In Consideration of the Inauguration

Tomorrow Donald Trump will become the 45th President of the United States. Whatever our opinion of him or views about his policies, he will be our Commander-in-Chief.  Some have been counting down days until change for eight years long, others feel outright panic over the ushering in of a new regime. Either way we can agree we are very divided – even among Christians. One area we can find unity in though is to heed the words of Paul in his letter to Timothy.

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. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Clear instruction is given to pray for our leaders. You’ve likely heard this.  But, oh, how much easier it is to rant about them than to pray for them! It is hard enough to faithfully pray for people we know and like, but to beseech the Lord on behalf of leaders we “hate” how do we begin?

Looking back at this passage in context (as we should with all Scripture) will help us better understand why Paul writes what he does. Perhaps even it might enable us to embrace this call to pray.

At the beginning of Paul’s letter in chapter one, he warns against those who are proclaiming a false doctrine. And there seems to be a particular call against those who don’t “get” that we all need Christ’s goodness since we have all fallen short of God’s required law. No matter who we are, or what we’ve done, no sin is too big for God’s grace. Paul knows this.

Paul has experienced first-hand God’s transformative grace and he goes on by thanking God for judging him according to Jesus’ worth and work, not his own.  And then, here is: “…for this reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”

He can attest to God’s longsuffering; his life is a testimony to it.

So we need to ask: Why does Paul tell us this before urging us to pray for all people – for kings and all those in authority?

Answer: Because we must remember who we are!

All of God’s children are undeserving sinners who have received unconditional love and acceptance and immeasurable grace. Not because of anything we did to deserve it, but because of who Jesus is for us.

This should be humbling. We. Are. All. In. The. Same. Boat. Which means, we are as guilty of sin as everyone else. If we can’t see it, we are blinded by sinful pride. But when we do, it should change the way we think about those other sinners out there, including our leaders, and future president.

Therefore, we are told to pray. To pray for all people – not just those we like, who are like us, or who are trying hard to be “good.”  We pray for all with the hope of God’s enduring patience and grace, knowing that no one beyond his reach.

This means we pray for the salvation of those who don’t know Christ – that they would come to know God’s goodness to the guilty. But we are also told to pray for our leaders so that “we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified.”

To know Paul’s context is to realize he was writing this letter during the reign of an evil  emperor – a time when the persecution of Christians was escalating. A time when it was difficult to live as a believer, much like today. “Pray then,” Paul tells us, because they are in positions of influence and power with the opportunity to do good or ill.

So we pray with thanksgiving that God is ultimately in control. We pray with compassion because we know our own sin. We pray for grace when we put ourselves in our leaders’ shoes and see the enormous burden, pressure and temptations they face. We pray for the blessings of peace, unity, humility, and wise decision making. And we pray for God’s mercy and grace to abound in their lives, in our country and world.

Can we do this? By God’s grace in our own lives.

What a mysterious privilege that he brings us in to his plan to effect change through prayer. But like Paul, my guess is, it is “good and pleasing” in part because of the change in our own hearts when we humble ourselves before him to pray on behalf of others – no matter who they are.

God bless America.

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