"PRAYING (OR NOT) FOR THE PRESIDENT"
- Cal Thomas, June 11, 2019; https://townhall.com/columnists/calthomas/2019/06/11/praying-or-not-for-the-president-n2547891 [AS I SEE IT: I was stunned when I read that in the church where President Trump unexpectedly appeared and was prayed for by the pastor there were people who complained that they were "hurt." Not a word that the pastor prayed was close to a political endorsement but merely lifting up our country's leader as Scripture instructs. I agree that rather than be criticized and made to feel like he needs to apologize, the pastor involved should be praised for being faithful to Scriptural teaching. Further, when political actions line up with Scripture, why is it wrong to then pray for such actions to succeed? Politics impact our culture and our personal lives (and those of future generations more than we know and I fail to see how praying for right outcomes is not also part of our responsibility as Christians. - Stan]
Only the most partisan person would begrudge prayers for the president of the United States, but a recent visit by President Trump to the mega McLean Bible Church in Virginia has rubbed some congregants the wrong way.
The White House informed the church with only a few minutes notice that the president would be coming to the service after finishing a round of golf at a nearby course. It was a Sunday on which some Christian leaders had called for special prayers for the president and others wished to pray for the victims and relatives in the recent shooting in Virginia Beach.
The service was already underway when the president arrived. The pastor, Reverend David Platt, invited him to the platform. Platt placed his hand on the president's back and with their eyes closed and heads bowed, Platt addressed God: "We know we need your mercy. We need your grace. We need your help. We need your wisdom in our country. And so, we stand right now on behalf of our president and we pray for your grace, and your mercy, and your wisdom upon him."
Platt added a prayer for Congress, the courts, state and local governments, which, it should be noted, include members of both parties and a few independents.
The prayer for the president led some in the congregation to complain that Platt was endorsing Trump's policies and possibly his personae. After hearing about the grumbling, Platt issued a statement effectively apologizing to those who felt "hurt." The problem wasn't with Platt's nonpolitical prayer; the problem was with those congregants who were offended.
Platt was following the commands written by the Apostle Paul: "I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men, for kings and all those in authority ... this is good and pleasing in the sight of God our savior..." (1 Timothy 2:1-3).
This was written at a time when the Roman government cruelly dominated much of the known world. Paul wrote it after the crucifixion of Jesus on orders from Pontius Pilate, an officer of Rome, while he, himself, was unjustly imprisoned under that same civil authority.
If Paul could instruct fellow believers to pray for even despotic dictators, given his circumstances, how can contemporary Christians complain when a pastor follows his instructions?
At my own church in the Maryland suburbs, the president, vice president, Congress and state and local officials are prayed for every Sunday, no matter their party or policies. I once shared that information with President Obama, who responded, "Please, thank the congregation." If, as Scripture teaches, all authority is from God, then Christians don't get to pick and choose for whom they should pray based on who they voted for, or their policies. All means all.
As Paul wrote elsewhere, "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." (Romans 13:1)
There is no question that faith in some quarters has become too political and government has become too secular with many politicians behaving as gods unto themselves. All the more reason to pray for leaders and for Christians to contemplate what Jesus said as He stood before Pilate: "My Kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36)
Rev. Platt did the right thing. He should ignore the complaints and ask those who were offended what they think of the verses cited above. Maybe the grumblers should spend more time in Sunday school, learning the Scriptures in which they claim to believe with no "cherry-picking" allowed.
[italics and colored emphasis mine]
This year marks Cal Thomas' 35th year as a syndicated columnist. Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com.
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PRAYER MATTERS:
"To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against
the disorder of the world. - Karl Barth
"Prayer is inviting God into a seemingly impossible situation and trusting/resting in His love and grace to accomplish His perfect will in His perfect time and for His greatest glory. Intercession is one of the great privileges AND responsibilities for EVERY believer."- Stan
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Praying Through the Open Doors World Watch List for persecuted believers:https://www.opendoorsusa.org/take-action/pray/monthly-prayer-calendar/
In Nigeria (ranked #12 on the 2019 World Watch List), our brothers and sisters face increasing persecution on multiple fronts, including deadly attacks by Islamic extremists and extreme discrimination by Muslim families and communities.This month, we invite you to join us as we stand in prayer for our Nigerian family.
June 12 | IRAN - Pray for Esther and her family, who fled their home in Iran after being arrested for following Jesus. She and her family are now refugees in Turkey, treated as second-class citizens.
*Names changed to protect identities
June 12 | IRAN - Pray for Esther and her family, who fled their home in Iran after being arrested for following Jesus. She and her family are now refugees in Turkey, treated as second-class citizens.
*Names changed to protect identities
The prayer excerpt in this article seems like a prayer all believers can pray, regardless of their political stance and opinion of the president. It is a plea to God for help, which all of us need.
ReplyDeleteI would need more information about what the specific complaints from the congregants were about. It might be more complicated - perhaps people were reacting more to the president's presence than to the prayer for the president. I also do wonder what prompted him to come to the church at the last minute... I did not see this in the news.
-herb