Whether you agree with them or not, pray for our leaders

The Apostle Paul pens a letter.

Yesterday our pastor’s message stemmed from Romans 13:1-7 (NIV) where the apostle Paul admonishes the faithful to accept the governmental rulers as those established by God. I have to say I take issue with this passage and the minister’s interpretation of it, which is, basically, why I am blogging about it today.

Although I am by no means a biblical scholar, I do know in my follower’s heart that a morally bankrupt government should not be honored and should never stand in victory over the children of God.

We also need to better digest this message by putting it into context, understanding that Paul’s letter to the Roman believers was penned during the era of the Caesars. An era where one of those hung on a cross and killed beside Jesus because he was a thief, yes, a thief – not a murderer or a rapist or a terrorist – a thief. Christians were likewise murdered for their beliefs. Have you ever read the story of Stephen, the first martyr for Christ? You can find his biography in the book of Acts, Chapters 6 and 7, and, specifically, his stoning in Chapter 7, Verses 54-60.

I believe that when Paul wrote about submitting to authorities he was not just writing about following the law of the land; he was writing about doing what is right in the eyes of God, not just in the eyes of man.

I, in no way, shape, form or fashion believe that Paul was saying we should condone killing an unborn child (the law of the land – Roe v. Wade) or accepting one of the most recent Supreme Court decisions – that anyone can marry anyone with no legal, or moral, recriminations.

Consider verse five, which reads – “[Therefore], it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.” My conscience has a real problem with both these law-of-the-land decisions. Does yours?

Now I ask you, how can any Christian, with a clear conscience, excuse such behavior as abortion or homosexual “marriage”? How can any Christian submit to any authority that not only allows these distasteful acts to happen, but actively supports them through healthcare laws and “spousal” privileges?

Peter, one of the original 12 disciples of Jesus, justifies the civil disobedience of Jesus’s chosen by telling the Sanhedrin, “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29 NIV)

Of course it is not up to us to judge those who would actively defy God’s law. We are to pray for them and reserve condemnation and judgment for God. As Jesus said, and was recorded in Luke 6:37 (NIV) “Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned…”

Even so, Paul did share Scripture’s purpose for correction of evil in 2 Timothy 3:16-17(NIV) where he wrote, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Mentally, I know God requires rulers to fairly govern the people he created and to support an avenue for proper justice for wrongdoers.

After all Paul did pen in verse three, “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 he will commend you.”

But I also know that God uses unfathomable circumstances to draw us closer to Him. Remember how the churches were filled after 9-11?

Many times in the Old Testament God allowed the forces of evil, the Egyptians, the Babylonians, the Assyrians – to name a few, to punish his chosen people. He did so for the sole purpose of forcing the Israelites to return to the God of Abraham, the God of their fathers, the One, the True, the only God of the universe.

Perhaps today’s ruling class is just like those idol worshipers of old; a class of evil so vile our only hope is in the God of the Bible?

As we sat in the sanctuary, my husband (co-author of this blog) and I were collectively shaking our heads at the inference that this government of ours was God-appointed.

In fact, Charlie expressed his doubts to the pastor after the service. Pastor told him that even if we disagree with the current leaders of our great nation, we still have to pray for them.

I’ll end today by agreeing with the direction pastor shared with my husband. And maybe even accepting the fact that this administration is God’s tool to bring us closer to Him.

Seems I have come full circle as I wrote this blog post this morning. Amazing! The Lord does work in mysterious ways, and by forcing me to dig further into the Scriptures, I now understand more clearly Rev. Andrew Manwarren’s Sunday morning message.

I know that we must pray for our leaders today and every single day. Paul directed this as well in his first letter to Timothy, 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV) “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

And now I am sharing this prayer (edited) from the A Spiritual Journey for Healing website…

A Prayer for Leaders in Your Life

Dear Heavenly Father,

I stop and think of those who are leaders in my life...
in my church…
in my home...
in my work...
in my country...
in the world...

Perhaps there is someone I find it hard to think of with love. 

I hand over to you any anger or fear I feel. In this moment, I send them love.

However I feel about them, in this moment, I see your love flowing through me to them. 

Dear God, I ask you to feed these people on your wisdom and your understanding,
for their good and for the good of all they serve.

Let them recognize and take the authority that is theirs to take, remembering that the authority bestowed on them is not of man but of God.

Thank you God for guiding them in your way every step of the way.

In Jesus name I pray,
Amen

And, may God bless each and every one of you every day in every way.

Time to reflect

How was your Mother’s Day?

Mine was extremely busy. Since we had spent Friday and Saturday traveling, Sunday became a day of work – not rest, as the Master intended, Genesis 2:2 (NIV) By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.

