Leaders

             Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. (Romans 13:1-5)

 

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. (Luke 6:27-29)

 

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. (II Chronicles 7:13-15)

 

This morning, Biblegateway.com gave us another big, difficult gratitude topic. True, the passage doesn’t specifically say to be thankful for the governing authorities, but it says that there is no authority except that which God has established. And should we not thank Him for it? Please keep in mind that I don’t think the current administration is leading us in a healthy direction. I would prefer a different leadership team, and I am expressing that preference more mildly than I feel it. Quite apart from my feelings and preferences, Romans 13 makes it clear that I am to submit to the authority of the government even if I think it wrong.

Now, a quick digression on the subject of civil disobedience. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. discussed this idea of submitting to a wrong authority. He said that the civilly disobedient were to be civilly disobedient, but when the authority came to arrest, or to abuse their authority, the civilly disobedient were to submit – be arrested, pay fines, remain in jail, or even be assaulted or killed. Being subject to authority doesn’t mean saying that anything the authority does is right. It means accepting the consequences of our behavior even if those consequences are wrong and even while proclaiming that they are wrong.

Back to submission and thankfulness. Romans 13 makes it clear that God puts the authority in authority. We may think we elect our president, but God is still in control and we are commanded to submit. Grated, our nation has a much more participatory governing system than ancient lands tended to, but for the past nine years, we have watched as those who reject God installed a leader we didn’t like, and we fought against him. Then, God installed a leader those who reject God didn’t approve, and their anger knew few bounds. And when God installed another  leader we don’t like, instead of running to God and praying for our enemies, and submitting to authority, we have acted very like those who reject God – meaning that we have rejected Him.

So if we would see ourselves saved (not in the sense of salvation, but in the temporal sense) and if we would see our nation saved, we need to submit to God, and follow His procedures in the matter, just as Jesus did. We must submit to their authority – never agreeing that it is right. We must pray for those in authority.

We must humble ourselves,

We must pray,

We must turn from our wicked ways,

We must seek His face (not our way)

And, I strongly suggest that we must work in the way that Jesus has taught us to work – not forcing our wills on those who don’t agree with us, but by living lives and doing work that leads to influence (not power), by telling our story, by witnessing against what is evil and for what is good in a manner that is convincing, and by living according to what the Word says even when it is not what we want and not easy.

And with that all in mind…

Lord, thank You for President Biden, Vice President Harris, Speaker of the House Pelosi, Senate Chairman Schumer, and all others in authority. I lift them up to You, asking first for their salvation, sanctification, and safety, and then for their wisdom. Solomon said rightly that the king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord. So, Lord, turn their hearts as You please.

You promised Israel that when things were not as they should be, if they humbled themselves and prayed, and sought Your face and turned from their wicked ways, you would heal their land. Lord, I know that our “land” is primarily our souls, and I ask You to heal our souls. I also you also to heal the land called America as we humble ourselves and pray, and seek Your face, and turn from our wicked ways. Teach us that You are our King, and that when things are not as they should, that our appeals should be made to You and not to evilly raise our fists against the one who have set over us. Help us, instead, to bear witness to You, and to live a life that reveals You to those who walk in darkness.