixing the two in our nation, and it happens here too in our state of New Mexico. 

This past Thursday night, the Legacy church in Edgewood hosted seven candidates seeking the Republican nomination for governor of New Mexico. These candidates included Greg Zanetti, Louie Sanchez, Karen Bedonie, Ethel Maharg, Jay Block, Tim Walsh, and Rebecca Dow. Last May, the church also hosted the GOP candidate for Deb Haaland’s seat, Mark Moores.

In a 2011 Albuquerque Journal article, Pastor Steve Smothermon of Legacy Church was quoted as saying the “politicians come to him.” Legacy Church, where Smothermon preaches, is among the state’s biggest, with nearly 20,000 members. That same article added that Smotherman says “they call and they want to meet,” and Smothermon helps because “it’s in his nature to be encouraging.” Smotherman is also quoted as saying “we’re not a political church by any means,” but added later, “we believe in taking, at times, moral stances on things that we consider morally right, scripturally. So, as far as that goes, I’m really not involved with politics.”

These statements don’t add up. 

Let’s look at the Edgewood meeting lineup. The candidates each spoke to a crowd (mostly unmasked) of about 200 people. As you can guess many of these candidates toed the GOP philosophy of gun rights, small government, and anti-abortion. Candidate Louie Sanchez for example, a medical sales representative and shooting range owner said New Mexico would become “a Second Amendment rights sanctuary state” if he were elected governor. 

Business owner Karen Bedonie pushed the “stop the steal lie,” pushing for an audit of the 2020 presidential election. Ethel Maharg, who serves as the executive director of the Albuquerque-based Right to Life Committee of New Mexico, also stumped. She “totally [believes] we have got to get our voter rolls cleared up.” But for her, stopping abortion is her top priority, as well as Border Patrol and “saving” the schools.

Rebecca Dow stated that our state needs a governor who understands the Constitution, citing it as a “divinely inspired document.” 

Sandoval County commissioner Jay Block said that there are “a lot of things” he could do as governor in 10 minutes by signing executive orders. He said “I will get rid of critical race theory in the state of New Mexico. I will also get rid of vaccine passports and forced vaccines. … I as your governor will never shut down your business, your church, or your school, and I will never overrule a school board. That is for you to decide on the local level. You elected those school board members. You vote them out if you want to.”

Contrary to pastor Smotherman’s claims, it appears to me that he is indeed involved in politics. In a 2011 radio program Smothermon called for the resignations of Attorney General Gary King and then-Albuquerque Public Safety Director Darren White. In a 2013 interview, former Albuquerque mayor Richard Berry (GOP) said Smothermon wanted “significant influence” over the mayor’s office and had a problem with someone he hired. They also clashed over Berry’s support of the annual gay-pride parade. Though Smothermon said his support is different from the church’s, the Albuquerque Journal documented Smothermon talking with his congregation about politicians, including slamming Berry as someone who “won’t stand up for anything” and praising the GOP candidate Greg Payne as someone who “espouses our beliefs.”

During a 2011 sermon, Smothermon specifically mentioned Greg Payne. “In fact, there’s a candidate that’s in our church. He’s at our east side campus today. His name is Greg Payne. He’s running in District 8, and we believe that he espouses our beliefs. He joined the church months and months ago. A group of us sat down and talked to him and said, ‘Would you please run in this race?'” In his sermon, Smothermon also mentioned that Payne’s opponent at the time, Trudy Jones (Democrat), had sided with a “nude bar” in a zoning case. 

Back in 2013, then Bernalillo County Sheriff Dan Houston left the church due to his reluctance to comply with several requests made by church elders. According to the article, Houston had left the church over the disagreement. The elders stated that if he complied with their requests, he could return to the church. Mr. Houston did not return to the congregation.

I’m a pastor’s daughter, and although my father (who is a registered Republican) has definite political views and opinions, he never once used his position as a spiritual leader to condone nor condemn political candidates or views. He is a firm believer in Mark 12:17: “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” For over 70 years, my father stuck to the Gospel while in the pulpit.

As a woman who grew up in a very religious household, I am troubled when I hear about the political involvement of churches and religious organizations. It is not the place of religious leaders to endorse nor condemn certain political platforms or candidates. If churches want to get involved in politics and host candidates of a single party, then the lines of the First Amendment become blurred. 

“Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”