Crooked Politicians

Dear Victorious,

I know that Christian should pray for our government leaders. What exactly is it that we should ask God to do for them? I'm not being facetious. They seem to be crooked, insincere, professional politicians who are very self-serving, forget their campaign promises and don't seem to have America's best interests at heart. How then should we pray for such characters?

Loretta P. - Pulaski Heights, AR

Dear Loretta,

It sounds like you've got a bias and negative point of view when it comes to our elected officials. Are you casting them all in that light of insincerity and self-serving agendas? I'm not being facetious either. But we are supposed to love our enemies. Your tone seems to indicate you may have some work to do in that area. Do you really love our congressional representatives, senators, President and other elected and appointed officials? It's clear that you don't agree with their agenda or approve of their performance. Nevertheless you can still love them and wish the best for them.

How do you pray for such characters? Here are some places to start.

1. Ask God to draw our elected and appointed federal (and state or local) officials close to Himself.

If they're already professing to be Christ-followers, then ask God to give them a fresh vision of who they are in Christ, a fresh and renewed conviction regarding their personal submission and obedience to Christ's ways. Ask God to provide margin in their daily routine and convict them to use it to read their Bibles, pray, and listen to His word for them each day.

If they're not professing to be Christ-followers, ask God to put someone in their lives to witness to them. Ask Him to intervene in their lives in some tangible way so as to turn their hearts toward Him.

2. Ask God to give them wisdom and discernment. Ask Him to help them see with His eyes and hear with His ears. Ask God to let them process their thinking with the "mind of Christ," using His perspective to process their thoughts and His criteria with which to make their decisions.

3. Ask God to give YOU a loving heart toward these people. Ask Him to help you forgive them for the wrongs you see them committing. Resolve to extend to them the same grace that God has extended to you.

4. Finally, if you have a difference with our government officials, or see them doing something that you believe is wrong or even sinful, take the initiative to address it with them. Matthew 18:15-17 gives us guidelines for addressing people who do wrong. You first address it one-on-one with them. If they don't listen to you, take someone else (who agrees with your position) and address them. If they still don't listen to you, have the organized church address them. If they still don't listen, treat them as unrepentant sinners and have nothing more to do with them.

So ... how would Matthew 18:15-17 be applicable in the case of a politician who does wrong? Let's say your Congressman (or woman) does something you believe is wrong. Write to them. Call their office. Ask for an appointment. E-mail them. Do whatever you can to approach them one-on-one. If you get no response, get at least one other person to approach them with you again. Both of you write letters, request appointments, make phone calls, etc. (It could be more than two of you too.) If they still don't listen, have your church address the matter with them. And if they still don't listen, regard them as you would an unrepentant sinner who is inappropriate for public office. Pray for their removal from office. Campaign for their opponent. You get the picture?

The point is, Christ-followers are called to submit to and obey our government. But when our elected and appointed government officials do wrong, we are not powerless. We still submit to and obey them while they are in office. But we have a Biblical plan of action to take to address their issues. Maybe we need to pray for more Americans to be willing to execute that Biblical plan of action.

One thing is clear. Many self-professing Christians sin blatantly when we gossip about, ridicule, curse and bad mouth our elected and appointed government officials. When they do wrong, we have permission to address it. We do not have permission to trash them and assassinate their character.