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Does the world seem to be getting
worse and worse? Are governments becoming more oppressive and more
corrupt? Other than complaining, becoming a hermit, or starting a
revolution, what can we do about it?
Paul believed that prayer could
change our lives and even our governments. He said:
I exhort first of all that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for
all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet
and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and
acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be
saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:1-4).
Why should we pray for our leaders?
Paul said that the goal of our praying should be that we as believers
will be able to live "quiet and peaceable" lives (see also Jer.
29:4-7). In such a peaceful atmosphere we will be able to live and speak
so that others will come to a knowledge of the truth about Christ. The
ultimate aim of our prayers, then, is that men and women would come to
know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.
What specific sorts of things
should we pray about? Paul mentioned that we should pray for kings--those
in positions of highest authority and the most power. But his call for prayer
also included all government leaders who exercise a degree of authority
over us.
We need to pray in general terms
for matters such as the upholding of justice, freedom for the oppressed,
protection of citizens, efforts against crime, free exercise of religion,
economic health and stability, and unhindered ability to communicate the
gospel to those who have never heard.
We also need to pray for specific
issues such as a particular piece of legislation, an election issue,
candidates, specific court cases we become aware of, and much more.
In order to remind ourselves of
this responsibility, it might help to keep a list of our local, state,
and federal government officials in a place where we will see it during a
time of daily reading and prayer. It may be a long list, especially if we
include people's names like those on the school board, neighborhood
associations, city councils, county commissions, and state and federal
legislatures, judges, governors, cabinet members, presidents, and prime
ministers.
What kinds of prayers did Paul have
in mind? In 1 Timothy 2:1, Paul used four different words to describe the
kinds of prayers we should offer on behalf of our governments:
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and the giving of thanks. Although
the first three of these words are very similar in definition, it is
possible that Paul intended to emphasize the different ingredients that
should be part of our prayer life.
Supplications are those requests
that spring from a sense of need in a specific situation. Therefore, when
applied to our requests for government, supplications are those appeals
to God that a certain law would be passed or that a judge would make a
certain decision or that the authorities would take a certain course of
action.
Prayers can be any sort of request.
In the New Testament, the term refers in a general sense to all kinds of
communion with God.
Intercessions are those prayers
during which we come close to God and speak to Him on behalf of the best
interests of other people. In regard to government, then, these could be
prayers for specific individuals and their situations.
Giving of thanks refers to our
expression of gratitude. In relation to government, we are to be thankful
for the good that is happening in our country, in our political system,
and in our leadership. Instead of always concentrating on what is wrong
or in need of improvement, we need to take more time to thank God for all
the good things that we have in our particular country.
If the leaders are evil, how am I
supposed to pray for them? Are we to support evil, corrupt leaders with
our prayers? Yes, we should continue to pray that God would work in their
lives and thinking so that they would govern wisely and promote truth and
justice. But that does not mean that we have to like them or approve of
their evil.
Throughout history there have been
leaders who were enemies of the cause of Christ. Our world today has many
leaders who are self-serving and who would rather "throw their
weight around" and oppress the citizens than be a servant of the
people (Lk. 22:25-26). Prayers against such leaders are appropriate.
The prophet Samuel learned that if
he was to pray according to God's will, he could not pray for the success
of Saul, the first king of Israel. Saul's power had gone to his head and
he ignored God's way of doing things (1 Sam. 13:1-14;15:1-23). When the
Lord announced that He was no longer supporting Saul's rule, Samuel
prayed all night in anguish (15:11). From that point on, if Samuel was to
pray according to God's will, he could no longer pray for the success of
Saul's rule. Instead, he was to pray for and support Saul's replacement.
The psalms of David include many
prayers against those who perverted justice, opposed the king, or who
were in other ways working against God's purposes (55,59,69,79,109,137).
Jeremiah was told by God not to
pray for people who were hopelessly wicked (Jer. 7:16; 11:14). God had
decided to judge them, so praying for their well-being would have been
futile.
The key reason for praying against
those in government should be our concern for God's purposes and for what
is true, pure, right, and just. We can't presume to know what God will do
to wicked rulers, but we can pray that He would uphold His own honor and
that He would create an atmosphere where the truth about Christ can be
proclaimed (1 Tim. 2:1-4).
God listens when we pray. We have
the great promise that "if we ask anything according to His will, He
hears us" (1 Jn. 5:14). The activities of the governments are very
much a part of the spiritual battle that will one day be over when Christ
returns to set up His kingdom.
As we face the current world
situation, it is of paramount importance that we pray for our leaders in
government. We should pray for their God directed wisdom in all
decisions. We must always keep in mind that God is ultimately in control
of everything.
Curtis
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