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Current News, the United States & . . . Prayer?

Current News, the United States & . . . Prayer?

Last updated on: January 13, 2020 at 9:00 am by Rev. Jared V. Ingle

Current News, the United States & . . . Prayer? 2020-01-13T08:54:22-05:00 Rev. Jared V. Ingle

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With the holiday season coming to a close, the long awaited political engine begins to hum again in the United States. What’s in the news at any current moment could be vastly different than the moment before.

At this particular moment, it is possible that this is the week when Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will deliver the articles of impeachment for President Donald Trump to the Senate. We’ll see if that is still headline news by the end of the week, or if the NFL Conference Championship is. There’s always a fine line between the popularity of political news and sports coverage.

Hannah Skelly | white concrete dome building | 06.19.19 | unsplash.com

Current News the United States & . . . Prayer?

Before diving into this particular piece, I would just like to make it clear that I’m not necessarily taking a political stand for any particular person. I’m offering Biblical perspective about what should guide our attitudes and prayers for all who are in leadership positions.

I must warn you that if you’re used to my other writings and sermons, this is not a hermeneutical or Theological treatise. I’m not sure if any of my works are for that matter. This is more of a reflection in the middle of the tumultuous times we face.

Paul’s first letter to Timothy

I recently read through 1 Timothy and found a passage I’m familiar with. There are plenty of other passages like it in the New Testament (NT). These are passages that instruct us to obey and pray for our leaders. These are also passages that are impossible to avoid.

If you stop and think about it, NT Scripture is written to Christians who live in the Roman Empire. Their government is not nearly as cooperative with the Primitive Church as our current government is with us.

So if Christians in the Primitive Church can pray for and obey their leaders, then what’s our excuse?

This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. – 1 Timothy 1.3-4, NRSV

I think we often quote Texts like verse 4 out of context

I want to start with this because we may have all heard that God wants everyone to be saved. However, do we know who Paul is referencing?

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. – 1 Timothy 1.1-2

I’m really studying evangelism on my own right now, but I have to admit that I’m not thinking of large stadiums packed with people who need Jesus at an evangelistic event.

I’m thinking about the office of my local statesman, because that’s the context.

Verses 3-4 apply directly to verses 1-2. God desires our leaders to be saved, no matter how rascally some of them may seem.

Can we pray to that end?

It’s easy to pray for good leaders, and even easier to pray for openly Christian leaders.

It’s a little more difficult to pray for “Christian” leaders who may not be living up to our standards.

What about those leaders who oppose the faith, who put Christians on their naughty list, who pass legislation that protects every special interest group . . . except for Christians?

Can we pray for those leaders?

Can I pray for that leader’s salvation?

A brief vignette

I remember talking at length with a parishioner who totally dismissed this Scripture, and others like it. I was shocked because this person was a very outspoken, conservative, political voice in our congregation. This person even worked in the public square.

How do you dismiss a Scripture that commands us to pray for our leaders?

This person believed that in America, the highest form of government is the Constitution of the United States and our founding documents, not any particular leader. So, naturally we don’t have to pray for any one person as a leader.

Although I found the argument intriguing, and I could not disagree that we are ultimately answerable to the Constitution of the United States rather than to a single person . . .

I still feel like it was a well-fashioned Christian cop-out!

I spent a lot of time that day making a case for praying for actual people in leadership roles. This Scripture says, “everyone . . . kings . . . all who are in high positions.” As I’ve stated, this isn’t the only Scripture like this in the NT.

Nonetheless, how do you dialogue with someone whose mind is already made up?

Please don’t let your political position pre-empt your Biblical interpretation.

To this day, I wonder if that person has ever given our conversation a second thought. I wonder if that person has ever . . . ever . . . prayed for the salvation of any political leader from the opposite political party.

What about us?

Are we praying fervently for everlasting life, and God’s good rewards, for Speaker Pelosi and for President Trump?

As Christians can we afford to allow two colors – red or blue – to color our prayers?

Your vote is just that . . . a vote.

I still believe that by your vote you can affect great change in the United States. We live in an amazing country, but we are also dual-citizens of an ancient and abiding Kingdom.

Greater than the way you vote for our leaders . . . is the way you pray for them.

For the record, I’m not saying don’t vote. Our vote is one of the greatest privileges we enjoy in the United States. Please vote and allow your Christian values to guide your vote, instead of the latest political winds! However, your vote simply cannot compare to your committed, ongoing prayers for your leaders.

In the end, your vote won’t save their souls, but who knows what your prayers may do?

You are called to “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings” . . . for them!

Rev. Jared Ingle
Pastor: Long Lake Friends Church
Supervised Therapist: individuals, couples, and families
Traverse City, MI

JC Ingle, Inc.

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