Endorsing candidates
Regarding a question about who you would endorse for U.S. president, you gave the following response: "WELS does not endorse any candidate for political office. Doing so would be a violation of the Internal Revenue Code and jeopardize the synod’s tax-exempt status." Would it not be highly improper to let government benefits affect what the synod or its congregations would endorse or not endorse? I feel like the only thing guiding the preaching and official statements of a church body should be the Word of God. If the church, as a consequence of that, would lose various economic benefits, that's a price we as Christians should be ready to pay (Rev. 13:17).
In This We Believe, we make this profession: “2. We believe that God has given the church and the state their own distinct responsibilities. To the church the Lord has assigned the responsibility of calling sinners to repentance, of proclaiming forgiveness through the cross of Christ, and of encouraging believers in their Christian living. The purpose is to lead the elect of God to eternal salvation through faith in Christ. To the state the Lord has assigned the duty of keeping good order and peace, of punishing the wrongdoer, and of arranging all civil matters in society (Romans 13:3,4). The purpose is ‘that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness’ (1 Timothy 2:2).
“3. We believe that the only means God has given to the church to carry out its assigned purpose are the Word and sacraments (Matthew 28:19,20). People are converted by the Holy Spirit only through the message of law and gospel, sin and grace, the wrath of God against sin and the mercy of God in Christ. We believe that the means given to the state to fulfill its assignment is civil law with its punishments and rewards, set up and used according to the light of reason (Romans 13:4). The light of reason includes the natural knowledge of God, the natural knowledge of the law, and conscience.
“4. We believe the proper relation is preserved between the church and the state only when each remains within its divinely assigned sphere and uses its divinely entrusted means. The church should not exercise civil authority nor interfere with the state as the state carries out its responsibilities. The state should not become a messenger of the gospel nor interfere with the church in its preaching mission. The church should not attempt to use the civil law and force to lead people to Christ. The state should not seek to govern by means of the gospel. On the other hand, the church and the state may cooperate in an endeavor as long as each remains within its assigned place and uses its entrusted means.”
Endorsing political candidates is not a function of the church. Jeopardizing tax-exempt status by doing so would be irresponsible and a mismanagement of God’s gifts. What the church does is teach and encourage responsible citizenship. That includes exercising the right to vote.
The “mark” or seal in Revelation 13:16-17 is a symbolic way of denoting ownership: those people belong to the beast. Just as God’s people are symbolically marked or sealed (Revelation 7:4), so those who belong to Satan are also symbolically marked or sealed.