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Quote of the Day: Helping Politicians
“My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” — Paul the Apostle, Romans 10:1
Bunch of questions today, and some rambling: I wonder if I have the same desire for my fellow countrymen as Paul did for his. When was the last time I prayed for my countrymen as this passage says? Have I ever? And what about the rest of us? Do we sincerely pray for our fellow countrymen’s conversion? I confess to giving it occasional lip service.
But I’m thinking we are actually more likely to bad-mouth anybody that doesn’t agree with our politics: Certainly I tend to do that, at least for those seriously further to the Left. How often do I pray for Biden? Have to say I haven’t (not really, not earnestly, not confidently, not trustingly), but there you are.
Oh, but you say, some (all?) politicians are an exception. Really? What then do we do with 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (Pray for those in authority)? Or Proverbs 21:1 (The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will)? Reluctantly I need to acknowledge that our political leaders need prayer, no matter who they are and no matter the depravity of their heart. Why? Because they need salvation? Or is it that we might be able to live at peace in the land? I think both are true.
As Paul exhorted Timothy, Christians are called to pray for those in high positions. He said there “is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Did the omniscient God not know what He was doing? Is it possible to surprise Him? I know some here disagree, but I don’t think so!
Or maybe our out is that Biden is the nation’s judgment? Should we then use curses and epithets when those who have authority over us come to mind? (I don’t think that works.) Back to 1 Tim. 2? Wait, wait – what about the imprecatory psalms? I don’t know about that, but I do know G_d hasn’t given me direct, plenary authorization as he previously did (ex: Ezekiel 30.)
Certainly Ricochetti are strong on railing against the Democrats. One uncomfortable alternative is to live at peace with such folk. Heb. 12:14, in fact, tells us to pursue peace with everyone: Except, of course, the Woke and the FBI. I might not be so troubled if Romans 12:14-13:7 were somehow expunged from the Scriptures.
But here’s a fact: Frederick Douglass correctly observed that “One and God make a majority.” How does that fit with “one man, one vote”? Does that mean I ought to pray for Biden? Harris? And the haters of God who live next door to me? Even those perverts? I don’t think I’m ready for that – at least my heart isn’t ready.
By the way, I’ve never done this before so it may not work so well : I would like to recommend Mark Eckels’ post: https://ricochet.com/1446831/neighboring/
Published in Religion & Philosophy
I like the idea of helping neighbors much more than helping politicians, unless you mean helping the politicians to get out of the way. We can pray for the politicians to get out of the way.
I’m done with the Episcopal Church, but it was good that we always prayed for our elected leaders. I do miss the rituals of the Episcopal services, but the sermons were mostly Democratic politics. Sometimes the priest was actually railing against Trump from the pulpit!
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This post is part of the Quote of the Day group writing project at Ricochet. Please join us and signup here for May!
I don’t know how many times I heard while I was growing up, “two wrongs don’t make a right.”
We do regularly pray for the salvation of our fellow countrymen, our leaders, and, since we are in Germany, for the German federal government. This requires discipline, but our communities in the 24/7 prayer movement require it either explicitly or implicitly.
We could. Or we could pray for their salvation, or that we might just be allowed to peaceably live quiet lives. Or that they just die – I suppose that’s one way they could get out of the way!
I honor your sincere commitment. I’m trying but, well, it’s not easy.
That seems weird to me. Why not work to move them out? If we do that maybe we will get some help.
I am reminded that during Roman times, the priests in Jerusalem would offer sacrifices on behalf of Caesar. All other “belief systems” sacrificed to Caesar.
Not all: Some sacrificed themselves.
That scene from Fiddler on the Roof was exactly what came to my mind.
We can do both of these things: pray for bad leaders to be influenced by the Holy Spirit for the better or hindered in doing evil, and work to replace them. Or we can go the James Temple in Key Largo route and pray that the storm take them out, whatever damage it does to the rest of us. Sometimes, I admit, that is really tempting. It buys into the sin of despair a bit, but that, too, is a temptation.