Pray for everyone
The apostle Paul writing in the time of the emperor Nero wrote,
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1Timothy 2:1-4.
Paul living under Nero one of the worst persecutors of Christians actually asks his readers to pray for “kings and all those in authority”.
Note however why he asks us to pray for those in authority. “that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness”.
Paul unlike many who claim to be Christian today was under no delusion that he was living in a Christian nation. The Roman empire like all nations today was very secular.
Paul however understood that in order for the gospel message to be spread believers in Christ Jesus needed to live in peace with those around them.
He notes that living peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness pleases God. He fully understood that living at peace made it easier for the salvation message to be spread.
Today here in North America many Christians tend to bring politics into the mix. They say we should pray for our leaders because they say, they are Christian. To pray for our nation, because it is Christian.
I would imagine that few of our nations politicians even if they go to church, be they Canadian or American are truly Christian. (but that is between them and God). Politicians do not need to be Christian to be used by God.
God used a pagan, Caesar Augustus to get Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and fulfil the prophesy that Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem.
As for the nations of the world no nation on the face of the earth is Christian. There may be some nice sounding words in government documents and on government buildings that are words from the Bible. Additionally some laws are based on Christian principles. That however does not make a nation Christian.
My point here is the apostle Paul was not being political. He was a citizen of a multicultural pagan empire, telling followers of Christ to pray for and emperor and government officials that were far from Christian.
He was telling them to pray “that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness”. Which is what we should be doing.
We shouldn’t care whether our political leaders are Christian, or not. Be they atheist, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist or any other faith. Be they gay or strait. God can and does use them.
We should be praying for them. That they will make decisions that will help us as believers in Christ Jesus to live in peace that we may spread the good news of Gods salvation through Christ Jesus.
Please think about it.
The apostle Paul writing in the time of the emperor Nero wrote,
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1Timothy 2:1-4.
Paul living under Nero one of the worst persecutors of Christians actually asks his readers to pray for “kings and all those in authority”.
Note however why he asks us to pray for those in authority. “that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness”.
Paul unlike many who claim to be Christian today was under no delusion that he was living in a Christian nation. The Roman empire like all nations today was very secular.
Paul however understood that in order for the gospel message to be spread believers in Christ Jesus needed to live in peace with those around them.
He notes that living peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness pleases God. He fully understood that living at peace made it easier for the salvation message to be spread.
Today here in North America many Christians tend to bring politics into the mix. They say we should pray for our leaders because they say, they are Christian. To pray for our nation, because it is Christian.
I would imagine that few of our nations politicians even if they go to church, be they Canadian or American are truly Christian. (but that is between them and God). Politicians do not need to be Christian to be used by God.
God used a pagan, Caesar Augustus to get Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and fulfil the prophesy that Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem.
As for the nations of the world no nation on the face of the earth is Christian. There may be some nice sounding words in government documents and on government buildings that are words from the Bible. Additionally some laws are based on Christian principles. That however does not make a nation Christian.
My point here is the apostle Paul was not being political. He was a citizen of a multicultural pagan empire, telling followers of Christ to pray for and emperor and government officials that were far from Christian.
He was telling them to pray “that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness”. Which is what we should be doing.
We shouldn’t care whether our political leaders are Christian, or not. Be they atheist, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist or any other faith. Be they gay or strait. God can and does use them.
We should be praying for them. That they will make decisions that will help us as believers in Christ Jesus to live in peace that we may spread the good news of Gods salvation through Christ Jesus.
Please think about it.
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