Thursday, June 22nd, 2017

With the hotly contested special elections in Georgia and South Carolina Tuesday, most of the political pundits on the news have been spinning the win/loss in many directions. It has been widely reported in recent days that these special elections may be an insight into the 2018 midterm elections. Whether that is true or not, one thing remains firm: our leaders are elected to represent our interests, not their own. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul begins chapter 2 with an exhortation for prayers for “kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” Isn’t that what we all want? We may have deep desires for certain outcomes or an idealized vision of a utopia-nation; however, notice what type of life Paul urges Timothy to pray our leaders and policymakers enable us to have. A peaceful, quiet, godly, and dignified life, not a perfect life, is pleasing to our God. Perfection is reserved only for our God, therefore for us to expect a perfect nation, a perfect healthcare policy, a perfect immigration policy, or anything else perfect is to expect our elected leaders to be God. Pray for our leaders and our nation to seek policy compromise that pursues not a perfect life, but a peaceful, quiet, godly, and dignified life for us all.

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man[a] Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” -- 1 Timothy 2: 1-6 ESV