An Article from Pastor Paul Boutan
Recently I heard someone ask, “Now that it looks like Biden is our new President what are we as Christians to do?” A year that has brought us a health pandemic, record setting wild fires and racially charged riots, now brings us a contested Presidential election. On the one hand the media has “called” the election for Joe Biden. However, accusations of voter fraud and rigged elections have led to lawsuits that have delayed the process of the States certifying who the next President of the United States is. Meanwhile, among many of us within the church there is a Chicken Little, “The sky is falling” outlook. So the question stands, “What are we Christians to do?” Well, I believe in the Bible there are at least two things we as followers of Christ should do. Number one, pray. Number two, trust God. Regardless of who is in the White House these are two things the Christian can and must do.
Number one, pray. When Peter Marshall was the Chaplin for the United State Senate a reporter asked him “do you pray for the Senators?” to which Marshall responded, “No, I took one look at our Senators and realized I need to pray for our Country.” Well, no matter who you voted for, the Bible has called you to pray for whoever the next President may be. After the Apostle Paul exhorts us to pray for all men he tells us to pray, “for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1Timothy 2:2). We are to pray for those in authority regardless of whether or not they hold our “values” and beliefs. We would do well to remember who was in authority when the Apostle Paul first penned these words. Nero was the Emperor of Rome and he was not exactly what you would call a “benevolent dictator.” He was renown for his cruelty and brutality. In October of 64AD he launched an all out government sanctioned assault against Christianity that resulted in the slaughter of more than six million Christians. Men, women and children who refused to denounce Christ and say that Caesar was Lord would be boiled in cauldrons of hot oil, their hands and feet would be cut off or they would be covered in tar and tied to posts in Nero’s garden and set on fire. Clearly, Nero was no friend of Christianity. Yet, this was the man who was king when Paul said, “pray for kings and all who are in authority.” If Paul could pray for the likes of Nero, certainly we can pray for men like Trump and Biden. We can pray that God directs them, protects them and gives them wisdom. Ultimately, we can pray for their salvation. Let’s not forget that Proverbs 21:1; says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” What do you do if the man you voted for did not win the election? Answer, now you pray for the one who did win. Why? Because we have been called to pray for those in authority.
Number two, trust. You’ve probably seen the meme that says, “No matter who is in the White House, God is still on the throne.” But judging by the reactions I see posted on social media I can’t help but to wonder where our trust really is? There are some who are convinced that Biden is going to bring new hope to our nation. There are others who are terrified of what will become of our nation of Trump is no longer President. Let me remind you that God is sovereign and in control. Daniel 2:21 says, “And it is HE who changes the times and epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings.” Additionally, the prophet Daniel also said, “The Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And bestows it on whom He wishes…” (Daniel 4:17b, 32b). Although the results of this election may disappoint some of us they do not surprise God. Furthermore, God may be able to use whomever is in office for His purposes just as He used King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel’s day. Therefore, our trust and hope should not be in Washington our hope is in the Lord, just as we read in Psalm 33:20; “We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield.”
Bible commentator Warren Wiersbe once said, “In Washington, you’ve got a donkey and an elephant and a whole lot of bull.” Rather than getting caught up in the bull in Washington, lets get on our knees and pray for those in authority over us and keep our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).