In my email Inbox this morning, I found two messages asking for prayer. One was a forwarded note focused on 2 Chronicles 7:14, and one was marked “urgent” from a lawyer who will be standing before the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics to defend traditional marriage. While any call to prayer is encouraging to see, both of these emails caused me to stop and ask myself, “Before I pray, what exactly am I petitioning the Lord for? What’s the goal of these prayers?” You can infer from the writers what they would like to see happen, but is that the same thing as what God would want to happen? After all, aren’t we all concerned that His will be done?
Deep questions for early in the day, I’ll admit, but worthy questions, I think. I don’t claim to have the answers, either, but I’m trying to wrestle with the content of my prayers for America – are they biblical? Are they motivated by the heart of God and His priorities? Again more questions. Sorry.
I just don’t want the prayer lives of followers of Christ in America to fall in the category of James 4:2, 3 – either failing to pray or praying with misguided motives.
Take the first message. It quotes a well-known verse: “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 will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). The rest of the note speaks of the “slippery slope” we’re on in America and our “corruption, greed, moral decay, and a steady move away from the things that made us great.” It’s a call to pray, yes, and even gives some reasons why we should pray, but I see no specific WHAT here. Forgiveness and healing are mentioned – a tremendous prayer based on this verse – but again, I still think we can do that with wrong motives and without a clear vision for what our role is beyond the prayer itself.
The second email has a more specific (and urgent) tone. The Coucil in the District of Columbia recently voted to recognize same-sex marriages from other states and a Referendum has been presented to block that law. The email is from the lawyer who will make the case for the proponents of the Referendum. He says, “I am sure you understand how difficult it is to defend this kind of Referendum. It is a huge political and legal challenge.” I can see the need for the prayer and for the blocking of the law, but I’m left wondering how many well-meaning Christians will consider that fight the end of their relationship with the D.C. Council?
Do you think Paul ever prayed 2 Chronicles 7:14 for his society? The passage is pointed to the people of God. He lived in a corrupt, greedy world that was decaying morally. Persecution of Christians was very present – much more brutal and violent than what we see in America. He may have, but we don’t have to speculate on what Paul’s goal was when praying for his government:
1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 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. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
This isn’t just a call to pray for leaders without specificity. The motivation and results are clear. Pray for leaders to get saved. Pray for them to grow in knowing God and His will (“knowledge of the truth”). How will that happen? Well it needs to be part of the Church’s mission – we need to go to them, not with placards of protest but with spiritual care. Speak the truth of God’s Word into thier lives with Bible studies and one-on-one meetings. Pray for their hearts to be opened to the gospel. For believing lawmakers, encourage them in their walk not to compromise God’s principles found in Scripture.
If that approach sounds passive or not militant enough, consider this: there is no more urgent message and it’s the mandate left to the Church by the Lord himself. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19, 20). We decry where we are as a nation now, but where would we be if we had been doing this all along with our government officials in office or before they got to office?
Prayers for leaders are required of God’s people. They are non-negotiable. But they must be underpinned with a motivation to see God glorified, not just save our land for our children. And the goal must not be just a change in laws, but in the hearts of lawmakers.
Rotunda Reflections 
June 5, 2009 at 3:58 pm
“motivation to see God glorified”
I can think of many instances, in the Old Testament specifically, where men of God went before Kings and government leaders. From the perspective those events are recounted, the goal was to point the leaders towards Christ. Changed laws without changed hearts is a very short term solution and most certainly not living to advance the Kingdom of God.
June 5, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Thanks for your thoughts, Dave. To address your last paragraph, I think you make a great argument for the need for efforts like Capitol Ministries. The “quiet and peaceable life” isn’t a guarantee, but we should do the right thing on our end at least (Romans 12:18 – “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”). As for the “bully”, why would we expect a different result? “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Corinthians 2:14). That’s why Capitol Ministries exists – to confront with truth, but with a heart-centered goal not just an outward moralizing to get a mere political result.
June 5, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Oops!! I responded under the wrong subject. I got carried away reading and went too far before I replied to this subject… So here’s the reply in the right place:
Wow Brent. Good stuff. This is one that I have wrestled with for years. I came to the conclusion that what Christ taught the disciples and what they in turn showed the rest of the world is that you don’t overthrow Rome. We were not instructed to overthrow the government and it’s systems, but rather to obey the laws of the land.
The mission is to get into the hearts of people. You cannot legislate righteousness. You cannot make anybody choose to follow Christ. Nor can you cause anyone to choose morality for that matter. No, we are told to preach the gospel – to show people who Jesus is and why He came. And as in Paul’s day, we strive to see change in our land because their was a change in the hearts of the people living and ruling in the land. As in Paul’s conversation with those who ruled:
“Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.”
Paul’s example is a beautiful testament to Christ.
