A Prayer for the Church

Our Sovereign God,

You have fashioned all things according to your will through your Trinitarian power. In Christ all things were created, things in heaven and things on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through him and for him. And even now he holds all things together. If Christ were lacking this ability at any moment, all things would descend into chaos (Col. 1:15-17). In your kindness, you not only create and sustain all things, but you also reveal yourself to us. The heavens declare your glory and the sky above proclaims your handiwork (Psalm 19:1). What can be known about God you have made plain to us, because you have shown it to us. Your invisible attributes, your eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. This leaves us without excuse. In our depravity, we knew you but did not honor you as God or give thanks to you, but became futile in our thinking, and our foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, we became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things (Rom 1:18-23).

This is the state that you could have left us all in. Yet in your kindness, you revealed yourself to us through the person and work of your Son, Jesus. He lived the perfect life that we could not. While we were lawbreakers and idolaters, your Son perfectly obeyed the law and lived in right communion with you. We were all like sheep who had gone astray, we had all turned to our own way. We were dead in our trespasses and sins. And your sovereign plan was to lay our iniquity on your Son. To crush him in our place so that we could be made alive in him (Isaiah 53:4-10). You placed our filthy robes on Christ and gave us his pristine garments. So now, when you look on us, the muck and mire, the filthy rags are all gone, and all you see is your perfect Son. You have lavished us with favor and pardoned us through your grace, mercy, and love for your people.

And now we look around and we see the world suppressing your truth, denying your Word, blaspheming your Son. Filled with people who are foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing their days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another (Titus 3:3). This has been around since the beginning when Cain killed his own brother. There are seasons when this spirit of the age is less clearly seen, and there are seasons when it becomes very clear to see.

There are moments in life that are obvious that the forces of darkness are arrayed in an all-out attack against everything that is good, upright, and holy. The events of the past month have made this impossible to avoid. We have seen a school shooter fire upon kids while they were gathered in prayer. We have seen a young woman who was seeking refuge here from a foreign war, stabbed to death in cold blood on a train, just sitting quietly on her way home from work. And most recently, Charlie Kirk, who spent his time reasoning with people on college campuses, seeking to persuade them with truth, silenced by the shot of an assassin, leaving behind a widow and two young children. Lord, we pray that you would comfort the grieving with the steadfast love of Christ.

In moments like these, it is hard for us to see clearly and not rage. The ability for righteous anger that you possess is so hard for us to keep in balance. Thankfully, you have told us in your Word that this world would be like this, and so we can trust in you when our eyes leave us discouraged. You have said that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12). The devil, with his schemes, is waging a war. He is an already defeated foe, but one who will not go down quietly. And so, we see worldviews that are built on hate reveal themselves clearly in certain seasons. A variety of idolatries that can coexist because they have one common enemy, God Almighty. They set themselves up against you and take counsel together. They rage and they plot, seeking to burst their bonds and cast away their cords (Psalm 2:1-3). We see ideologies like homosexuality and transgenderism that seek to tear apart the image of God in man and woman, destroying many around us and influencing violence as they mock and blaspheme God with their perversions and mutilations (Gen. 1:27). We see government systems that should be instituted for justice making unjust rulings that bring harm to its law-abiding civilians (Rom. 13:1-4).

Sometimes the reality of the darkness of our world comes in waves, but just as you reminded your disciples in this world you will have tribulation but take heart for I have overcome the world (John 16:33). So, our posture isn’t to cower in fear, it isn’t to get sinfully angry to try to counteract the evil we see, and it isn’t to throw our hands up as if all hope is lost.  

Our response is always to be optimistic. The nations may rage, but Christ is King and is firmly seated on his throne. One that will never be shaken. Your kingdom is advancing even as we see wickedness advance. There is a harvest of worshippers to be found and to be snatched from the fire (Matt. 9:37; Jude 23). And just as they are captive to wickedness, such were some of us (1 Cor. 6:9-11). Help us Lord, to keep our hand to the plow. From cowardice defend us from lethargy awake! Forth on Thine errands send us to labor for Thy sake (Facing a Task Unfinished, Keith & Kristyn Getty). The sick and twisted worldviews of our day will leave people empty, broken, and hopeless. The gospel of your Son is their only hope. Help us to proclaim it boldly, fearlessly, truthfully, unashamedly, compassionately. To shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation (Phil. 2:15). The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds, arguments, and every lofty opinion that sets itself in opposition to you (2 Cor. 10:3-6). May we confidently wield the Sword of the Spirit, your Word, to exalt your name in our land so that the Lamb that was slain would receive the full reward for his suffering (Eph. 6:17).

We pray this in the matchless name of your Son, the one to whom every knee will bow, Jesus Christ our Lord (Phil. 2:9-11). The one who belongs all glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever (Jude 24-25). And we pray that you would come quickly, Lord, and make all things new (Rev. 22:20).

Amen.

