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Doug's Weekly Words

Nov. 11th, 2008

In This E-mail
Doug's Weekly Reflection
Weekly Update
Preparing for Sunday
Shout Out
Prayers

Prayer and Politics-
The political theater is over and our culture can go back to whatever we were doing before election '08, except for the followers of Jesus.  Following Jesus means that we have some very specific ways that we engage in politics- Here are some important scriptures.

First off, we are reminded that the authority that Government has is from God.  We read in Romans 13:1 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God." 

Second off, we are encouraged to pray for our leaders, Paul writes in 1Tim. 2:1    "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,  2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity."  Notice Paul says nothing about praying for the leaders we agree with, just to pray for our leaders.  I have sought to pray regularly for our president for the last 20 years.  During those years there have been presidents that I did not agree with, or sometimes like, but I sought to faithfully pray for them and the decisions they would be making.

Thirdly, we are never to make light of any of our elected officials.  We are allowed to disagree with them, that is the great freedom of the first ammendment, but we are never to mock or make light of them.  Listen to this very convicting passage from Ecclesiastes 10:20, Eccl. 10:20a     "Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts, or curse the rich, even in your bedroom; "  Or we can catch the same truth from the New Testament from Acts 23:5,  "Do not speak evil of anyone who rules over you." Ouch- I need to be reminded of that one.

The election is over- and now the real work begins.  Let us strive to be people of integrity even when it comes to politics.  We are called to honor the authorities that God has instituted.  so let us honor and always remember that our citizenship is first to God's Kingdom, and our worship is only of the Almighty God who created the governments and authorities we are supposed to honor.

In His Authority,

Doug B.