You woke up on November 5th and you weren’t very happy with your newly elected official (insert whoever YOU voted for if he wasn’t the guy the rest of the free world chose) that the majority of the People elected to lead our great country. What happens now? Do you rant and rave about how ignorant those other folks were? Do you let fear and worry set in about what might happen to your future, or your children’s future? We might be tempted to lean in that direction but if we are smart then we will dig into the Word of God and let Him be our guide.
The first thing you have to remember is that God is always in control. Men who run a race sometimes… OK, quite often… do it out of selfish ambition, but they are not in control. They are not the end all and be all of our society and our own election process proves that they can, and will, be replaced a short span of years from now. As a matter of fact, one does not have to search the scripture very far to find Words of assurance for that very fact.
Daniel 2:20 Daniel answered, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever! For wisdom and might are His! 21 He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding!
Proverbs 21:1 The King’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as are the watercourses; He turns it whichever way He wills.
Romans 13:1 Let every person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by His permission, His sanction], and those that exist do so by God’s appointment.
To make sure we understand who is in control, God repeats it to us in His Word over and over again. One such passage of scripture is Daniel 4. The phrase “until you learn and know and recognize that the Most High [God] rules the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whomever He will” is a continual reminder to King Nebuchadnezzar, as well as us. That same phrase is repeated at least three times in the fourth chapter of Daniel. That means you need to PAY ATTENTION to what it says because it is important!!
The second thing you must remember is that even if you don’t like the newly elected official and you didn’t vote for him, we are still under the One Great Authority and commanded by Him in the appropriate reactions we have towards our leaders.
Romans 13 does not just stop at verse 1. The rest of the passage, through verse 7, gives us specifics about our duties, and what our punishment will be if we don’t follow God’s commandments:
Therefore he who resists and sets himself up against the authorities resists what God has appointed and arranged [in divine order]. And those who resist will bring down judgment upon themselves [receiving the penalty due them]. For civil authorities are not a terror to [people of] good conduct, but to [those of] bad behavior. Would you have no dread of him who is in authority? Then do what is right and you will receive his approval and commendation. For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, [you should dread him and] be afraid, for he does not bear and wear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant to execute His wrath (punishment, vengeance) on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God’s wrath and escape punishment, but also as a matter of principle and for the sake of conscience. For this same reason you pay taxes, for [the civil authorities] are official servants under God, devoting themselves to attending to this very service. Render to all men their dues. [Pay] taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, and honor to whom honor is due.
You know, honestly, it is pretty easy to pray for a President elect, or other governing official, that you voted for and who stood for the same things openly that you stand for. It’s a little tougher to pray for someone whom you’ve already deemed “unlikeable” or “ungodly” because of his opposing public stance on issues that are important to you. The Truth is that if you don’t pray for our leaders, and you don’t follow the guidelines for us set out in Romans 13, then you are telling God that He is a failure and doesn’t know what He is doing. The Truth is that these men and women are servants ordained by God and by His choosing. The Truth is that we are subject to God and his chosen leaders. However, our true judgment for disobedience in following God’s Word does not come from these civil authorities (though it may for a time) but from God Himself. We must render to all men their dues: taxes (render unto Caesar’s that which is Caesar’s), revenue (pay shop owners what is due them), respect (reverence for our superiors), and honor ( respect for their position of distinction).
I’m writing this article before November 4th and I don’t yet know who will be elected to the office of President. The thought of it all can be a little scary to dwell on but I know what I am commanded to do and I know from Whom my help comes from. I opened my Bible this morning to Psalm 121 because I knew I needed this timely reminder. It is one of which perhaps we can all use:
I will lift up my eyes to the hills [around Jerusalem, to sacred Mount Zion and Mount Moriah]–From whence shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip or to be moved;
He Who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand [the side not carrying a shield].
The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
The duties of Every Christian includes praying for those in authority.
We must pray that they will surround themselves with good counsel, and make good moral decisions, which will lead our nation back to God.
Romans 13 says to resist them is to resist God, and that they are God’s
Ministers.
Yes, sir, we must pray for them… Perhaps, even, pray as we never have before!!