But that land was under the rule of Caesar. So then, where does that leave us? We live in a land that allows us all to partake of the legislative process. So, I believe we, as stewards, do our part in voting for and working towards morality that honors God. And delivering the message of the cross to all people – including those who make and enact our laws – which is the wonderful thing that you are doing!! And praying for the hearts of people to come to Christ, not because we want a pristine place to live in, but rather because we honestly care for the souls of a world dying around us. But knowing also that even if those moralities aren’t accepted by the nation, we still have the goal and obligation of living them out individually. Because we were saved by faith unto good works. And we live out of thankfulness to the One who loves us more than anything.
If the world falls around me into chaos and decay, will I still stand in my faith?? God has promised me that He has me. I am His and it is He that sustains me – not the world.
Peace this day. And thank you for all that you do, Brent.
Tim
June 5, 2009 at 4:12 pm
My immediate reaction (and it is just that – a reaction) is “Duh!…we must pray that they make Godly decisions regarding the laws they support, endorse or pass.” As though God will simply zap them into making the right decisions, regardless of their values or beliefs.
This is MUCH simpler than discipling these current believers in leadership or presenting Christ to those non-believers. But He “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” So we must be more diligent in not only praying but in how we pray, and perhaps we should actually get up and DO something!
Thanx for the reminder; timely, but rather convicting.
June 5, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Well, before selecting a position and making a specific request, start with Adoration – use the acronym A-C-T-S [Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication (petition and intercession)]. Then confess sin – our own and that around us (see Nehemiah 1:5-7, then read the entire chapter).
By the time we get through confessing our own lack of prayer, weakness in prayer, and wimpiness in the spiritual battle, the gravity of the sins around us and affecting us will prompt us (1) to recall God’s promises and (2) to ask Him to perform them (see James 5:17 where Elijah simply asked God to do what He had said He would do in the case of such sin). And if it doesn’t seem like your prayers are being answered, add intensity (pray fervently).
When Paul was “an ambassador in chains” he requested prayer that he might boldly speak the gospel (see Colossians 4:2-4). Clearly, that is why God allowed him to be a captive. Don’t forget that Paul persecuted Christians before he became a Christian himself, so he was very familiar with both civil and religious governments and the process that they used. He expected he would have an opportunity to speak and he asked prayer for that event. It might cost him his freedom or his life.
You quoted but didn’t elaborate on I Timothy 2:2b, “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” This goal is being attacked by strategies and tactics that are strong and clever. Remember the old TV westerns where some of the gang started a fight at the saloon while the other part of the gang robbed the bank at the other end of town as soon as the sheriff went to the saloon? Had a discussion lately about the difference between “right” and “legal?” Noticed that the word you once used to state your position now has a totally different meaning – so it sounds to some like your position has changed? The old playground “bully” has simply grown up, gotten much smarter and a lot richer — and he’s still not playing by the rules.
June 5, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Another great passage is Col. 1:9-12!
As to the group that has gotten so ‘militant’ in recent years, I often think that hetero people, usually not Christian, harassed them & made them draw together for support, much like persecution of the church does.
Then I think that Christians, instead of lovingly befriending & evangelizing them, tried to discuss why they were wrong & that they needed to change. That may work for some, but it doesn’t work for GLBTs & Muslims. Bringing the person to Christ &/or the studying of the Scriptures will accomplish more than our human efforts to convince them against their will.
June is “Pride Month” and a wonderful opportunity for extra prayer for their slavation. I may be meeting more of this demographic later this month & would love your prayers for wisdom, discernment, & some way to bring them closer to accepting the Lord!
June 6, 2009 at 10:42 am
RIGHT ON BRENT. WE MISS THE WHOLE POINT AND THAT IS TO GLORIFY GOD IN ALL WE DO. I’M SURE THESE INDIVIDUALS DO KNOW THE LORD AND HAVE A RIGHT TO ASK FOR PRAYER ON THE VARIOUS SUBJECTS. WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO WANT TO PLEASE ALL THAT WE COME IN CONTACT WITH IN THE WORLD AND WILL SOMETIMES BEND IN OUR DECISIONS. WE NEED TO SEE PEOPLE COME TO KNOW THE LORD AND BEGIN TO GROW AND THEN WATCH AND SEE WHAT HE WILL DO IN OUR LIVES. THE I AM FOR JESUS IS USUALLY THE I AM FOR MOST OF US. HE IS THE I AM AND THE ONLY ONE TO BE GLORIFIED. HE WILL WIN IN THE END. EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT HE IS LORD.
June 6, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Pastor Brent,
Thanks for the email, and thanks for asking for a reply. I think you answered your own question. A couple thoughts (probably not in order) for what it’s worth. We need to pray for each other to be willing to be used by God for His glory, not ours (walk in The Spirit). We could pray that the Holy Spirit would work in individual’s lives as we need to realize who He’s dealing with (His Word is foolishness to those that are perishing); that leaders would come to realize that God is the One in control; that believing leaders would rely on Him and others would see their good works and glorify Him. I know sometimes I’m guilty of trying to tell God how and when to answer my prayers. I need to realize that my prayers get answered by Him in His time.
Buck