Pastor Robert Jeffress: Voting and getting involved in politics is a 'God-given responsibility'

Pastor Robert Jeffress believes it's a "God-given responsibility" to vote and get involved in politics just as pastors have "led the way" in America's history.

The pastor of the 12,000-strong First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas published a video on his "Pathway to Victory" program Thursday, June 23 where he discussed why he, a pastor, and every Christian should get involved in politics.

Jeffress said that contrary to a widely-held belief that a pastor's duty is largely confined within preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he cited instances in America's history where pastors "led the way," such as the American Revolution, the abolition of slavery, and the civil rights movement.

If the pastors back then chose not to get involved in politics, the Evangelical leader said, "We would not have a country today."

He believes America is ripe for a great change but that a lasting change can only be achieved through changing the hearts of Americans which is why he would push on to preach "the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ."

He also quoted what the first Chief Justice of Supreme Court and author of The Federalist Papers, John Jay, said about the Christians' role in politics.

"God is the one who has given us the privilege in this Christian nation of selecting our leaders," quoted Jeffres.

This responsibility, the pastor interprets, is to select leaders who will do "what God has ordained government to do" and to protect religious liberty especially in the face of what he perceived to be "great external threats from radical Islamic terrorism."

Jeffres also said, "There are no perfect politicians, just like there is no perfect pastor either."

What Jeffres said is reminiscent of what another conservative Evangelical leader previously talked about during the recently held closed-door meeting between the conservative Christian leaders and the Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Franklin Graham, who denied endorsing any presidential candidate even as he rounded the country on his Decision America tour, talked about how everyone is a sinner and that there will never be a perfect person nor a perfect candidate.

"All of this to say, there is none of us is perfect," said Graham. "There's no perfect person — there's only one, and that's the Lord Jesus Christ. And he's not running for president of the United States. This year."