Now, because of that 10-hour work day, which included nine loads of laundry, baking cookies and cornbread, cooking dinner, writing and much, much more, I am typing away on my laptop, sitting on the couch with a heating pad on my aching back. When will I learn that I am no longer that 25-year-old, never-say-quit young woman? My husband says I need to rest today. Perhaps he is right, although I hate to admit it! Besides, the heating pad feels s-o-o-o-o good.

Anyway, this restful day has been a time of reflection for me and my plans for the future of the Retreat to Belief© ministry.

As I meditated on a plan of action for Retreat to Belief©, I considered a chance encounter at the Newberry United Methodist Women’s White Breakfast in April, an encounter which has been weighing heavily on my spirit. And now, on this day of reflection, I think this episode may have been God’s way of telling me how to spend this ministry to significantly glorify Him.

I believe the apostle Paul explained the Christian’s responsibility best when he penned in his first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 10, Verse 31 (NIV) So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. I would guess that Paul would have singled out writing as one of the ways to glorify our Creator. This former persecutor of Christians sure did enough writing in his time on this earth, didn’t he?

According to The American Journey of Biblical Theology, “Paul…is responsible for writing two thirds of our present New Testament, for which he is accredited for approximately fifty percent of the 27 extant letters; which equates to 13 letters (14, if Paul wrote Hebrews).”

Given this information about the make-up of the New Testament, Paul probably intended to specify writing in this passage, don’t you think?

As I researched Paul’s ministry, I came across this tidbit, which I am sure most of you know, but I’ll include it here for history’s sake if nothing else – Paul, a persecutor of Christians, Acts 9:4 (NIV)  [Saul/Paul] fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” started life as Saul of Tarsus, Acts 9:11 (NIV) The Lord told [Ananias], “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying,” and Acts 13:9a (NIV) Then Saul, who was also called Paul…

Anyway, I have seemingly gone off topic, but I believe this sidebar journey helps draw closure to my plans to expand this ministry in the form of a Bible study. I am currently in discussion with my former magazine editor in the hopes of working an understanding of just how to move forward with this Spirit-led idea.

As such, please pray for me as I begin this Jesus-following endeavor. As you are aware, the Bible says a lot about praying. One of my favorite passages comes from Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. {emphasis mine}

After all, Paul, who also penned Philippians, said in Chapter 4, Verse 13 (NKJV) wrote, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

And, I can do all things with His strength because, “With God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26b (NIV)

May the Lord above, Creator of all creatures big and small, bless you and keep you in His loving arms today and every day. Amen.

Just who can be against you?

Paul, the apostle of Jesus

The apostle Paul wrote in his epistle, Romans 8:31-39 (NIV)

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

I ask you, "If God is for you, who can be against you?"

 

Good question to ponder over the weekend...

 

My God bless you every day in every way. Amen!

Calm your comments

This post is about a sin I have been known to fall into, on more than one occasion. Perhaps you too are guilty of spouting off at an acquaintance or a family member, sometimes without provocation. Sometimes, it’s because you demand, in a loud or cruel voice, to make your opinions heard. Sometimes I speak before thinking – making a harsh comment when a gentle one would have made the point without the animosity showing through.  

 

God’s Word says this – A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word sirs up anger. Like yesterday, this passage is again from Proverbs. For me the Book of Proverbs is such a wealth of advice, it’s hard to leave. Find this lesson in Chapter 15:1 (NKJV). While you’re there, consider reading the entire chapter.

 

The New Testament has much to say about the way we talk to one another. In the Book of James, the author devotes several verses to “Taming the tongue.” Chapter 3:8-10 (NIV) admonishes all of us to calm our comments to others, “⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth came praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 

 

Paul calls on an Old Testament passage to make a point about the waywardness of the tongue. In Romans 3:13, the Apostle of Christ quotes, in part, Psalm 5:9 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit,” and Psalm 140:3 “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” These verses are just two Paul references when writing that no one is righteous.

How about it? Are you guilty of talking before you speak? Are you guilty of voicing harsh words when kind ones would work so much better? My granddaddy always used to say – “Cheryl Ann, you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” He was so right; not that I am in the business of catching flies, but the metaphor stands as written, echoing Proverbs 15:1.

 

Why not come along with me in my journey to fully relying on God, by following his advice here and in many other biblical passages. As with yesterday’s post, this one, if you follow its advice, is bound to make you feel happier and will ultimately serve to make others feel happy as well.

 

Maybe together we can strive for a pleasant, God-fearing, Bible-adhering attitude, one person at a time, one day at a time. How about it? Are you game? I hope so.

 

A careless word may kindle strife,

A cruel word may wreck a life;

A timely word may lessen stress,

A living word may heal and bless.  – Anon.

 

To end today’s post I depart from my regular closing, borrowing an appropriate prayer from Our Daily Bread’s David McCasland – Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. AMEN!