Paul was a man of authority who respected the authority of others.
In Acts 23 it is recorded that he was struck on the mouth, and he
began to rebuke the one who did it. Those who were near by asked,
"Would you revile God's high priest?" Paul answered, "I did not
know brethren that he was the high priest; for it is written, you shall
not speak evil of a ruler of your people." Paul was patriotic, and we
do not find him anywhere trying to stir up opposition to those in
authority. He loved his own people and their government. He was a
leader in it as a Pharisee, and he also had a high respect for the
Roman government. It's laws of protection for its citizens saved him
on several occasions.
In his letters he encourages believers to be the best possible
citizens, and to obey their rulers. We want to examine his advice to
Timothy along this line and see if can gain a new vision of how we can
be more patriotic, and have it be a spiritual exercise. Patriotism is not
good in itself, for one might be devoted to a very evil government and
be a party to its evil by being so devoted. Christian patriotism, as
brought out in this passage, is always good, even if one is a Christian
under an evil government. It consists in a devotion to that
government's highest well being by praying for its leaders. It is being
patriotic in prayer that has been characteristic of the church in its
relationship to the state.
In verse 1 Paul says that one of the first duties of believers is to
pray for all men. When our daughter was very young she began to
pray in her own words, and one of her most common prayers was,
"Make everybody grow up and be good." This seems a little too
comprehensive to be meaningful, and yet the attitude behind it is
basic, for that is what Paul is saying in this passage. Prayer is to be
comprehensive and all-inclusive. There is the concept of universality
that runs all through this passage. We have words like all men, all in
authority, and ransom for all. Prayer is to be universal and for all
men.
Paul breaks prayer down into 4different categories. First you have
supplications, which refers to a request for God's aid in fulfilling
a specific need, which is keenly felt. Then you have prayers, which is
more general, and is a requesting for those needs, which are always
present, such as the need for wisdom and guidance. If I desperately
need to know what to do in a specific situation, it is supplication. If I
simply ask God to guide me in His will, it is prayer. The urgency of
the need seems to be the main distinction. Then you have
intercessions. This is a pleading for others, and it seems to imply that
you are fulfilling a role, which they cannot do for themselves. Finally
you have thanksgiving, which is an expression of gratitude for
blessings already received. Paul feels this is a vital part of the prayer
life, and we need to make sure we do not forget it by including it in all
of our prayers.
Paul says that all these kinds of prayer are to be offered for all
men. It is obvious that we cannot be praying for everybody. We
would need the infinite mind of God for this. We cannot take this
literally, and yet we dare not dismiss the universality of Paul's
intention. He did not expect Timothy and the Christians he
shepherded to pray for all those living on the earth, but he certainly
meant that all people are included as objects of prayer, and objects of
God's love and concern. It is a paradox, but I take it both literally
and not literally at the same time. If you take it literally to mean all
people then that includes the dead, and so this has been a proof text
for prayers for the dead. It is obvious to the unbiased reader that
Paul had no such thing in mind. So I do not take Paul's language as
that inclusive, but I do take it to include all living people.
All people are to be prayed for, and none are to be excluded.
Even evil men are to be prayed for. Many evil men become godly men
because people have prayed for them. The leaders who oppose all that
is Christian are to be prayed for. They may repent and become
Christians, but even if they do not they can make decisions that effect
everyone, and they can make those that are of benefit to everyone.
We need to remember that the man on the throne when Paul wrote
this was none other than Nero, who was the most anti-Christian leader
we can imagine. But Paul is urging Christians to pray for him, and
Paul prayed for this man who would soon order the taking of his own
life.
The value of this is to see how we must broaden our vision, and
how our obligation as Christians goes beyond our own family, church,
denomination and nation. We are to be universal in our concern. The
cross breaks down all barriers of rank and race. We need never ask,
should I pray for such and such a person, for even if they be an enemy
of God they fall within the believers prayer life.
In verse 2 Paul gets more specific and connects prayer with the
state. Separation of church and state does not mean the church has no
concern for the state, or no influence on the state. The church has
been the basic stabilizing factor in the state in many instances. This
has been the case in America. Presidents all through our history have
asked for the prayers of the people in order t have the guidance of
God.
Back in 311 A. D. the Emperor Galerius asked for the prayers of
Christians. The power of prayer in the history of politics has been
amazing. In Ezra 6:10 Darius appeals to the Jews to offer sacrifice
and to pray for him and his sons. Here was a pagan ruler requesting
the prayers of God's people, and this is good in the sight of God to do
so. God not only hears the prayers of unbelievers, but He also hears
and answers the prayers of believers for unbelievers. On one occasion
the Jews were even asked to pray for their pagan rulers in captivity.
In Jer. 29:7 we read, "Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city
to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because
if it prospers, you too will prosper."
