Faces on Faith: Respect, prayer for those in authority
Religion and politics. They’re two topics we’re supposed to avoid in polite conversation, as well as two topics that we’re told not to mix. But what if our partisan rancor today suffers in part from an lack of religion in our politics?
The first Christians inhabited a very different political climate than ours. They lived under the rule of the Caesars. Whatever beefs Christians may have with, say, a Biden or a Trump, they would wisely pick our imperfect presidents over a Caesar any day. The Caesars were often corrupt and brutal and about as far as you could get from the example of Jesus.
So how did the early followers of Jesus deal with the emperor? The apostle Paul taught two things. First, he called Christians to submit: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1). Obviously that submission had its limits. The Christians refused to worship Caesar as god, and sometimes got thrown to the lions. But generally they sought to honor and submit to those in authority, even cruel, immoral, pagan emperors. They acknowledged God’s rule over the rulers. Even in a constitutional republic like ours, we can still show honor to those in authority, even when we use our rights to free speech and assembly to oppose things with which we disagree.
Second, Paul told Christians to pray for rulers: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Our current public discourse has trained us to rip and ridicule authority figures. But how often do we ask God to guide and help the leaders he has put in place? Prayer is powerful both because God is real and he answers prayer, and also because prayer changes our hearts.
I recently had the privilege of sitting next to Sanibel Mayor Mike Miller and his dear wife, Mary, at an event at our church. I was able to tell him that in our Sunday morning services we regularly pray for our leaders, including the city council. That felt really good. It’s easy to be frustrated with, say, a town government. And some frustrations are legitimate. But imagine if our first step was to adopt a posture of respect and spend time in prayer for those in authority!
Pastor Jeramie Rinne is the senior pastor at the Sanibel Community Church.