When I was a boy I had a dot-matrix printed image on my bedroom wall. I do not recall when or how I got it, but it was a two page long printout that had, in x’s and o’s a picture of John F. Kennedy together with a quote that I would have seen and read a thousand times during my elementary and middle school years: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” A patriot does things for his or her country. A citizen ought to himself be an active agent in accomplishing the work of maintaining civilization – law and order, charity and justice.
This is doubly true for the Christian.
Although it is imperative that we maintain an unqualified commitment to be first and foremost “citizens of heaven” (Philippians 3:20), we are also called to submit to our local governments (Romans 13) and we are commanded to pray for our local rulers. (1 Timothy 2)
There are two things about praying for your rulers that are important to note. In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, the Apostle Paul writes to Timothy:
“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, tat we might lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”
The first thing we should notice is that this is extremely important to Paul. When he writes to Timothy and gives him instructions on the public worship that Timothy is responsible for, the first thing he talks about is prayers for all – singling out and explicitly noting the necessity of prayer for ALL secular authorities. Isn’t it fascinating that in addressing the subject of worship he doesn’t first discuss the role of scripture reading, the length of the sermon, or the question of whether or not contemporary music can be sung? It is important that when we worship, we, as a matter of first importance, pray for all of our leaders.
Sadly, this has ceased to be characteristic of many churches that I have visited. During the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century, dozens of orders for worship (liturgies) were crafted by reformers and counter-reformers alike. Every such liturgy that I have ever read (and I have vast resources in that department!), included what John Calvin’s order for worship called the “Prayer for all Estates” – a prayer for all men, especially the secular authorities. Such prayer is a mark of New Testament worship. Do you participate in such prayers?
The second thing we should notice is that these two verses with their explicit command to pray for secular authority were written to Timothy when he was working in Ephesus (see 1 Timothy 1:3). Ephesus was as secular and pagan a city in the Roman Empire as any. It can scarcely be imagined that the “kings and all who are in high position” were either particularly godly or – more importantly, even interested in securing justice for the fledgling Christian community! In a very real sense, especially during times of persecution (which at times included torture and execution), the church was commanded to pray for her enemies. How very like Christ, who, from the cross prayed about his executioners: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34).
Dear Christian, whether you are Red or Blue – and whether Trump or Biden wins, you have a job to do on November 4th. Put aside this childish business of supposing that so-and-so is not your president. Whoever wins this election, your job is to pray for the president. Your commitment to this is not a measure of your affection for the winner on November 3rd, but of your obedience to the God who has given you salvation and called you to live a life that is increasingly out of step with the angry, partisan, and immature culture in which we live. Pray for your president on November 4th And on Inauguration Day, keep praying, whether it is the same man or not. This is one of the greatest things that you can do for your country.
Your Pastor,
Bob Bjerkaas
N.B. The banner is clipped from an uncredited work called “red and blue abstract” in the free art collection hosted by Getty Images online.
Thank you, Bob. Helpful as always.
Wise words, Bob.
Amen!