God bless,
Sallie
Sallies last blog post..Great November Giveaway — Week #1
Justin Taylor made a point that we should be thankful for Obama. Thankful as a person, I agree 2 Timothy(maybe 1st) says to be thankful for everyone, but JT said it in the context of Obama being elected president. I strongly disagree. We should be thankful for the man that God made in his own image, Obama, but we should not be thankful that he is our leader.
Why? Because we would not be thankful if Hitler was elected president and we shouldn’t be. Some people tell me that I am making quite the stretch, but I strongly disagree. If abortion truly is murder, which it is, then abortion is by far the worst genocide in the history of mankind and we just elected a president who supports this genocide.
I am not saying we shouldn’t be submissive and I do think we are commanded to pray for him. But thankful? Biblically? No way… God is Sovereign… and I am still praying for the end of abortion.
Matt Svobodas last blog post..Top 10 Quarterbacks In College Football
Dear Matt,
Paul instructs us ”In everything gives thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
A Southern Baptist voice of reason! I have been getting my kicks by reading Southern Baptist blogs the past few days.
I have always felt that
Southern Baptists were the most intolerant and bigoted group of people. I grew up Southern Baptist and my father is a deacon and my brother intends to become a preacher. I cannot say that they are any different although my brother is edging toward sanity.
Does the Bible not teach that it is wrong to judge a man? Is is not wrong to judge a man who proclaims himself a Christian just because he is black and has a funny name or does not believe exactly as you do. Who gives the authority to make these judgments? Has the Lord made an exception for the Evangelicals? Does he endorse the preaching of judgment and hate in the House of the Lord?
Stop the thumping of your Bibles and open and read the words inside. It will be a new experience for many Southern Baptists but I suggest you live by the words you claim to live by. If you do not, you are simply a pathetic hypocrite.
The actions on the Baylor campus and the words of hate being spewed by the self righteous false prophets are an embarrasment to yourselves and your religion.
Could it be that God might have chosen Obama? He certainly seems a man of destiny. Perhaps the righteous Baptists are too blinded by their own special right to judge to be able to see the true will of God!!!
No that is impossible isn`t it.
The Bible says ”He that is spiritual judgeth all things, but he himself is judged of no man.”
We judge their fruits, for by their fruits they are known.
The phrase ”Judge not that ye be not judged”, means don’t make hasty judgments about one’s motives. We can’t see into their hearts.
HOWEVER JESUS ALSO SAID, ”BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM.”
Matt,
The passage JT referred to is 1 Timothy 2:1-2: “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.”
It’s hard to see how you can read “thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions” and not give thanks for the authority God has established. “For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1b).
That may be hard to swallow, but it’s pretty clear.
Barry Wallaces last blog post..Pray for Barak Obama (Part 2)
Thanks everyone for your comments.
Matt, We do not know why President Elect Obama was put in place, and many people I’m sure look at is as a judgement. The truth is we should pray for him no matter what, and be thankful that God is in control. We can also be thankful that perhaps it will be a wakeup call to millions of Christians in our land that we must turn our hearts back towards God.
I think of the Israelite children who were slaves for so long. They had become happy in their slavery.. at least they had roofs over their heads, and food to eat… never mind that their sons were killed, and they were worked to death in many cases, etc.. We have become happy in our slavery as well I think and we need to pray and be watchful for a man of God that we can follow. If Obama as a president only makes us seek God more closely, then for that reason alone we can be thankful.
Russ, I’m sorry that you have such a bad taste in your mouth regarding Southern Baptists. But, like any group of people you find, you won’t find that everyone is the group is appealling to you. Rick Warren says some people just need a little more EGR — extra grace required
Matthew 22:36-40 (Amplified Bible)
36Teacher, which kind of commandment is great and important (the principal kind) in the Law? [Some commandments are light--which are heavy?]
37And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect).
38This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment.
39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.
40These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.
Men of destiny are not always great men of destiny. But, we do not know the heart of a man, only God truly knows that. Our commands are simple: love your neighbor as yourself, and obey those in authority over you. That means all men, not just the ones we’re happy with.
