The other day I received a comment from Pete left on my post Earthly Kings. It was a great comment that raises so many timely and important questions for those of us in the USA, and they are just as applicable for those of you in other countries as well. I thought it would make for an interesting Saturday topic. Here is Pete’s comment:

Good comments. I had a brief discussion yesterday with a new believer about our responsibility towards governing officials. It’s sometimes difficult to know just how far we are to support earthly governments. Be that as it may, God clearly tells us that governments, good or bad, are appointed by God, and resisting them, resists God (Romans 13:1-2). It’s easy to find fault, and reasons, not to subject oneself to government. After all, they are faulty and, most, are not aligned with God. Yet, we are commanded to pray for our governments (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Do we complain more than we pray? Sometimes we get the government we deserve.

See what I mean? Great comments, great question!

First off, thank you Pete for your comment. Pete’s site is The Bible Blog and I hope you will check it out.

Back in the days when the debate over Obama Care were the talk of the town, my 87 year old mother called and spoke at length of her frustration and irritation about the way the debate was going, or maybe it was just the way it was being presented on Cable News that she watched all day. Then she asked me a question that I really couldn’t duck; it was something like this:

You’ve had lots of experience in Washington, when do we get to the part where Members of Congress discuss what is best for the country?

She was right, I have more experience in Washington than is healthy for anyone, and I am ashamed to admit it now, but when she asked me about that last part, I burst out laughing. I felt terrible about being so rude, and yet I had a really hard time stopping. When I finally settled my laughing, I had to tell her the truth, a truth she was not prepared to handle.

The good of the country- seriously?

The good of the country in Congress is about as important as truth is in Court. Court is not about truth, it is about what you can demonstrate to be true, not what actually is true. In Congress, motivation comes from what they can sell to their constituents, and what keeps the donors contributing to the campaign coffers, because being reelected is priority number 1.

As for presidents? Pretty much the same thing. This conversation was about 15 years ago, and the situation is worse now. Looking at world news, we aren’t the only ones.

I don’t say any of this to be negative, even though it may sound that way at first. What I am saying is that we have a fabulous opportunity here!

When I was growing up, I was taught that the top priorities in life are these: First God, then family and country and baseball. What’s the first one… God? With God, all things are possible. Where we are weak, God is strong. God has no limit of what He can do. Can God turn things around? Yes. Can God bring us better leaders? Yes. Can God change hearts and minds and lead Nations and Peoples from darkness to light? Yes.

Yet God also rewards Nations with the leaders they deserve. Look at the leaders around the world today… What do we see?

Problems.

Still, we have answers to problems. The problems we see are spiritual in nature, and we have those solutions if we choose to use them. First is repentance; each of us (or nearly so) needs to turn away from the distractions of this earthly life, the day-to-day cares of this world, and the things that take us away from our relationships with God and other believers and re-focus our attention on the things and priorities of God. Second, we need to do some serious and bold praying. We need to pray for the leaders of our countries, including not only political and administrative leaders, but cultural and media leaders, that they would turn their attention to the things of God, and that they would lead their Peoples in His ways, and against the urges and priorities of Evil. This is especially true for the leaders you don’t like. We need to live like Ambassadors of Christ and shine His light in the darkness around us, not simply to point fingers of accusation, but to offer a helping and merciful hand to those who are hurting or lost.

More and more people around the world are starting to recognize that the main problems facing humanity today have a spiritual cause. Yes, they are out there, usually being trashed in the press… go figure. We all need to wake up and recognize that we are in a spiritual conflict.

So, let’s pray with confidence and boldness for the day to quickly come, where God’s Will is done on earth, as it is in Heaven… where it is the only will that is done.

Well now, that’s a fine rant for a Saturday. Have a great weekend!