Political views shouldn’t affect respect for government

Next Monday, Feb. 17, is President’s Day. Officially, Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and George Washington’s birthday are in the month of February. As a child, I recall celebrating a school holiday for the birthday of each of these great presidents. Both Washington and Lincoln were not only great leaders, they were men of faith and their leadership was an expression of their faith and values.

Yet at times today, it seems that any mention of faith in a public forum is considered wrong, and sometimes offensive. How does a Christian live his or her faith as a citizen when the government is discouraging public professions of faith?

Actually, the Scriptures are full of examples of God’s people living as contributing citizens because of their relationship to God. When the country of Judah was captive in Babylon, God spoke to the people and encouraged them to work for the good of that country.

In Jeremiah 29: 4-7, it says: “This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: … seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

God called the people to pray for the country in which they were living.

Even though the Roman government was not run by Christians, Paul told the church in Rome that they owed the government respect because God has established government to provide order in society. “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. … Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

Christians are called to honor and submit to those in power.

Paul urged Pastor Timothy to lead the church in prayers for leaders, so that good leaders might lead to peaceful and quiet lives. “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — or kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

We pray for leaders so that, in the end, people may come to the knowledge of God’s truth and be saved.

Even though governments have historically persecuted churches, Christians are still called to pray for leaders to live as responsible citizens and to work for the good of the country in which they live. That doesn’t mean we have to agree with everything our country does, but in all honesty, my own life has had failure and missteps also. We support our leaders seeking God’s blessings for our home as children of God.

As a native-born American, I care about my country and I am going to do my best to make this the best place to live. As a Christian, a child of God, I believe that the best thing that could happen to my country is to follow the leadership of God and to work for justice and peace. I will work to influence my country in that direction, hoping that by my example of faith others might come to know the Lord of the universe and join me in my eternal home in heaven.

Jonathan Rockey is pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer. Contact him at jonrock53@mtaonline.net.

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