Our Christian Duty

I know many of you were disappointed when Barack Obama won the presidential election. Some feel that he is too liberal in his thinking. This may be true. I’m not trying to defend his moral or ethical leanings. The only thing that I ask, and it is the same I asked when George Bush was elected president in 2000, is that we pray for our leaders, national and local. Prayer can make a difference.

Many, like myself, are concerned that President-Elect Obama might support laws that are pro-homosexual or pro-abortion. He has made statements to that effect. But I am convinced that is we pray for God’s divine influence on the lives of our leaders, they may find themselves doing things differently than they pledged.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 says, Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” God can move upon the hearts of men to do His will even though they believe they are doing their own (see also Rev. 17:17).

I pass on to you the same advice I gave to those who were not happy about George W. Bush’s election to the high office: Don’t complain about it, but pray for him. He is the president now. Christians have a responsibility to pray for those who are in leadership. Peter wrote to his flock, “13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good… 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” Romans 13:4 says rulers are God’s minister to us of good. So whether they be president, congressman, senator, governor, mayor, councilman, or school board representative, pray for God’s leadership in their lives. Also, pray for their families. Spouses can have greater impact than many lobbyist groups.

Praying for those in leadership is not only our civic duty, it is our Christian duty.