Strength for Today, and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

So, you may not be aware but there is an election going on today. Maybe you’ve been able to steer clear of all the political ads, the mailers, the constant news cycles, the unending conversations on Facebook and X, and even the squirrel and raccoon that recently entered the conversation. Chances are you haven’t escaped all this though. A more likely scenario is that you’ve been bombarded with political ads when you just want to watch your favorite football team play, mailers that don’t even get a glance before hitting the recycle bin, a social media stream that would have you believe there is nothing else going on in the world, and the sharing and receiving of meme’s calling for justice for Peanut.

There is probably not a shortage of articles and blog posts that fight for our attention on how we are to think about the election and what our duty is as citizens who are allowed a voice in our vote, so why not one more? But I’m less concerned with how we think about this election in particular (not to minimize the time we live in and the urgency of many of current events in our country and world) and more concerned with how Scripture informs our thinking for this election season and beyond. So rather than giving reasons why Christians should vote, or vote a certain way, or listing out all the reasons why this election is so critical I instead want to look at a few truths from Scripture to help us think rightly today. After we pray and decide the best way to honor God and love our neighbor today we would do well to have these thoughts filling our minds.

First, as Christians, we must recognize that we are living in a Psalm 2 world. The first three verses of Psalm 2 say:

 Why do the nations rage

            and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth set themselves,

            and the rulers take counsel together,

            against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,

“Let us burst their bonds apart

            and cast away their cords from us.” – Psalm 2:1-3

The nations aren’t at peace with God. They aren’t seeking his counsel or desiring to walk in his ways. They rage against God. They desire freedom from his rule. They desire to be sovereign. Because of this, we see governments rise and governments fall. At times throughout history, we have seen the Lord graciously grant revivals or mass conversions that have impacted the trajectory of nations, but the overarching theme of history is an ever-present desire in man to burst the bonds of the rule of the Lord’s Anointed. And during this, to whatever extent it is present in our country, God’s people are to live as the blessed man of Psalm 1. This is a familiar passage to most of us:

Blessed is the man

            who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

 nor stands in the way of sinners,

            nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

            and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree

            planted by streams of water

 that yields its fruit in its season,

            and its leaf does not wither.

 In all that he does, he prospers. – Psalm 1:1-3

As God’s people our main source of delight is not to be in promising poll numbers, but rather in the law of the Lord. Our meditation is not to be on our Facebook or X feed but rather on his Word. When this is where we concentrate our minds and hearts we will have deep roots. We will not be blown away like the chaff but rather we will be firmly planted like a tree. This is true for all Christians across all times because as Psalm 2 continues:

He who sits in the heavens laughs;

            the Lord holds them in derision.

Then he will speak to them in his wrath,

            and terrify them in his fury, saying,

“As for me, I have set my King

            on Zion, my holy hill.” – Psalm 2:4-6

While there is turmoil and striving for power by earthly kings and kingdoms our God sits sovereignly above it all. Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases – Psalm 115:3. Because Psalm 2:4-6 is true we can live as people who delight in and meditate on God’s Word and trust in his sovereign rule even as we live in a world at odds with him. The President he will seat in Washington to govern the next 4 years is temporary, the King that he has placed on his holy hill is eternal.  

Second, as Christians, we must recognize that we are called to be lights in a dark world. Matthew 5:14-16 says: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

While we should be concerned about the direction of our country and the world, we must not lose our focus on being light in a dark world. We want to see righteousness prevail and a key aspect of that will be us being a light by how we respond in our words and actions, even in politically tense climates.

Our attitudes can impact how our light shines. Notice how Paul connects our attitude with being a light in the world. “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” – Philippians 2:14-16 We are called to put off grumbling and disputing so that we can shine as lights in the middle of a crooked and perverse world. This is connected to us working out our salvation with fear and trembling in the prior verses. As we think and speak about the election today, let’s strive to shine as lights and point others to the righteousness of Christ that stands in contrast to our corrupt world.  

Third, our hope is not ultimately found in Washington but in the fact that we are citizens of a better land. “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” – Hebrews 12:22-24 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” – Philippians 3:20-21 This should bring great comfort today. Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall but we belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken. So, take heart Christian, Christ is reigning on his holy hill, and he is gathering his people who will one day all dwell with him as our perfect King. In his reign, we have an unwavering hope.

And finally, all the forces in the world cannot separate us from the ultimate good that is ours in Christ. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

             “For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

                        we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:31-39

The love of God found in Christ toward us transcends everything this world can throw at us. We should have an optimistic eschatology that should impact how we think about elections. In plenty or in want, in peace or in war, whether singing hymns in the streets or being threatened with persecutions if we aren’t silent NOTHING can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. God justifies, God raises, God keeps, God conquers, God wins and has won!  If the election brings prosperity and peace or if it brings poverty and persecution, will you leverage what God provides you within the community that he has placed you in for gospel advancement and to see Christ exalted? He has given us strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow.  

In summary here are a few truths no matter the outcome of the election:

·       Wickedness will still abound

·       Gospel advance is still our chief aim

·       Nothing can separate us from our God, so we are optimistic

·       All earthly rule is temporary. Christ is King and his kingdom is expanding as the gospel is proclaimed and disciples are made.

·       And to borrow from Charles Spurgeon. “The sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which the child of God rests his head at night, giving perfect peace.”