A Christ-follower with a limp: 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Saturday, January 23, 2021

Praying for Our Government Leaders

“It is a great privilege, as well as our responsibility,

to pray for our government leaders.” Billy Graham

When we see through the eyes of prayer we see people as persons. The word person comes from the Latin words per and sonare which mean “sounding through.” When we see people as persons we “sound through” any outward appearance and see them through the eyes of God and prayer.

All persons are valuable, not just the ones we like or the ones culture says have value. We look past outward appearances and see the unique person, the apex of God’s creation, a person for whom Christ died. Prayer gives us eyes to see and alters our relationship to others made in the image of God.

Do we truly believe in the power of prayer? When a loved one or friend is ill, we’ll pray and ask others to pray as well. Why? Hopefully, it’s because we believe in the power of prayer.

It’s noteworthy that while we’re commanded to pray, we are never commanded to complain. Yet, the one thing that most of us do (I’m guilty), when it comes to government and elected officials is complain. The Bible commands us to pray for them. It’s not optional. Have you ever wondered what would happen, if instead of complaining about government, we prayed for our governmental leaders. The results would astound us.

One reason that we don’t pray for them is that we often forget that they are also Imago Dei, made in the image of God. It’s wrong for us to be “prayer bigots” and only pray for those that we like or agree with.

Part of our worship service includes praying for government officials because the Bible commands us to: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

How are we to pray for them?

We’re to pray for their salvation. “Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” From the President to the zoning board member, each person’s greatest need is salvation – to know that Jesus Christ died for their sin, that they can be forgiven, and He will radically transform their life if they will surrender to Him. The greatest difference we can make in our country is not in the voting booth or by complaining on social media or other places. It’s in our prayer closet.

And we’re to pray for all of them, not just the ones we agree with. Some time back we had someone stomp out of church and give us a piece of their mind because we had dared to pray in church for an elected official they despised. We are to pray for our “enemies” (Matthew 5:44) and friends!

We need to thank God for them. While we may not be thankful for their decisions or character or choices, we’re to be thankful that God has placed them there. Our viewpoint is so limited. Our Sovereign God uses even evil rulers to accomplish His will. He used Pharaoh and his enslavement of the Jews to make them long to return to the Promised Land. He used Nebuchadnezzar as His rod of correction to punish Israel because of their continued disobedience to the Covenant and idolatry. He even used Caesar’s tax plan to drive Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. Even when it seems that human government is out of control, God is still sovereign and in complete control.

We need to pray that they will govern with justice and righteousness. God is a God of perfect justice, yet this is an unjust world. Much of this injustice happens to the poor. While our world cares little for the powerless, a constant theme of Scripture is that God specifically cares and takes up the cause of the powerless, minorities, and the economically and physically challenged. Our hope must be in God who is the ultimate Judge.

Do we have those who are afflicted, needy, oppressed, and victims of violence today? Yes, their numbers literally reach into the millions. Do our rulers care about the oppressed? Too often no. Political scientists tell us that government and politics operate with, one common ingredient, power. From Machiavelli to Idi Amin, those who have risen to the top in government normally do so by mastering the art of exercising power. It’s why we must pray to our omnipotent God that justice will be done here on earth as it will someday be done in Heaven.

We need to pray that as they govern they promote peace and stability. When there is a lack of peace, it is those who are most vulnerable who suffer the most – children and the poor. In a peaceless world, it seems hopeless to pray for peace and stability. Hope in God’s intervention is our motivation to continue to pray and work for peace. Our ultimate trust is in God, not in politics, policies or weapons of war. God is the God of peace and His peace is the only hope of true peace in our world.

We need to pray for prosperity. Not all suffering is caused by wars. While nearly 400,000 have died from Covid-19 in the USA, 2 million have died worldwide. Too often though we have “red, white and blue eyes.” We fail to consider worldwide ramifications of our national policies. The causes of hunger and poverty are diverse and complex, but we can pray that our leaders will have the courage and compassion to wisely make decisions that will help those suffering around the globe. As one poster says: “How can we help two billion hungry people? One at a time.” That’s simple, but not simplistic. It’s a way of saying that we have to start somewhere, instead of being immobilized with shock and by the enormity of the need. We can pray that those in power in America and other relatively prosperous countries will see the folly of devoting the greatest share of their foreign aid to building up the military might of even the poorest of countries. We can pray that basics like food and clean water will abound in these lands.

