Attitude toward government

In case you have been somewhere else this week -- such as visiting another planet -- history was made last Tuesday when our nation inaugurated our first African American President. This was the most celebrated inauguration ever, and also the most watched. Regular programming was pre-empted so that the proceedings could be broadcast to a nationwide audience. It was this way in countries around the globe.

Frankly, it doesn’t matter to me one bit which candidate you supported. It’s no longer an issue. Barack Obama is our President. There’s a new administration in leadership. The question is, how should we respond? What should be our attitude toward our nation’s highest official? What should be our attitude toward the government? What should be our attitude toward politics in general?

1. Pray for those in leadership.
In his first letter to Timothy, Paul wrote ...(v. 1-2) 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.

I can say this with certainty: Our president needs your prayers. He needs you to stand in the gap on his behalf, to speak his name before the throne of grace, to wrestle with the principalities and powers that seek to destroy all that is good. Our president needs your prayers. And, bluntly, the more wrong you think he is, the harder you need to pray for him ... that God will give him the wisdom to run the country as well you could.

2. When you talk politics, speak with honor and respect.
Somewhere we have gotten the idea that if we disagree with the things a political candidate stands for, it’s OK to demonize them.

During the next four years, President Obama will make decisions, at one time or another, that every American disagrees with. Not all at once, but at various times over the course of the next four years. He will be criticized from all sides. Some of that criticism may be deserved; much of it probably won’t be deserved.

It is our responsibility as followers of Jesus Christ to respond with honor and respect to the dignity of his office, and to the position in which God has placed him. It’s why Paul said, "Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Along these lines Peter wrote: "Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king." (1 Peter 2:17)

God wants us to honor those in authority. We don’t have to agree with them, but we do have to honor them. The best way to do that is to speak about them with respect.