Pastor's Ponderings, October 9, 2018

Don’t Forget To Pray For Our Country

All across the globe, we are hearing scary accounts of leaders doing horrible things to their citizenry while assuming the mantle of righteousness. Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has been accused of murdering those who oppose him. Turkey says Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist, was murdered inside of the Saudi consulate. President Paul Biya presides over Cameroon and has killed more than 400 people in more than a year. The Human Rights Watch indicates the Philippine president Duterte’s ‘Drug War’ has claimed over 12000 lives.  

It is safe to say that ungodly leadership has produced disastrous results. The Bible says that when righteous people are in authority, people rejoice and when evil rules, people mourn (Proverbs 29:2).  From this passage, it would seem that those who love God must participate in the political system.  They should run for office, support those who believe in Godly principles and make the effort to vote.  We should pray for those who are in authority that they would make right decisions (1 Timothy 2:1-2).  This is important because the Bible says that leaders are in the hands of God (Proverbs 21:1).

We live in a time when political discussions descend into shouting, reasonable differences of opinions transform into hate-filled screaming, and various factions appropriate the Name of Jesus to support ungodly beliefs.  The Bible says that people call evil words, actions, or beliefs good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).  To get a political advantage, leaders will lie, deceive and dissemble while God says that He hates liars (Proverbs 6:16, 17).  Many leaders have elevated lying to an art so that people no longer have confidence in their leadership.  Aesop says that liars will not be believed even when they sometimes tell the truth. 

Let us put our leaders on our prayer list as we exercise our rights as citizen to participate in our political system.  We must pray to God and ask how to help our world.  We are to act in authority because God calls us righteous and given us His unmerited favor through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).  During this election season, don’t forget to pray to God for our leadership, our country, and for quiet and peaceful lives under Him.

Proverbs 29:2
Amplified Bible (AMP)

2 When the righteous are in authority and become great, the people rejoice;

But when the wicked man rules, the people groan and sigh.

1 Timothy 2:1-2
New International Version (NIV)

1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 
2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Proverbs 21:1
New International Version (NIV)

21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.

Isaiah 5:20
New International Version (NIV)

20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

Proverbs 6:16, 17
New International Version (NIV)

16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:

17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

Romans 5:17
New International Version (NIV)

17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!