As Christians, we must not sit back and accept whatever comes. God has commanded us to fight on our knees for our leaders and our Country!

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.

Sunday, November 4, 2018

Don't Vote!

“Don’t Vote…”

One of the first stories I remember from childhood was the story of a boy who cried, “Wolf!” Remember it? Originally, it was one of Aesop’s Fables.

Essentially, there was a shepherd boy who was either bored or scared as he watched the village sheep. To keep from being alone, he cried out, “Wolf! Wolf! The Wolf is chasing the sheep!” People came running to drive the wolf away, but there was no wolf. The boy did this several times. Finally, when there was a real wolf and he sounded the alarm, no one came. He’d falsely sounded the alarm too many times.

It seems like nearly every election cycle, someone proclaims, “This is the most important election in our lifetime.” The problem is that they said that last time and the time before that and the time before that. A thinking person will conclude, “something smells.” The alarm has been sounded so many times, it’s ultimately tuned out.

Then, well-meaning Christian leaders will say something to the effect of, “It’s a Christian’s duty to vote.” Some will go so far as to say that to not vote is a sin.

The Bible never even says that. A free society such as we know was unknown in the days of the Bible. Personally, I believe that it’s a responsibility as a citizen of a free society to vote, yet it is not a moral right or wrong. It’s definitely not a sin to not vote. But it is…

It is a sin to fail to pray for our government leaders, whether we agree with them or not. Paul urges us with: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

Please note that it’s a prayer for our greatest need, “God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved.” It’s a gospel prayer, not a politically expedient one. While God is concerned with moral, social and fiscal issues, the greatest need is a gospel one. That’s why the gospel and the Church can’t and must not be identified with partisan political posturing.

Yes, I believe that you should vote BUT long before you enter the voting booth, the believer must habitually enter the prayer closet. Read the pages of Scripture and you’ll find that God intervened over and over again when His people prayed.

We’ve substituted programs and political rhetoric for true power, the power of prayer. We complain when we should petition our Heavenly Father. The reason our country is in such a mess is not because of the government or media. It’s because God’s people have neglected to pray.

An evidence of that is the anger and even hatred among Christians for governmental leaders. It’s difficult to hate someone if you’ve been praying for them to the Savior who said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” It’s hard to hate when you follow the example of Stephen, who as they dashed him to death with rocks, prayed, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60). I don’t know how a Christian can be full of anger and venom and still be obedient to Romans 12:14-21.

Thank them! After you pray for them, thank them. Government leaders are “God’s servants for good” (Romans 13:4). Your first contact with an elected official shouldn’t be a complaint or something you’re upset about. It should be a “Thank You” note, whether you agree with them politically or not. Thank them for serving. Thank them for being willing to be criticized and maligned because they desired to make a difference.

If you want to make a difference, start small. It isn’t likely that your vote will change the outcome of the next national election, but it could make a difference in the next School Board election. The most important people for you to know, encourage and pray for are part of your City Council, Village Board, Township or County Board. Your State Senator or State Assembly Representative are fairly accessible. If you call them, they’ll usually personally call you back.

Personally, I try to visit Madison at least once a year to drop by my representative’s offices and let them know that I appreciate them and I’m praying for them. I don’t have an agenda. I’m truly grateful for them and for their staff (who often are unsung heroes and do a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes). You could make it a field trip for your family.

When you actually know them, when you can ask questions and know what they believe and their worldview, then you can vote more wisely.

Please, though, don’t get caught up with a few political red herrings. Personally, I believe that we’re foolish if we believe that we can count on our elected officials to stand with us on moral and social issues. Politics is the world of expediency. If it’s the difference between potentially being elected or not being elected, all the supportive rhetoric will usually be jettisoned for victory in the next election cycle.
Since we’re citizens of heaven, our first concerns must be the real world. Before we vote, a believer must ask, “Who is going to be best for the advancement of God’s Kingdom?” You won’t know that if you don’t take the time to pray and do some research. If you’re basing your vote on the political party, the latest commercial or even some slick postcard you received in the mail – you’re vote may be little more than the boy who cried wolf. It has little to do with reality and nothing to do with God’s Kingdom. For us, it’s not America First, it must always be King Jesus First!