What should
Christians do for their political leaders?
With the recent elections in the United States, a new
president
and
political party is in power. Barack Obama and the Democratic party received a clear majority of the votes in the recent elections. What is the Christian’s responsibility related to their worldly political leaders? In John 3:16, Jesus said: "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my servants would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But for now my kingdom is not from here." Also Ephesians 6:12 portrays the rulers of the world very negatively: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. These verses imply that
Christians are in this world, not of this world.
But does that mean that Christians should have little to do with politics? Certainly not. God is involved with worldly events and rules over nations: Psalms 7:8: “The Lord judges the nations” and Ps 9:19 “… may the nations be judged in your presence”. Also, while Christians may not be of this world, they are in this world and have a responsibility to be good stewards: Ps 24:1: "The Earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it". Also, we are instructed by God to rule over the earth: Gen 1:28: “God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it!...”
We are to be involved in the ruling management of this world. How can an average Christian comply with God’s biblical instructions and be a good steward of the political process? According to 1 Timothy 2:1 – 3: “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” Timothy, tells us that we are to pray for our leaders. Pray that God gives them the wisdom, discernment and strength to lead the nation toward the right path and make the correct decisions in all issues facing them. What Timothy does not say is that we are to pray only for the leaders we agree with. He says pray for all who are in authority, from the president of the school board to the president of the United States.
While Christians have a kingdom not of this world, we are still to be good stewards and at some level, that means to be involved in the political process. Whether that means joining local boards, voting, or writing letters to political leaders, we are to be involved. But most certainly, the most important thing we are to do as Christians is to pray for the leaders and the nation, that God uses his divine power to move this country in a path that will lead it closer to God.
Mark Askeda