On Sunday, June 30, 2024, the North Central Alabama Republican Assembly and Madison County Moms for Liberty held our second prayer gathering in Lawrence County (Moulton) to pray for our elected officials and our country. Mayor Roger Weatherwax offered a wonderful site to gather, and we were led in prayer by State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough (R-Trinity).
We invited those we were praying for: city council members, county commissioners, state representatives and church leaders. They must feel comfortable in their settings, for not one showed up to participate in an event held for them. But those in attendance were alerted to this fact and told to remind their elected officials that they were invited and prayed for, something they should remember come election time.
Our country is experiencing some of the most divisive times ever encountered in this nation. Evil is rearing its ugly head and good is being attacked at all levels. Far-left ideations are bombarding children in our educational systems and libraries. The country’s youth are indoctrinated with divisive concepts on a daily basis. Our country is getting decimated by uncontrolled and illegal migration. Now more than ever we must come together and PRAY for our elected officials and our country.
Prayer for one’s country is the first national duty of any Christian. This should come as no surprise, for the apostle Paul instructed us in 1 Timothy 2 that “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and dignified in every way.” “We the people” can get so comfortable that we forget our duties, grow less alert, and allow our republic to be invaded by tyranny.
Our second national duty is to register to vote and encourage other citizens to do so as well. Jesus tells the parable of a householder who went on a long journey and put his property in the charge of his servants (Mark 13). If you live in the United States, at least part of what God has put you in charge of is the political household of this constitutional republic. You cannot legally discharge your duties unless you register to vote. To register is to stand up and be counted, saying, “Here I am! I’ll do my part.”
A third national duty of any Christian citizen is to become informed and inform others. The Bible encourages us to speak the truth to one another. Proverbs 6:17 says that God hates a "lying tongue." Ephesians 4:25 commands, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor." Zechariah instructed God's people, “These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another.” Paul commands Christians in Ephesus, “Let every one of you speak truth to his neighbor.”
Related to this necessity to be informed are the standards for our leaders. 1 Timothy 3 and Titus present the standards required of church leaders. Moses gives strict standards for the political leaders of Israel in the book of Exodus, listing six qualifications for a political leader: godliness, integrity, industriousness, biblical guidance, demonstrated capability and justice. These qualities are what we should look for in our elected leaders today!
Then there’s the responsibility to actually vote. In the 2016 presidential election, only 59% of eligible voters showed up to vote. Why?
The reasons are many. Some say, “My vote doesn’t count,” or, “One little vote can’t make any difference.” This is far from the truth. One vote can shape the future and change countries forever. According to PBS:
1645 One vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England.
1649 One vote caused Charles I of England to be executed.
1776 One vote gave America the English language instead of German.
1845 One vote brought Texas into the Union.
1868 One vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment.
1876 One vote gave Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency of the United States.
1876 One vote changed France from a monarchy to a republic.
1923 One vote gave Adolph Hitler leadership of the Nazi Party.
More recently, Democrat Shelly Simonds won a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates by a single vote in 2017.
Proverbs says, “Putting confidence in (or voting for) an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.” God wills us to put our trust in men of character. This is what our vote is. It is our pledge of confidence, our rallying around the candidate we believe God has given to lead us.
As Christians seeking to transform institutions and individuals, we should all approach political engagement with prayer and humility, listening respectfully to those who disagree. We should be good citizens who submit to the ruling authorities that God has ordained, as Romans 13 tells us. They are placed there for the specific purpose of punishing evildoers and protecting the righteous. But no matter who is in charge of a nation, God is truly in charge.
I encourage you to participate in this civic duty as a voting-eligible citizen of this nation. Cast your vote. Then, humbly cast your care upon the God who cares for you.
Every election cycle will be billed, “THE most important of our generation,” or some other way to provoke a response from a candidate’s constituents. Don’t believe the hype, they are all important. Exercise your civic duty during election season as long as the privilege remains.
Heavenly Father, we pray for our country and those in authority. We ask that you give them wisdom, discernment and the energy to do their jobs.
Father, we bring the needs of our government before You, asking You to bless our nation through godly leaders. We ask that they be guided by truth, integrity, justice and fairness. We ask for all elected officials to return to the aspirations they had when they ran for office, working together for the people.
Father, please be in our midst as we come together as your body to lift up our country and our elected officials, to protect the nation from division, and for justice to be brought to those who have suffered injustice.
We ask for their protection from the evil that is in the world and keep them safe and free from all harm.
In Jesus’ name we pray…
Charles “Kip” Kiplinger, Vice President, North Central Alabama Republican Assembly.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.
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