By the same token, I hope you also honor your faher, as the Bible commands that as well. You may not agree with him on many of his stances, but honor is due him none the less.
God bless,
Sallie
Sallies last blog post..The Courtship Path
Dear Sallie,
Your last post was a gem of wisdom. I am praying for Matt and Russ, that The Spirit of God will speak to their hearts, and lead them in the right path.
I praise The Lord and thank Him that your obedience unto Him is reaching far and near.
Yours by Divine Grace,
Dr. Paul W. Foltz
Philippians 3;10
I think God has allowed Obama to be elected for a reason, a reason which we obviously don’t know yet.
You know what, I truly hope that he does something good for the country !
I think it’s good in a way because it’s (always) interesting to me how people think they can “pray in” whomever THEY want.
The thing is everybody is praying (or wishing or hoping) for who they want.
I don’t think prayer is meant to be used as a “wish list” to God. A lot of Christians seem to believe that our prayers can be used in the way WE want to use them.
From my own personal experiences with prayer, we can pray and believe that our prayers will come true, but when it doesn’t then what does that mean ?
Does it mean that we don’t have faith ?
Rather then praying for what WE want and OUR convictions (even if they’re Biblical) maybe we should pray for His will to be done.
This election is a perfect example of that, in my opinion
I’m not saying prayer “doesn’t work” I just think that prayer (in alot of instances) has become something that isn’t what prayer was ever meant to be.
Just my two cents.
Deborahs last blog post..
Thanks to everyone although I must say your responses are pretty non-sensical. But they make sense to you, I guess. Indeed not all men of destiny are always great. We have GW to show for that who fell far short. We can hope Obama will be better and the chances are pretty good.
Sallie
I was not happy about the outcome of the election. However, we should be thankful that we live in a country where we have the freedom to vote and disagree with one another. Thanks for this encouraging post.
Joe Blackmons last blog post..Best of—Psalm 23:3a The Shepherd as Savior
Dr. Foltz, Thank you!
Russ, I don’t want this post to turn into a “who’s good and who’s bad as our leaders” on the comments as that wasn’t my point in the original article.
However, as a Marine wife, I respectfully disagree with you in regards to President Bush. My husband is a Marine. He deployed within 3 weeks of September 11th happening and he has deployed twice to the Gulf region since then. He has no regrets because he has seen the good being wrought in the places we are at, whether the news chooses to report it or not. IF President Elect Obama turns out to be half the Commander in Chief that President Bush is, then he will be a great leader in deed.
That being said, though, as long as we only ever look to mere men as our hope, they will fail us. Only God can bring real change, and it is through the hearts of the people seeking His face and His will.
Joe, I too was not happy with the outcome of the election BUT I know we serve a mighty God and He is in control. I am very thankful for the freedoms we have as well
In Christ,
Sallie
Sallies last blog post..Marine Corps Birthday Ball November 7, 2008
You are most welcomed, Sister Sallie.
Sallie,
Thanks again, as always, for your thoughtful posts, and Christ-like attitude when others disagree. The Lord bless you.
Barry Wallaces last blog post..Treasuring God’s Word
Looking back over the election, God has given America What She wants.
God often punishes Sin with Sin.
Because of the murder of innocent children and the advocating of Homosexual lifestyle, God has given our land over to a reprobate mind.
His Judgment and Wrath are about to fall.
Christians need to wake up, and smell the coffee.
Our Lord will soon come for us, as He has promised to keep His Church from ”The Hour of Temptation.”
I think it is important to realize that God gives man free will to make his or her own decisions. This is how Barack Obama has been elected. I don’t believe that God made Obama President. I also know that God can use even the sinner to bless the believers. Just as Zaccheus (a sinner who oppressed the poor) followed Jesus, so can a miracle take place with Obama. Just as Saul was converted on the road to Damascus, so can Obama come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. If we have nothing else, we have the hope that is within us. Jesus Christ is our blessed hope. We must pray for Barack Obama as commanded in scripture and love him as well. I have always found it hard to hate someone if I earnestly pray for them. I worked hard to elect John McCain, but it didn’t happen. Now instead of complaining, I will pray for Obama and work hard to let my legislators know how I feel on every bill coming up for vote that may impact Christian values and the family as defined by scripture. We cannot let Satan take over. We must be the voice of Christ here on earth and proclaim His truths loudly. If we don’t we are guilty of complicity. I need to know I did all I could to further the cause of Jesus Christ while on this earth. Prayer is a labor, but a labor of love. We must labor for Christ!