If all goes well with those who rule, then people will be free to
pursue the things of God and develop resources for spreading the
Gospel. America would not be what it is today as the center of
Christian forces going out into all the world if our government had
been opposed to Christianity. I do not doubt for a minute that the
prayers of millions of God's people have been a primary cause for our
nation being what it is. On the other hand, failure on the part of
Christians to pray for all rulers may well be why America is becoming
paganized. Only eternity will reveal to what extent neglect of being
patriotic in prayer has been the cause of the decay of our nation.
Being patriotic in prayer is a unique role that Christians play in
politics.
The early church took Paul seriously. They made prayers for
their leaders and pagan governments a major aspect of church life.
Here is the prayer of Clement of Rome for the Emperor of Rome.
This is found in his first letter to the church of Corinth, which was
written in about 90 A. D. when the horrors of persecution were fresh
in the mind of everyone.
"Thou, Lord and Master, hast given our rulers and governors
the power of sovereignty through Thine excellent and
unspeakable might, that we, knowing the glory and honor which
thou hast given them, may submit ourselves unto them, in
nothing resisting Thy will. Grant unto them, therefore, O Lord,
health, peace, concord, stability, that they may administer the
government which Thou hast given them without failure....
Do Thou, Lord, direct their counsel according to that which is good
and well-pleasing in Thy sight, that, administering the power which
Thou hast given them in peace and gentleness with godliness, they may
obtain Thy favor. O Thou, who alone are able to do these things, and things
far more exceeding good than these for us.
We praise Thee through the High Priest and Guardian of our souls, Jesus Christ,
through whom be the glory and majesty unto Thee both now and
for all generations, for ever and ever. Amen!"
Here is patriotism in prayer in the first century, and the church
continued this attitude, for it combines loyalty to one's government and
God. God is supreme, but in no way does that make one less loyal to
his government. Instead, it gives him a greater concern for his
government to be the best. Theophilus of Antioch wrote, "The honor
that I give the Emperor is all the greater, because I will not worship
him, but I will pray for him. I will worship no one but the true and real
God, for I know that the Emperor was appointed by Him. Those give
real honor to the Emperor who are well-disposed to him, who obey
him, and who pray for him."
Justin Martyr in his Apology wrote, "We worship God alone, but
in all other things we gladly serve you, acknowledging kings and rulers
of men, and praying that they may be found to have pure reason with
kingly power." Tertullian wrote, "The Christian is the enemy of no
man, least of all the Emperor, for we know that, since he has been
appointed by God, it is necessary that we should love him, and
reverence him, and honor him, and desire his safety, together with that
of the whole Roman Empire." These are the attitudes of men who
were persecuted by those very leaders they prayed for. These quotes
from the early church fathers reveal that Christians took Paul
seriously and practiced his advice. They prayed for all in authority
even though those in authority often despised them, and sometimes
sought to destroy them.
Their motive was just what Paul refers to here, for they wanted
peace so that they might live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness.
The church is not to stir up trouble, but to seek to maintain peace so
that it is free to witness to the saving power of Christ. Christians are to
be the best citizens possible, and this calls for loyalty to the
government as long as it is not directly opposing what is the clear will
of God for His people.
In verse 3 Paul says this is good and acceptable in the sight of God.
He desires all of His people to be patriotic in prayer. They can survive
and thrive under any government if there is freedom from restraint.
Calvin is very strong in his words on this passage, for he says, "When
we despise those whom God would have honored, it is as much as if we
should despise Him." We may not always know who we ought to vote
for, but we always know who we are to pray for. Paul makes it clear
that we are to pray for all in authority. This means that Democrats
who are Christians are to be praying for Republican leaders, and
Republicans who are Christians are to be praying for Democrat
leaders. Christians are to be praying for all, even their political
enemies. This could make a major difference in the degree of peace we
have in our nation, and that is the point of Paul in being patriotic in
prayer.
This is not to say that there is to be no criticism of leaders. To say
my country right or wrong is like saying my water pure or putrid. The
critic may be more of a patriot than the silent citizen who does not
protest what is folly. If we truly love our country we will be always
seeking ways to improve it and make it better, and this will mean that
criticism of what is lacking is valid. God has worked through many
unbelievers to bring forth good for the whole nation, and that is why we
keep on praying even for those who we disagree with in many ways.
The worst leaders may still make decisions that are for the good of the
people as a whole.
Paul is saying that no Christian can stay out of politics. If you are
obligated to pray for politicians then you are involved on the highest
level. The only way to stay out of politics is to stay out of the will of
God on this issue of prayer for your leaders. It is a patriotic duty to
pray, and it is a Christian duty to pray. This is more important than
voting. In Paul's day nobody got a vote. They lived under a dictator,
but it was still their duty to pray for him. It is one of the ways the
Christians in any nation can help bring about change that is a blessing
to the people. History is filled with examples of how customs that were
harmful to the people were changed by the influence of the minority of
Christians who prayed for change. Since both godly and ungodly
leaders are involved in making change possible it is a perpetual duty of
Christians to be praying for all leaders and thereby be patriotic in
prayer.
