Our Leaders
We may or may not be fans of Tony Blair's politics but surely we should be disturbed & dismayed by the way he has been treated by his own party, press & public over the past few months.
Yes our leaders must be accountable.
Yes our leaders must be communicating clearly.
Yes our leaders are to be public servants, but they should also be afforded respect & gratitude, & dare I say it, honoured.
We in the faith community, whatever faith that may be, should surely be praying for our political leaders much more than vilifying them?
Yes we are free to question them, disagree with them, not vote for them again, but surely we can do this in a faith-filled & Christlike fashion?
4 comments:
I agree with you Mark.
Paul writes in 1 Timothy 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"
We need to be praying for our leaders more. It's not up to us to judge. Like a wise man once said, 'let him who is without sin cast the first stone'.
That's not to say we can't make informed decisions. If we don't like what someone we have elected is doing, then we can chooose not to vote for them again.
Dare I add to that that we in the faith community should be praying for all in positions of authority - pastors, preachers, elders, local politicans, bosses/ managers (!?). Can you imagine the difference it would make ? I remember someone once telling me its much harder to gossip/ tear strips off someone if you're praying for them.
Thanks Deirds.
It is very hard work to pray for those we disagree with and it is much easier AND more human I suppose to not do this.
It is however such a facet of God's alternative way of living.
You're 100% right.
I know when I've prayed for people in the past that I've disagreed with (even if its only been a 2 sec prayer), God has been gracious enough to show me a wee bit of His heart for that person & that's what has made it easier to continue praying.
Do you think it's possible for us to separate a person's actions/ beliefs from them as a person when we pray for them ? And if so does that make any difference ?
I'm learnin that people function on so many different levels. Conscious, sub-conscious, nature, nurture etc etc. Its difficult to make decisions about people without trying to at least understand them a little.
Christ was a master of relationships & seemed to be able to "hate the sin but never the sinner" so to speak.
It would seem from his teachings that we are able to walk in his shoes in trying to do the same.
Post a Comment