The Dilemma with Christians and Politics

A dilemma is defined as a situation requiring a choice between unequally desirable alternatives.  It is a difficult and perplexing problem.

I am talking about the dilemma between having compassion for the individual holding office verses the consequences of that office making decisions that invite  harsh consequences for the people.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 exhorts us to pray for all men especially kings and those who are in authority.  The question is, how do you pray?

How do you pray for one who does not know Jesus and who makes decisions that appear to hurt our nation or your state?  For example, in 1 Chronicles 21 King David, a good king, sinned, made a mistake, missed the mark and numbered the people.  Due to his error 70,000 people died.  In 1 Kings 14 and 15 we see numerous instances where the "king" made decisions that "made Israel sin" and it provoked God to anger.   

There are certain decisions that when executed by a people or by law will cause the land to vomit the people out of the land (Leviticus 18 & 20).  There are spiritual laws just like the law of gravity.  You don't have to do anything to make gravity work, it just does because it is a law of the universe.  It just works.  There are spiritual laws that work like that and the Bible is God's tool to help educate us as to how the universe works.

Through the Bible we learn that God does not desire anyone to perish.  He wants all to come to the saving knowledge of Christ, repent and receive the wonderful, awesome, eternal life with Him so that we might have fellowship one with another.  Hell was made for the angels who sinned and left their first domain.  It was not made for man.  

So how do you pray for a person who is holding a political office yet who does not know the Lord and makes decisions that are contrary to God's word which would result in dangerous consequences?  

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First, use Matthew 6:9-12 as a guide for you and them.  Pray for the authority figure that Christ's kingdom would come and will be done.  Pray that God would bless them and that through His goodness they would come to know Jesus Christ as both savior and Lord.  

Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?  NKJV

Most people just quote this portion of the scripture, it is the goodness of God that leads to repentance.  That works for some, but not for all.  There is more that provides context.  

Romans 2:4-10  Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds":  7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness — indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; NKJV

There are terrible consequences.  We have a choice to exercise.  So, I pray for their salvation, but if they do not accept Christ today, then pray God would turn their heart to make righteous decisions that bless the people.  



Proverbs 21:1  The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord,  Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.  NKJV

Then if they will not do righteously and they make decisions that hurt the nation and people like King Jeroboam did, then I pray  Psalm 109:8 - Let his days be few,  And let another take his office.  NKJV

Lord I pray give us righteous leaders who will make right decisions.  

Proverbs 29:2   When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. NKJV

Then I act.  I encourage you to do the same.  Pray, learn what God's word says, the truth about the issues and then obey the leading of the Lord.

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