Grace and peace,
Wendy Pitcher
Hi again Sally,
Yes, we do disagree and I do not wish to engage in a right-wrong debate either. I know many Christians support GW because he is a evangelical like yourself and believe he is pursuing a righteous cause. However, it is difficult to consider our cause too righteous when we have killed thousands upon thousands of civilian Iraqis who were just living another day of their lives.
In addition, we have produced several 911s with the death of many of our American servicemen like your husband who has been fortunate enough to avoid that fate and that does not even count the vastly larger number which have been crippled for life with devastating injuries. I find it difficult to believe that we have made ourselves safer in this process or that we have netted a savings of any American lives. As a result, I cannot consider him to be anything other than a failure as Commander in Chief.
In many ways we have acted just like the terrorists we fight against although we always refuse to see our own faults because we wave the flag and chant God Bless America thinking He is always on our side.
I appreciate everyone for choosing to support Obama and hope that in time some of the more bigoted among us will come to as well.
Dear Brother Ammons,
If Israel had obeyed God and wiped them out in the Old TAESTAMENT ERA, WE WOULDN’T BE FIGHTING THEM TODAY. gOD TOLD iSRAEL TO WIPE OUT ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND, UPON ENTERING IT,
We have A GOD OF WAR, not some namby pambymake believe God. He is The Lord of Hosts [Armies]-Jehovah Saboath-Hallelujah…..
Dr. Foltz:
Now Dr. Foltz you are getting carried away with yourself. And I thought you had some common sense.
RUSS,
Your sarcastic remarks are worthless.
It has to be ”Thus saith The Lord.”
Many Problems would have been solved, if Israel had obeyed God.
And many of your views would change if you went by the Scriptures.
The Bible is to judge us, not we, The Bible.
As I look back at your comments, I realize that I actually hadn’t read them and was giving you much of the credit which I was giving Sallie. As I read your words now, I see that you are a true old school SBCer. Like you, I find your words worthless.
I now depart the echo chamber.
As an old Presbyterian once said: Faith is believing in something you know ain’t true — Mark Twain.
RUSS,
The laugh is on you. I am an independent Sovereign Grace Baptist Preacher, and am not and never have been a member of The Southern Baptist Convention.
Sorry about that. You’d fit right in.
no, I WOULD NOT. I believe in Divine Election, Holy Spirit Regeneration, no altar calls. Besides the Founders movement which professes to hold to
The Doctrines of Grace, is cold, dead intellectualism with no heart or love, either for the lost, or for those disagreeing with them.
I apologize again. It was very Baptist of me to make such a sweeping charge. But I come by it natural. That’s how I was raised. I’m from Texas, and in Texas, you ain’t Baptist if you ain’t Southern Baptist.
Dear Brother Russ,
Your Apology is accepted. At times we all become narrow-minded, thinking our group is the only group, contending for the truth. I am finding dear brethren in both the Independent and Southern Baptists, Who hold to the Doctrines of Grace.
But how tragic it is that we shut ourselves off from one another.
That’s why for along time I have been saying we need a new Sovereign Grace Fellowship of Baptists.
You cannot change the convention, just as I cannot change the position of The Baptist Bile fellowship, Independent Baptist Fellowship, nor the World
Baptists.. Fundamental Baptist Fellowship.
In His Grace,
Dr. Paul W. Foltz
I wonder what Elder Phillip Mulkey would have to say to all of this. He was converted under Shubal Stearns, founded and built up one of the largest churches in SC in the 1700s. Did not support the Revolution, wound up being a pirate. Could he have been mistreated by his brethren who supported the Revolution? Nothing is ever as simple or as easy or as black and white as it seems.